Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-12-03
PETERS PARTNER
BY JACK LAYTON.

Far down on the lonely beach was
the clubhouse, it's door barred for the
winter; farther still, quite alone stood
little house where Peter lived. Old
Peters house was never closed during
all the seasons Each springtime found
him whiStling with fresh cheer as he
| planted flowers in his tiny garden, and
during the gay months of summer,
j Peters porch was usually occupied by
eager Youngsters from cottages up
shore in search of the pretty shell
| beads or ornaments, which Peter loved
| to give them.
Now a golden October gave to sea
and land one last gift of summer and
Peter sat summing himself on the porch
in his rush-bottomed chair.
A girl came presently like scarlet
! bird flying across the sands. Her hair
was wind-blown and her cheeks as
crimson as the sweater she wore
Daddy Peter!" she cried, when
will you remember to wear your coat
when you sit outdoors The air is
chill, even in this sunshine" She had
reached his side now, seating herself
on a step beneath him.
Her appearance brought to old
Peters face a dozen kindly wrinkles
of humor and tenderness.
"YOu will get back at me with your
babying, Nell" he said, "just because
[ happened to bring you up that way"
you did bring me up Daddy Peter"
the girl said softly, from the time my
parents persisted in this same smiling
sea. I'll never forget that-it was a
| good bringing up, too. You could not
have done more for your own blood"
She raised solemn eyes to his. 81
will never forget my debt to you," she
said. The words were like a covenant.
Debt" scoffed the old man. "Why
child, you've paid me over and over
again in Kindness"
Il will always be kind" the girl
added firmly She lowered her eyes to
hide sudden tears.
Sometimes" said Peter, 81 have an
uncomfortable fancy that young Dave
an you care for each other, but that
]
fear your going would leave me in the
lurch. Nell I" he spoke earnestly.
you wouldn't let any nonsense like
that keep you from your happiness"
You are imagining, Daddy Peter"
the girl laughed. She patted his
wrinkled hand and arose as a young
man came swinging toward them. -
81 thought" said the big young man,
strangely shy, that you might walk to
town with me, Nell.'
"Of course" urged Peter. GO, girl"
And Nell went.
The old man looked up surprised as
visitor came walking up.
Good evening"" greeted the stran-
ger. 'YOu won't remember me, but |
used to come and sit in your porch
while my grandchildren begged for
shells. We stopped at the hotel. To
day such a longing came over me to
smell salt water again and to breathe
in the air that 1 had my daughters
chauffeur drive me out. You see, sir,
he added, as Peter offe' his own
comfortable chair, 81 was Fought up
|
erman. Welt made a bit, but no
other place has ever spelled home to
me. AS l get older l seem to want to
be near the water. That's why my
daughter brought me here last sum-
mer. But it wasn't the same" The
old gentleman sighed. zone can't take
comfort with Jeanette and her chill
dren some way, even if Jeanette is my
daughter. John-that's her husband,
he means well. Johns decent to me.
But the old stranger studied the
face of the old seaman, 81 wonder" he
unused, eff you can possibly know what
it means to feel ones self in the way,
to be borne with, you understand, ana
treated pleasantly, but in the way
mo" Peter answered, 81 don't know
what it means to feel like that. l do
as 1 please. No one about to De
| bothered Nell, my foster daughte.----
\ teaching school and boarding.
thinks she has got TO stay near 4
| run in and keep me from being lf[1
! I'll confess that L get lonesome" :
nings. Otherwise my life is l----
happy. / read the books l like
smoke my pipe, and I'm master#
at cooking. Winters, with the
bowling cross the beach, an M
ALLOWING inside, some apples BIS
mebbe, an me in the lamplight
with the evening paper said
bhssfully, that's peace"
eyes" excitedly agreed the strf
Its freedom and pleasure then
round, 1 can see that. Then, TIA |.
of the sea-
''This is what I came about
! I've been thinking the thing over
/ Los summer