The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-20
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Mother and the Solomon
islands.
By. n. Louia TaY5oLp.
,teopyright, 1920, by the Mcclure


Christine, home for the Christmas
holidays, regarded her mother with
coristernation. II won't believe 1t,
mother she declared "of course,
all my life I have heard father say
that when we children were grown
mp he was going to sea again, but
never though 1t would actually hap
PEN.
yes. continued her mother, hes
going to take his money out of the
bank this week and buy the Mary
Lee that's down by the dock Of Mich
olson's boat yard"
But the Solomon islands,. groaned
Christine. why does he>insistNon go
ing there?
well, mostly" answered her moth
er, because it's about the only place
he's never BEEN.
Moved by a sudden impulse, the girl
rose from her chair, went over to her
mother, and placed two strong young
arms on the others thin shoulders.
Tell me the truth, mother" she de-
manded fiercely. do you really want
to go, or are you doing 1t Just to
please dad?s
For an instant her mother looked
at her with eyes that were defiantly
steadfast; then, beneath the girls de-
termfned gaze, her own glance waver-
ed and fell.
"Christine," she said, 81, dread the
thought OF it. know Ill>be seasick
and I'm scared to death of the saw
ages. and ] don't want to leave my
home and my white Wyandottes, and
the quilt Pm making for the county
fair and"
Il understand" said Christine,
soothingly. Won't you let me explain
to father"
Don't you say word to him, no;
a word!' insisted her mother why
should be so ashamed to have him
know was afraid. Ever since he had
to give up going when you children
were born, he planned to take this
trip, and 1t would simply break his
heart TO give it up. Promise"
Christine did SO reluctantly. Not
until bedtime, in the quiet of the
low-eayed room which had been hers
since childhood, did she turn from
contemplation of her mothers prob
lem to consideration Of her own. She
had agreed, when she returned to the
city, to say, yes or mo" TO the mid
dle-aged principal Of the school where
she taught-and she didn't think she
wanted to say yes"
But on the other hand, neither did
she want to watch the years creep
by. each one little grayer, bringing
with them no home OF which she could
be mistress. no little children to wash
and dress and, very, very occasionally,
scold. After all, wasn't a pleasant,
cultured, elderly husband better than
one room In q boarding house. meals
out? = ga
During the next few days Christine
managed several chats with her faith
er. And IL at times 1t did seem that
he accomplished the desirabilities
OF the voyage and minimized its draw
backs, Christine, at first accepted 1t
all as merely the enthusiasm. of man
who sees about to be accomplished a
project anticipated for many long
years.
True, she noticed a very decided
shadow Cross his rugged face when
her mother asked what he proposed
TO do with the experimental stand of
alfalfa in the field next to the wood
lot. Also, when she remarked casu-
ally that for the first time in twenty
years the county fair prize for the
best thoroughbred heifer would go to
somebody else than Captain Eric Bur-
aHave you bought the Mary Lee
yet, dad?. she asked one morning.
sNo--I haven't" said her father.
but don't think there's any great
aMr. Nicholson owns ity" asked
Christine.
Eyes" replied the captain.
Christine remembered Mr.. Nicnol-
son very well-a kindly old man. And
she remembered his son, too-a tall,
slim, young fellow with attractive
eyes who had graduated one class
ahead OF her from the high school.
That afternoon Christine wandered
down by the river to look at the Mary
Lee. There she was, her gray hulR
moored out beyond the rise. and fall
OF the tide. her gaunt masts silhouet-
ted against the somber winter sky.
Christine shuddered, picturing her
rheumatic father and her frail old
mother careening over the billowing
Pacific bound for tropic isles ana
coral-reefed ;iagoons. Such Wander
ings were for the young and strong.
And yet she could not imagine her
father voluntarily turning back, once
AAc inh koL lio manu- " lue pIOW.
Only fate could alter his plans-and
she decided 10 play fate.
Picking her way over tarry haw-
sers r. empty casks. she found her
way he. ,dingy office with its door
lettei Nicholson & Son. Not with
out hesitation she entered.
AT her entrance arose tall young
man with deep, attractive gray eyes.
Christine taken abac,s- codi1 only
murmur: lex to see your
father"
81 have had tn ,4sIness for sew,
eral years now" explained the other
pleasantly, then stretched forth his
hand; Why, it's Christian Burgess!"
he exclaimed.
After a moment Of recalling mu-
7tual acquaintance, 81 have come on
q peculiar errand," confessed Chris
tine. No doubt you know about the
trip my father is planning"
He nodded his head grayely. not
thinking II necessary to add that every
person within a radius OF thirty miles
knew OF Captain Aries contemplating
q voyage.
Il know my father has not bought
The Mary Lee yet. And-oh, isn't there
ANYBODY else Won know that uvants "a