The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-24
Eoening Story
Jocelyn Of the Blue
Arrow Line
BY RAY LEWIS.

come home" said Captain Mcdonald
slowly, tossing back to his wife the
letter she had given him What
shall we do about it, Molly"
There's nothing to be done" re
turned his wife. Didn't you see that
she was going, to start at once? you'll
have to meet her tomorrow if we dock
in TIME
twenty-five years ago. attractive
Molly Steward had braved her par
ents opposition and married Bruce
Mcdonald. a powerful young Scotch
man with more skill at managing per-
verse mule drivers than culture or
education. But Molly had not been
unhappy
Then had arrived a little girl SO
pretty even in her first baby days that
Molly, searching her brains for the
daintiest name she knew, named her
Jocelyn. And the child grew up to
fit the name-slim. graceful, with
softly curling sun-kjssed hair and
eyes like blue velvet pansies-
Vaguely at first, then quite definite
", the parents grew to realize that
the crudeness of the girls surround
ings were not calculated to develop
her mind and character as they
wished. And there was the question
of education. After many hours OF
anxious meditation, Molly sat down
and wrote to her widowed sister
and enclosed snapshot of Jocelyn:
AS a result, Jocelyn went to live
with her aunt in distant city, where
she went to school. learned how to
speak the kings English correctly
and how to dress. There had been
money enough for it all without any
asking of charity from the aunt, for
Captain Mcdonald, in spite of dimln-
ishing traffic on the canal had made
good with his Blue Arrow line barges-
AS the years passed the girls visits
TO her father and mother had become
less frequent, and they, considering
the girls welfare, had been satisfied:
Now, sudden and unexpected, had
come her letter saying that she was
tired of being away so long from her
own home and that she was coming
before they could tel her not to
Jack Stafford threw his portfolio
down on the bank of the canal, re-
moved his straw hat and mopped ms
brow. Tramping the towpatE On
hot August afternoon, even in the IN
terests of a free lance story on the
Passing of the Old Erie" wasn't al
together delightful.
"A nice slow motor boat that would
steer itself would just about hit me
off," he grumbled. Then I could
sketch as I travelled and yet go slow
enough not to miss anything
AS il in answer to his wish boat
poked her nose around the bend of
the canal-but not the motor boat If
his desire. Instead appeared the head
barge of tow.
Jupiter" cried Jack suddenly. "An
idea for fair"
And when the barges drew abreast
he stepped forward, picked out the
man who seemed to be in charge and
begged of him board and lodging for
a few days compensation to be given
accordingly.
The man hesitated. then called his
wife. molly, this young man wants
to take trip with us; can we put
him ap?"
On the lips of his wife formed a
refusal. Then she checked it. "Why,
if there is room on one of the other
barges. Our daughter has just come
home and our hunks are full. but
you're welcome to take your meals
with u.s.
So Stafford found himself installed
and started on the plodd,ng journey
to Buffalo. The tow had been held
up awhile at one of the locks as a
previous string of barges was put
thru. Jack had climbed out to sketch
the lock.
AS he swung back to the forward
barge, the occupant of a low rocking
chair in the cabin doorway looked up
quickly. Taken off his guard, Jack
stared unbelieving. Then he bowed,
and said Pm going with the tow for
way. Are we fellow Travellers"
Jocelyn smiled. I'm the captains
daughter" she returned simply. so
L guess we are"
Followed long, lazy days of leisurely
travel, and the young people soon be-
came oblivious to all but each other.
Long ago Jacks article on the old
canal had lost much OF its importance.
why worry about outside occupa-
tons when his fathers considerable
business would some day be his-a
business which in the meanwhile gave
MIN comfortable berth and a
months vacation? And yet--if it
wasn't for his dependence on his ia
ther wouldn't he perhaps allow him
self to think of this glorious girl more
seriously? AS it was-welI, dad was
an excellent parent and all that. but
he did have exaggerated ideas about
the Importance of family and all that
sort OF thing. If his son ever suggest
ed such a contingency as marriage
with barge captains daughter. dad
would go up in the air and Jacks
prospects along with them.
But the little god of love seldom
takes into account the parents of his
victims One stormy night Jocelyn |
and Jack stood together on the prov |
of the barge, peering into the night |
for the lights of the lock ahead, and |
thrillingly conscious of the nearness |
VI Sic otnei "A suuuen gust fragrant I
with unshed rain. caught the fold of !
the girls ulster and. to steady herself |
she grasped at what she thought was |
the sleeve of Jacks coat. 1t proved to !
be his hand. At the sudden touch |
Jack forgot his father. his business
everything but the girl at his side.
'Jocelyni" he cried hoarsely, and |
folded her in his arms.
And Jocelyn, her velvet eyes lifted |
to his. let him see the love and sur
render in them.
You're going to marry me, grill"
he said. shaking her little to en-
phasiZe his seriousness, "as soon as
we can get the license after we dock" !
t-All-all right" said Jocelyn.
breathless but happy.
True to his word. Jack, the day the
tow reached port. went up to the city /
hall tn raalze irnt.esti tinrS TI,a-, h.