Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-31
THE DAILY
NOVELETTE,
AN ISLAND Nv THE FAMILY
BY JOHN ELIOT WESTON

SEATED in the couch hammock, Jean
awaited the arrival of Porter Phil
lips She would be glad to see him, yet
she dreaded the news he might bring
relative to the passing of a certain bill
II that bill had passed. Jean would lose
her island. with its pines and rocks and
low gray-shingled bungalow
For certain legislators, become aware
ot tne fact that most OF the islands in
.ne Iake were being held under squat
properties be taken over by the state
and made into a reservation Only own
ers with clear titles would not be affect
ed Jean had no clear title.
marx there was the old Pipedream
now With quickening Of her pulse,
SShe ran down TO the landing Porter.
Dill pass"
gs.ripped her hands in his, Jean. dear.
~ uid. And the girl knew the little
term of endearment gave the measure
or his sympathy
Presently over tall glasses of some
thing fruity and cool, brought by Jeans
little maid. they discussed the situation.
>, The burning of the Beldon Town
han PLAYED the deuce with the records"
unused Porter. Your father never men,
TONED whether he held a deed?"
NO. said jean "and after his death
only your father ever came here until !
had the bungalow built. I'll go through
his papers, but I feel sure I shall not
When Porter rose TO go, a sudden inn
pulse seized him. jean he cried, TAX
ing step forward.
The girl drew back. "Not-not yet"
she said.
My thoughts are 80 full of losing the
island--you understand? ?" she pleaded.
of course" said Porter comprehend.
ngIy' and with friendly, little nod
gotten everything but the nearness and
dearness Of her, And, by George. he had
forgotten to tell her about Nancy!
An hour later, Jean slipped the band
around the last package OF papers which
had been her fathers. They had yielded
her nothing Fevershly she picked up
some old books, opened them. held them
upside down and shook them violently.
From one, loose leaf luttered out
then what was that yellow paper2
With unsteady fingers she opened 1t
out. Yes, 1t vas deed with her
fathers signature, registering the sale
or the island. But to whom was the
island sold? Not to her father But
by her father to-to John William Phil
lips She had never heard OF him. Why.
| how silly of her That was Porter's
father The book must have been his,
Mechanically. she turned back to the
|
In cramped. faded writing. SO the island
was Porter's She must tell him right
| away.
Presently, kneeling in the stern OF
the craft out into the calm waters, re-
fecting the gathering splendor of the
sunset.
AS she neared the island on which
he had told her he had pitched his tent
she saw the dim smoke of fire. But
what was that silhouetted against the
tents wh!tencss. their outlines picked
out by the freight? The figures of a
man and woman, the woman's head rest.
ing on the shoulder Of the man.
| ThunderstruCk Jean paused. her pad
die lifted, then turned homeward as
silently as she had come. How could
he have hinted tina, he loved her-oh
how could he?
Into her bitter meditations thought
insinuated itself In her sweater pocket
she held PorteT's punishment. A little
flip of that yelowed paper into the lake
and who would be tine wiser? He de-
served TO lose tho did-he did
Once more she bent to the paddle. lr
the morning she would take Porter his
deed-then go back to the city and
forget.
| Some one waiting for you on the YER
andah, vas Cela's greeting as she en-
tered the rear Of the bungalow.
wondering, Jean stepped to the oper
door
jean 0dIu q ldrllllldT VOICE. 6ol'iy
She paused her hand at her throat
Porter must have come to the landing
viii lie she vas pulling her canoe ou
back on the bathing beach. Well, Il
saved her a Eaddle In the morning '
! Here" she said coldly, is somethin,
OF yours"
: Porter, aware of the hostility in hel
tone, took the paper she held out struci
a match and read by the wavering light
Why, your father sold this island tt
| nv athpr How arrange M
wonder you are feeling badly"
Phillips DO you suppose am as smal
as all that? II you were only what
III we're what you thought I was,
repeated Porter II say, Jean, woulc
you mind saying that again?"
AS II you didn't know! Here thi
: sorts Of things Yet tonight / saw 20,
, with your arm around"
MY cousin Nancy" murmured Por
ter. mo, wait You didn't see my arm
around any one My cousin Nancy l
! here with her husband taking cruis
Of the lake as part OF their weddinl
trip. They arrived this morning, an,
as their DUNE didn't show up | loane
them the use of my tent and stun Yol
saw Nan and Billy"
Porter, forgive me-" whispered Jean
Forgive you? Bless you. rather. Fo
think It has shown me that you car
| little Do your"
Slipping neekly into his arms. Jeal
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