The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-02-20
THE BEACON
By GENEvIEvE ULMAR


AS the conductor called out the
name, two of the FIVE passengers in
the rear coach arose and made their
way to the door.
The man who had sat lost in somber
abstraction was the first to reach it.
A drive of rain made him pause. Then
ne noticed that young girl was close
IN his lead. He stepped to the depot
platform and caught her arm.
1T is pouring a torrent" he said,
you will be soaked through if you
do not gain shelter speedily"
A dismal lamp showed against
building half hundred feet away.
The girl did not resent the courtesy
of a stranger and joined him in a dash
down the platform. The depot was
locked'up and there was not a sign Of
life of habitation in its vicinity. The
caves We're narrow and dripping.
wait here" spoke her companion
and went to window, raised lit,
climbed inside and unset the lock Of
the door and lighted lamp.
This way, miss he called to the
girl. Dismal inside and out: Do you
know anything about this uncivilized
spot?"
"Oh, yes" replied the girl animated
ly. There are no houses here for it
Is only little way station, but my
home is mile distant"
ga v,,iIa %I,;e hoy,,ls,>n. ko..o,oo.A u
uttered the man. ''It might quite as
well be ten, child! Are you chilly?
There is stove here see. 1 will look
around and find out if there is coal
bin or woodpile handy"
He strobe down the platform and
examined box with a hinged cover.
1t contained kindling and coal. Then
he let the cover drop with a sudden
crash, for from the depot there echoed
a sharp ringing cry. Through the win
dow of the lighted room he made out
the figure of the girl struggling with
the uncouth figure of man in tramp
iSh attire
Evan Rogers sent her despoiler
whirling through the open doorway
and the fellow made off promptly.
Rogers fastened to the side of the girl,
who, pale and perturbed, came close
to him as if grateful for his protection.
Then after two visits to the coal box
he had a roaring fire in the stove. The
reaction from exposure and the shock
of her recent adventure had overcome
the girl. Her rescuer walked over
towards the window and peered out
grimly.
1t was desolate prospect without,
but in accord with bis life, and Rogers
was so engrossed in mentally survey
ing the circumstances that had
brought him to this dreary spot that
he almost forgot the girl.
He had come hither on a strange
mission. Twenty years previous he
had married Alice Hide. He was
young, improvident, reckless. Within
two years he had trifled away her lit
tie fortune. There had been a final
stormy scene Her brother, cold,
lOveless, had reproached Rogers with
his misdOings, had taken his sister to
his own home and the next day had
written brief note to Rogers. 1t ran:
"Alice hopes never to see your face
again.. but if you are man you will
go to work to repay the little fortune
you have misappropriated and vast
ed"
Dominated by her brother, the wife
never sent further word to her hus-
band. Rogers later heard that a lit
tie child was born. He became
changed man, accepting his dismissal
as just. He was too proud to sue for
forgiveness, and discerned that his
wife's brother amid his hatred for him
ton.
At the end of each year Rogers had
sent to the brother of his wife a GER
tain sum. The last payment that
marked the return to his wife of every
dollar he had spent, had been made
only a month since. From the, at
torney who acted for the brother he
received a brief letter telling that he
was dead and suggested that he see
his wife.
Was it thus guardedly that the law
yer indicated that the death of the
brother removed barrier that had
through the years prevented recon-
Citation? Evan Rogers unused so long
that before he turned from his alb
sorbing thoughts the storm had cleared
and the girl stood at his side.
1.-THE roads will be bad to Alden,
where / presume you are going" she
said, but half the distance Is my
home. You will be very welcome to
become our guest"
Rogers acqu!esced in the arrange
ment. She was the guide now. A mile
accomplished, she indicated a light in
house somewhat off from the road.
ut is mothers light in the window
for me-" she told Rogers cheerily.
How hind Won have hean tO met how