Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1927-03-25
Janice Of Lost
River
--s---.----- s.
BY H. LOUIS RAYBoLD


for serving In her tearoom on the Lost
River highway, Janice very nearly
jumped for JOY. She did not feel that
she could afford vacation without
pay and here was an opportunity TO
80 to the mountains and earn money
at the same time. She sat down I'M
mediately and wrote letter of ac-
ceptance and gratitude so mingled
chat when her Aunt Bertha read it
she smiled.
Poor janice she said TO herself,
If the girl thinks this is gay resort,
she's in for sad disappointment
And Janice was disappointed, for
Aunt Bertha's tearoom was literally
in wilderness.
Aunt Bertha was a woman who had
known a troubled life and undoubtedly
she was ready for the peace and com
fort brought by solitude, but Janice
was young and naturally yearned for
the bright lights and crowds TO which
she had been accustomed. Or for
other company than an elderly aunt,
two tame porcupines and bear cub
chained TO a stake.
Perhaps that WAS why, after three
weeks. Janice was ready for adven-
ture-and mischief-when it arrived
in the shape of one Lancelot Neale,
a slender young man with tortoise
shell glasses, a portfolio, and run
about.
He came for sandwiches and stopped
to chat with Janice. in whom he i'm
mediately saw resemblance to the
title role OF his new play. According
", he sought out Aunt Bertha and
asked permission TO remain for few
days TO study her niece. 1T is rare
to find girl so unreached and un-
spoiled by the effect of our hectic
civilization" he said
Aunt Bertha thought him very
ingenious young man, Nor did she con
slider II Necessary to tell him that
Janice was, for most OF the year,
typist in d brokers' Office on Broad.
way janice could do as she pleased.
As matter of fact, Janice would
probably not have begun deceiylng
the young man, had ii NOT been for
n certain unfortunate sentence. you
Interest me, If l may be personal, Miss
Makepeace,n lie told her, "by those
very qualities which life in city
would inevitably tarnish and destroy
There is a freshness of soul, dewy
innocence of your eyes-forgive me,
but somehow, when see you. l see
you In terms Of my heroine
And Janice meanly took every adj
vantage of him. is II true" she would
ask naively, that In New York, after
the play, the people do not so hons,
but 30 out to eat and dance until the
small hours Of the morningi How
glorious that would bel" And she
would clasp her hands in apparent
ecstasy
ut would spoil you utterly" Lance
lot would say. And Janice would be
tempted to further pretenses.
y wouldn't play with the boy I'D.
ylsed Aunt Bertha one day ale has
much to learn, but he admires you and
might come to feel for you an emotion
you did not reclprocate."
Lanccot stayed on Some days he
worked on his play Some days he
threw 1t restessly aside and waited
until Janice was free for walk
Ia the hilltop behind the house. There
they would sit while janice. careful to
Keep any tell-tale illusions out of her
conversation, would draw the man Oh
10 tell about life in what he called
THE big city," She was realizing
that she had put herself in the same
prctilcament MS the man who had hold
Of tue bulls tail she was anxious
to escape without knowing just how
she could do SO What had been
started as bit OF fun now threat
oned to Interfere with all her future
happiness. for what janice hesltated
10 admit 10 her aunt, She freely cou
fessed to herself. Namely. that shs
WIS rs much In love with the play
wright rs she suspected he was With
her
1t was with a sickeninr sensation
that one morning she saw Neule come
down the stairs with his suitcase
packed aud strapped. lie came
straight over to her looked at BE-
wlstfuIly q moment without a word
then gripped her slender hand. "Iye
got To go Janire,n he said, "aud
ought 10 go without anothcr word
But, yes. hang IT, il you'll come up To
our hilltop, III tell you why and wha
cad am
I'm al sorts Of a eur. Miss Iam rr
he said misorahly when they haa
reached the hilltop "Yon see. 1 low
SUI desperately But if ] asked So
10 go TO New York. q wrnld he uH
true 10 ms entire thought OF you kn
as for staying her~-eyea with YOU
shadder nj the thuusbtl You al
where you belong To upruot SIC
would be crime But when one hu
lived IN New York. one never gel
over tho love for
"-the gay crowds pouring eut alH
broadway the i-hts across tne riV
fr,... &. ...af .tt f1.a Urft.. t.4.l.n 3D.