Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-03-07
To the Ends
of the Earth
By JOSEPHINE SHELDON

L q
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(Copyright.l
Elise WINSTON pointed with
~ long stick at the animals pic
tured on the huge sheet on the wall
mot gat but cat, Wappi, DEAR" she
corrected. "Now, YUM, what's this?"
The stick slid from cat to dog and
then to COW and on to horse. The
brown skinned little natives wriggled
and twisted their slender bodies and
.wrestled with the English words.
AS Elise worked with them her
mind was not always on what she
was doing and at times her thoughts
were so far removed from the little
island that 1t was shock to her when
at last she was once more conscious
Of her surroundings. After while
things became more a habit and she
could spend whole hours in the United
States and at the same time instruct
the young in her charge perfectly.
Her lips could keep up steady flow
of "No. Ataquilla, don't take off your
pinafore, DEAR" and "Wappi, you are
not trying to make your letters" and
"Your mother said, Celia, she wanted
you to learn to wear shoes, so put
them back on right away" And all
the time her mind was saying: Il
wonder what my crowd would think
IL they could see me now. l won
der what they are doing and wheth-
'er the United States really is the
same old place It was three months
ago-three months ago. And what 1t
would feel like to dress for dinner
again and to go to the theater in the
evening. Oh, Lord, what did 1 ever
sign up for year of this forl must
have been insane"
"Gala hata santa-Gala hata san.
tai" they would chant, which In their
dialect meant golden-haired saint.
But with all the novelty and fas-
eination Of her new life Elise was
homesick and she lived from one week
to another for the letters she received
from home. Every Thursday
steamer from San Francisco touched
the little island and always great ex
element attended Its arrival. The
natives would get into little boats and
hurry out to the big steamer, climb
aboard and try to sell their wares.
The faculty always went to the dock
In hope of glimpsing an American
Occasionally business brought some
one to the island. At least there was
always hope. 1t was Thursday in
early March that Elise stood out in
the dazzling sunshine watching the
passengers on deck, when suddenly
she saw a man come down the gang
plank followed by the usual number
Of bags and baggage and suddenly her
knees began to tremble and she turned
her back on the steamer.
John Armistead Porter, reaching
the end of the gangplank, looked up
and about him with an air Of one
eagerly interested In his surround.
ings. It was then that he spied the
familiar back and waved his hat at
its unseeing expanse. Elise did not
look around, but she knew somehow
that he had seen her and could feel
him approaching nearer, nearer. Her
heart beat suffocatingly. Stupid idiot,
what was the matter with her? He
must not see her like this.
He caught her arm American fash
lon and looked down into her face
81 told you I'd follow you to the
ends of the EARTH" he laughed. u
wish all these people weren't clutter.
ing up the place and I'd kiss you even
IL did get my face scratched after.
ward"
~. A., you dear old silly-what did
you come down here fort" she asked.
"Just to get you. Long trip for
such little girl, isn't III But you've
had your fling and educated enough
savages by now. It's time you came
home. spoke to your mother about
1t and she agrees with me-"
"But, but won't go back with you
you know I'm not in love with you,
J. A."
"There. were so many men hanging
around you, you hadn't chance to
know what you were. Down here It's
different. To really fall In love you
have to be a little lonesome; have
that little hollow empty feeling In
your heart. | know because I've had
It." He was cheerfully optimistic as
they walked up the beach together.
but Elise was silent
That night they walked on the
beach In the dazzling moonlight The
waves swished and slushed softlS
along the sandy coast, the palm trees
stood out against the white back
ground plain as day. the natives had
long before retired to their huts.
The spell Of the place was upon
grIpped her as It never had be
fore. The weird charm of II all, the
strange loneliness. She caught her
breath and looked up at him, her eyes
big with new wonder
rs II you or is II the placer" she
asked In whisper.
II think It's the combination" he
answered.
He held her to him a moment, then
kissed her and she INTERESTINGLY sub
mitted to his caresses.
Suddenly she came back TO earth
with thud and she made wry face
In the moonlight
"But, oh, John, | forgot. I didn't
intend to capltulate so soon. You'll
never value me as you should, but
when ! saw you get of that steam
err"
"Dont you worry, dear" he sootlied
"A fellows apt to value the girl he
goes three thousand miles TO get and
thai nfter he's been definitely turned
down nineteen separate and distinct
times"
And renssured by his words she was
quite happy again