Janet of the Dunes

where yo

he Hills,

thin'

ryth

rlessness so much as

rd to see others active, if one is ti

if I'd been struck blind as well as helpless. But I ain't blind. I see all that's goin'

Tapkins hangi

t the Light last n

bust, till mornin'? But Mark didn't use t' lap his turn clea

Susan

Tapkins is shi

?" Janet was strugg

nse he has left is gone t' cookin' an' managin' a house. He ain't old an' the soft-headed kind last longer than keener folks: it would fit int' your ways right proper. Mrs. Jo G.'s girl couldn't stand it. She is so brisk an' contrivin', an' Mrs. Jo G., being right here o

please." The girl's face showed an angry flus

u know t

n to the page

ney box where I can see it. Was i

I must be off. Tell Da

ait dinner! I'd like t' see any one, boarder or saucy jade, as w

an' Mark Tapkins followin' on ahind like a l

the two, all her irritable, action-che

all I know, this may be better'n nothin'! I don't wan

She turned and saw Mark. He was tall and lank. He leaned forward from the shoulders loosel

going, Mark?" T

et. I've-I've got

gs since sun-up, and you've been in the Light a

r a night awake. Since I've sot up in the Light I

hly thing you can say that I want to hear this morning. I'm go

're aimin' at. Goin' up t' the Hills t' get a job of some sort! Yer innercint, an' yer a gal, Janet, an' I'm a man an' I've spe

, the effort to protect in man-fashio

ps. If I thought I did, there might be danger. It's just the same as if I were James B.

upidly at the

t some jarred, same as others. I went t' the city that time t' see if I could get my bearin's at a distance; but when I come back I sorter lost the channel

wanted to see t

nted t' choose a course fur myself, independent of Pa, but save us! I hankered arter Pa so, an' I came nigh t' perishin' fur his cookin'. I

hankful for any side path that

e gal leaped back a step; then she hauled out a bag 'bout the size of a bushel an' begins shovellin' in round, humpy things, most all hole in the centre but considerable sizable as t' girth. I was up t' city ways by then, an' I warn't goin' t' show any surprise if she'd loaded an ister boat full of cakes on me. So I pa

laughing

r to make his crullers for the city trade. He'll make his fortune. Pu

s not h

shop, an' I learned city ways an' badness! Then I got sick an' come home, thinkin' I was ready t' settle down, an' then I got t' driftin' an' so it went till now. An' when I heerd 'bout you goin' up t' the Hills an' knowin' what I do 'bout city ways, I just reasoned out that I must love you, else I w

"You must not, Mark, dear. You don't want a woman to watch; you want one to watch with you, one whom you love and who loves

without yer leave. I won't bother you none, but I thank God I've got city ways t' meet city way

to the dividin

I go on

u must go hom

Janet, till

watched the slouchin

ip riding near the bar, with the crew's eyes upon it!"

he luxuriant wild rose, and variegated grasses made color so exquisite and rare, that the only wonder was that the Hills were not crowded with adoring Nature-wo

ortune? She feared every moment that she might meet a little wagon drawn by a sunbonneted, long-aproned woman, or a man not less picturesque. She sat down to consider; then, to make thought easier, she lay at full length, closing her eyes and dreaming luxuriously. The summer day lured her senses deliciously. Even the late experience

e wagon put its seal upon his calling, but the broad hat, set well back from the handsome face, had a distant but fatal mark of the artist colony upon it. T

stion was torn from the girl

The voice was solemn

Outraged imaginatio

p still a minute; then I'll l

y of a new order was born w

wly she arose and went up behind the man. What she saw stayed anger and all other emotions save wonder. Surely the Hills, with all their real color and outline, were ensnared upon that square of paper! Never was there a truer reflection of the bay. Janet co

ear part, the one who has wrought and the one who appre

or raise his eyes, but his voice brought

look li

's own paint pots, I believe I could have done better. I wish you had sta

ement thrilled through a

r the best criticism I could ask. What's

id her head in her folded arms, and w

shall I call you? For heaven'

hope I had to-to earn money-and-

his disturbed moment. Once it was safe, he stood his full height of six feet two, put his hands in

n't want to use force, but really you must look

e and gazed upward with her ey

e our dunes and the Hills, and I thought I could learn, at least, to do such pictures as theirs, and get money! But you've shown me-another kind! I can never, never learn to make such pictures as that!" Her sorrowful gaze

owing astonishment upon the radiant uplifted face which was swe

s for you-" he paused, and threw himself full length upon the sand and laughed good humoredly, "I beg your pardon. I really had no right to put you in the picture without your permission. I thought, as true as heaven hears me, that you were like-well, the other girls of the place, and they coax to have themselves 'taken' as

ace clear

wly, "I can tell you that it is simply because I've listened and read more. I hate to use w

aspirations? That is why y

isn't the real rea

at S

now. He was open to revelation in regard to Quinton ch

lly frank manner that you wan

he bronze of Jan

t it by waiting on table. Some feed you and wash

en fo

e must be

he spoke the mockery had departed. His better nature rose to meet the blind n

ou by," he said. "You have mentioned Cap'n Da

name is Morg

n't a card, but Mr. Richard Th

ituation began to

ain. Mine is over at the Station on the beach. I'm staying just now wi

saw you then and caught you, but I saw you flitting through several pictures. I even named the pictures, Spirit of the Dunes. I advise you for your own good, Miss Janet, do not struggle

ot unde

u well, and if I sell the pictures, you'll have a kind of fame to offer yo

I sit here u

ie among them," T

, and then take your picture

the few fortunate devils who has sold a pict

st way to get the boarders' money I've heard of

the air and place. Miss Janet,"-he spoke slower, feeling his way as he went,-"I'm going to ask you to keep

et assured him. "If I see a littl

t! Your Cap'n Daddy, and that Captain of the Light

irl's face again stirred Thornly. "It's

watc

f them have an eye on me. I can almost feel Daddy's eye way over from the Station; and there's Davy! I shouldn't wonder now, if he were looking at me as he hauls the oil up to t

ilities that makes me about crazy," he said. "Your associates must a

and reared where equality and good-fellowship existed, she knew no need of caution. To dislike a person was the only

here," she repeated. "You'l

nly forbore to laugh, and he se

sure himself. He's never sure of anything, and I

blow this whistle?" Thornly took a small golden watch charm from his fob. It seemed a toy, but wh

u can escape the watch,-come to the Hills, blow the whistle and presto! change! I'll be on the scene befor

et said softly, the beauty of the thing holding her anew, "yes! You've made them your very own, the Hills, and me, and the sky and

ve seen it in oil! I've a shanty over there-" he pointed below them, where a hollow, opening toward the bay, held a tiny building in its almos

our shanty. I dare say it's enchanted, and besides,"-she showed her

a good three miles to walk. Good bye, Mr. Thornly, it's been a wonderful morning." She start