EBEN COMES ASHORE
As John and Jess made their way slowly down to the shore their hearts
were free and happy. They were together, and that was all sufficient.
Everything in nature was in harmony with their feelings. Birds chirped
and flitted about them; butterflies zigzagged here and there, and bees
hummed industriously among the flowers. The air was balmy, and a
gentle breeze drifted in from the west. Jess stopped and looked out
upon the river with kindling eyes.
"Oh, what a glorious day," she remarked. "It is so good to be in a
place such as this."
"I am glad you like it," John replied, as he glanced at the bright face
by his side. "I wish you could stay here always."
"So do I. The country suits me better than anywhere else."
"You would miss the city life, would you not, if you lived here all the
year?"
"What would I miss in the city? A continual round of social events, of
which I am more than tired, and going here and there in a vain effort
to find happiness. I long to be free in the highest sense, and not to
be chained to a system which to me is deadening."
"You certainly put your belief into practice when you ran away from
home. I am glad you do not regret it."
"No, I have not the least regret. If I felt that my parents are
mourning for me I would feel badly. But they treated me so cruelly in
trying to force me to marry the man I hate, that I do not care how they
feel."
"But suppose they find out where you are and compel you to go home?"
"They may find me, but they cannot make me go back. I have tasted the
joy of freedom from their rule, and shall henceforth think and act for
myself. You may consider me ungrateful, but if you knew what my life
has been like you would not blame me."
They had reached the border of a grove of small trees, and here in an
old fence wild flowers flourished in abundance and ran riot over the
moss-covered poles. Jess stooped, picked a wild rose, and inhaled its
sweet fragrance. John, watching, thought he had never beheld a more
perfect picture of beauty, grace and maidenly charm. His soul thrilled
within him, and moving impulsively forward, he took the rose from her
hand, and placed it gently in her hair. He smiled as he stepped back
to view the effect.
"Excuse me," he apologised, "but I could not help it. That is the
place for the rose; it makes you look great."
Then he caught her by the hand and led her down the narrow path which
led to the water. Nearby stood a large tree, with great outspreading
branches, and under this they stopped, John's heart was beating fast,
while the girl's face almost equalled the rose in colour. The world
and its cares were forgotten as they stood there on that bright summer
afternoon. They were living in a world of their own, for love had cast
its mystic charm over their young lives.
"Why need you leave this place?" John suddenly asked. "Why not stay
here always? I want you, and must have you? Would you not be happy
here with me?"
He was still holding her hand, which he now pressed more firmly than
ever. How he longed to take the girl in his arms, and imprint a kiss
upon her rosy lips. He wanted to confess to her his great love, and to
hear her tell of hers. But she did not at once reply. Her face, from
which some of the colour had fled, was turned toward the river, and her
hand trembled.
"Don't you know that I love you?" John impetuously insisted. "Can't
you feel it in my every word and act? I love you as I never believed
it possible to love any woman."
Then Jess looked into his eyes, and the expression the young man saw
there filled his heart with joy.
"You do love me," he cried, "and you will be mine. Oh, tell me so!"
"Yes, John, I do love you," Jess slowly replied. "I love you more than
words can tell. But we must wait a while. I am a runaway girl, you
know, and I must not bring disgrace upon your family."
"Disgrace! I do not understand you. How could you bring disgrace upon
mother and me?"
Jess smiled as she gently freed her hand, and plucked a leaf from the
branch of a small tree. This she twirled in her fingers, and then tore
it into bits, dropping each piece separately upon the ground.
"There is my answer," she said, in a voice that was low but full of
emotion. "What I have done to that innocent leaf people will do to me
when they find out what I have done. They will not spare me any more
than I have spared that leaf. They will take my life and rend it
asunder bit by bit. They will hear about my experiences on the 'Eb and
Flo'; that a mishap befell me at the quarry; that I was taken away in
the dead of night, and kept hidden by a young man so that my parents
could not find me. I know what construction they will put upon all
this, and no matter how much I might explain it will make no
difference. I will be looked upon as a girl who has gone astray, and
will be held in contempt by all. Oh, I know how it will be, for I
remember how people talked about a girl who did something not half so
daring as mine, and she was never forgiven. Her character was torn
into shreds by cruel tongues."
"But what has all this to do with our love?" John asked. "I don't care
what people say. In fact, I will face the whole world, and if I hear
anyone breathe a word against you it won't be well for him."
"I know you would do what you could, John, but not likely you would
ever have the chance. What could you do against the many conversations
where my name and deed will be introduced. And in what a subtle manner
judgment will be pronounced, 'Poor girl; isn't it too bad?' 'How hard
on her parents!' That is the way most people will refer to me, though
some will express their views in no uncertain language. I have heard
it before, and know just what to expect."
"But, Jess, why need we care what they say?" John insisted. "We can be
happy together. Our love will make up for everything else."
"Yes, I know that, John. But until this storm blows over, and I am
condemned and forgotten it is better for us to remain just as we are.
I must get away from here and do something."
"You're not going to leave, Jess. You must stay right here."
But the girl shook her head. Her face was very serious, and her eyes
shone with the light of determination.
"I must go, John," she said. "Should my father find me here, he will
make my life unbearable. He will try to force me to go back, and the
only way to prevent that would be for me to do what people think I have
already done." A tremour shook her body, and her eyes grew big with a
nameless fear.
"Your father shall not take you back," John declared. "And you must
not do what you suggest. That would be terrible! There is another way
out of the difficulty, and you know what that is."
"Yes, I know, John. The captain spoke of it yesterday."
"He did! Good for him. He is a man of sense, all right. And won't
you, Jess? We can get married, and then no one can take you from me."
Jess remained silent for a few minutes, with her face turned to the
river, shimmering in the glow of eventide.
"We must wait, John," she at length replied. "We are both young yet,
so there need be no hurry. Should we get married now, I know that my
father would make every effort to separate us, even though I have the
right to do as I please. He is a very determined man, and when he once
makes up his mind it is almost impossible to stop him. When he finds
out what I have done his anger will be great. But what would it be
like should I marry you? No, we must wait. I shall go away and hide
myself."
"You cannot do that, Jess. I am afraid you know very little about the
world. Why, what could you do to make a living? You have been well
educated, but what could you do to earn enough to live upon? You have
always had plenty of money for all your needs; you have led a sheltered
life, so you cannot understand the struggle it would mean to go out
into the world to battle your own way. Now, is there one thing you
could really do to earn a living?"
"I don't know, John," was the low reply. There were tears in the
girl's eyes, for she realised that the words of advice were only too
true, "I am afraid you are right. I did not look at it that way."
"I know you didn't, so that is why I have spoken so plainly. It would
be cruel not to open your eyes and show you the difficulties ahead."
"What am I to do, then?" the girl asked, in a despairing voice. "We
must not marry each other now. But what can I do? Where can I go?"
For a few minutes silence reigned, as the two stood there. John was
thinking rapidly, and at last he turned to the girl with the light of a
new idea shining in his eyes.
"I know what we can do," he told her. "We can hide you where your
father cannot find you for some time. There is a place out in the
hills where you can stay, and no one will have any idea where you are.
Mother can go with you, and it will do her so much good, for she needs
to get away for a change. We have a nice cabin there, which father
built. It is on a little island, in a beautiful lake, and I know you
will enjoy the life. You see, we have a coal mine on the shore of the
lake, and that is why father built the cabin. He used to live there
for weeks at a time. But since his death it has been occupied but
little; although I sometimes spend several days there when out hunting."
The expression in the girl's eyes showed her interest in John's words,
and when he stopped she lifted her face to his.
"But what about you?" she asked. "How will you get along without your
mother?"
"Oh, I shall live there, too, part of the time," John laughingly
explained. "You will not get clear of me as easily as all that. I
shall have to attend to the farm, but having the car, I can run out and
back in a short time. Perhaps you will see too much of me when you and
mother set up housekeeping in the wilderness."
"I think it will be splendid!" Jess exclaimed. "I have often wanted to
live just such a life as you describe. And having your mother with me,
and you visiting us often, what more could one ask?"
"And just think of the delightful hours you and mother can spend upon
the lake, or walking through the woods. And during the evenings and on
wet days you will have books and magazines, for I shall keep you well
supplied with reading matter. In fact, there are a good many books
already in the cabin, for father was a great reader."
"When can we go, John?" Jess was all eager now for the adventure.
"We shall have to speak to mother first. I know that she will enter
enthusiastically into our scheme."
"Then we had better go back to the house at once. We told her we would
be away but a short time, and we have forgotten all about our promise."
"Mother won't mind," John replied. "She likes to see us happy, and she
understands."
They stepped out from beneath the tree upon the narrow path, and as
they did so a sound upon the river attracted their attention. Glancing
in that direction, they saw a small row-boat coming toward them. There
was one person on board, pulling at the oars with long, steady strokes.
"Why, it is Eben!" John exclaimed. "And there's the 'Eb and Flo' lying
at anchor. It's a wonder we didn't hear some sound before."
"Suppose we wait here until Eben comes ashore," Jess suggested. "It
will give him a great surprise. I have not seen him since the truck
ran off the track at the quarry."
It took Eben but a few minutes to reach the land and pull up the boat.
He then straightened himself up, and was about to move up the path when
he caught sight of the two standing before him. In a twinkling the
expression upon his face changed, and his eyes gloved with the light of
jealousy and hatred.
"Come on up, Eben," Jess invited. "We're waiting for you."
With a bound the youth did as he was bidden, and in another minute he
was standing before the two, with his fists doubled, and a defiant look
upon his face.
"Why, Eben, what's the matter?" Jess asked, shrinking back in fear.
The boy, however, was not looking at her, but at John.
"I hate you!" he cried. "I will kill you!"
"What do you mean?" John sternly asked. "What have I done to you?"
"You stole her from me," and Eben motioned to the girl.
"Oh, I see," and John laughed. "Come, Jess, we had better go home.
Eben is jealous, and I don't want to fight a duel here."
Like a flash the maddened youth stooped, seized a stick lying near, and
hurled a savage blow at John's head. Quick as lightning the latter
dodged, and although he managed to escape the full force of the blow,
one end of the stick grazed his forehead, inflicting a long gash. It
staggered him for an instant, but recovering, he leaped toward his
assailant. With a gurgling cry of baffled defeat, Eben turned and fled
down the path, along the shore, and disappeared amid the trees.
Blood was now flowing from the wound in John's forehead as he stood and
stared in the direction Eben had gone. Then he turned to his companion.
"This explains something which has been puzzling me," he began. "I
know now who threw the stone which hit you on the head. It was
intended for me, but it struck you instead."
"Oh, do you think so?" the girl asked. "I am greatly surprised at
Eben. I had no idea he would do such a thing."
"H'm, one need never be surprised at anything he does. He's always
been a mystery to me, and to everybody else, I guess."
Drawing forth his handkerchief, he wiped the blood from his forehead.
This action aroused Jess.
"Forgive me," she pleaded, "I should have been caring for you instead
of standing here doing nothing. Come down to the river, and let me
bathe your wound. Does it pain you much?"
"Just a scratch," John replied, as he walked along by her side. "It
might have finished me, though. It was meant for a knock-out blow. I
shall have to settle with that young fool. He must be taught a lesson."
"Oh, don't do anything to him," Jess begged. "He will get over his
anger in time. Isn't it strange that he should be so jealous?"
"I don't blame him. If I were in his place I would feel just the same."
The girl understood his meaning, and for an instant a smile dispelled
the serious expression upon her face.
"But you wouldn't try to kill a man, would you?" she asked. "You have
more sense."
"It is hard to tell what I might do if anyone tried to take you from
me."
John was kneeling close to the water now, and the girl was bathing his
wound. How delightful it was to feel her gentle touch, and to know
that she was so near! It was worth while being injured to have such
attention from the one he loved.
For a few minutes Jess held the handkerchief to his forehead. But the
blood still flowed, so they decided to go back to the house as quickly
as possible, and, have it properly dressed.
"Mother is a fine hand at doing up wounds," John explained. "She is as
good as any doctor or nurse."
They walked as fast as possible up the path, and when they at length
left this to cross the field, Mrs. Tobin suddenly appeared at the front
door of her house.
"Have you seen Eben?" she called.
John stopped short in his tracks, and for an instant he was tempted to
tell this woman about her son's cowardly attack. He resisted the
longing, however, and merely informed her that Eben was down on the
shore, and no doubt would be home shortly.
"It is just as well for her not to know what that boy has done," he
confided to Jess, as they continued on their way. "It wouldn't do any
good, and the less said about it the better."
"And don't let us say anything about what happened at the quarry, John.
I feel certain now that Eben threw the stone which hit me."
"There is no doubt about it," was the emphatic reply. "I won't say a
word now, but that young rascal must be taught a lesson. He needs to
be severely punished for what he has done."