JANET OF THE DUNES
by
HARRIET T. COMSTOCK
Author of Joyce of the North Woods, A Son of the Hills, Etc.
[Illustration: JANET. _Frontispiece_]
Grosset & Dunlap Publishers :: :: New York
Copyright, 1907, By Little, Brown, and Company. All rights reserved
LOVINGLY I Dedicate this Book TO CARRIE LOUISE SMITH.
HER FRIENDSHIP WAS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, A LIGHT TO ME UPON MY WAY. THE CHART SHE SAILED BY WILL GUIDE MY COURSE AND BRING ME, I HOPE, AT LAST, TO THE HARBOR WHERE SHE HAS GONE.
HARRIET T. COMSTOCK. FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN, N.Y. June 15, 1907.
PREFACE
In this story of the dunes, the Hills and the Light, I have not attempted any character drawing, although on the easterly shore of Long Island there are many people who have retained, together with the plain old English names which they brought with them by way of Connecticut and Rhode Island, a simplicity and sturdiness of character not to be found elsewhere, I believe, so near the great cosmopolis, and which is worthy a place in song and story.
It has been my good fortune to mingle for many summers with these kindly folk, and particularly with a little group of gentle, rather bashful and silent men forming a crew, with their captain, of one of the United States Life Saving Stations.
It is my hope that this story, if it does nothing else, will in some small measure enhance the not-too-strong interest in which the poorly paid, obscurely enacted heroism of the men in this service is held by the general public.
They have not the advantages, like our soldiers and firemen, of dressy uniforms and frequent parade before us. They would be greatly embarrassed by anything like public homage; yet how beneficent is their service! The lonely isolation of the Government Houses; the long, ofttimes dangerous patrols every night from sunset to sunrise; their detachment from home and social ties,--all speak for the dignified bravery of these men along our coasts, and should call forth from us a grateful and appreciative tribute.
HARRIET T. COMSTOCK. FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN, N.Y. JUNE 12, 1907.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Janet Frontispiece
page "The two men stood spellbound before the easel" 117
"'What do you know of my mother?'" 187
"'They're on the outer bar! Two rockets! I've answered!'" 267
JANET OF THE DUNES
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: Janet of the Dunes by Harriet T. Comstock
- 2: A grayness quite capable of changing to ominous black
- 3: Janet was growing more and more dangerous
- 4: Then an artist had discovered Quinton by the Sea
- 5: Janet was not deeply impressed
- 6: Janet looked across the summer sea
- 7: An' ye added Daddy of yer own will
- 8: ' David had reached the Light
- 9: Don't lay it up agin Susan Jane
- 10: He had seen the light shinin' in the winder
- 11: Quinton and I are going to be true to ourselves
- 12: You'd have considerable cravin' in yer stomach fur victuals
- 13: To the accompaniment of Susan Jane's complaints
- 14: As a feminine requisite of old Quinton
- 15: And instantly Quinton was forgotten
- 16: Inspecting Captain David's domain
- 17: What's Mark Tapkins hangin' round fur
- 18: Janet had fled before the rising storm
- 19: Put that sign out for crullers
- 20: Dignity of a new order was born within Janet at that instant
- 21: Looked down upon the heaving body of the Spirit of the Dunes
- 22: Richard Thornly presents his compliments
- 23: Thornly was laughing uproariously
- 24: Thornly waved to her as she went
- 25: And so Mason added a den to the structure
- 26: Thornly again contracted his brows
- 27: Something ought to account for my pimpernel
- 28: I do wish you could land one of these boarders
- 29: You were just going to send up a Coston light
- 30: What do they think ye a modil of
- 31: How comes ye kin leave the mainland
- 32: If Thornly were away from the shanty
- 33: How long she slept Janet never knew
- 34: Devant opened the door and said with a half laugh
- 35: Janet heard him stop before the easel
- 36: Thornly muttered something inaudibly
- 37: Thornly looked at the bowed head
- 38: And Thornly gazed after her with yearning eyes
- 39: After many attempts to secure Janet as waitress
- 40: Pa and his crullers were becoming bywords
- 41: That ain't no word t' tack ont' Janet
- 42: This statement appeared to interest Thornly immensely
- 43: Thornly changed color perceptibly
- 44: Thornly sprang between him and the canvas
- 45: Janet pulled the green shade down
- 46: Susan Jane's voice trailed sleepily
- 47: I never have any different idee about it
- 48: Janet retraced her steps to David
- 49: But I always loved Susan Jane fur myself
- 50: Janet saw poor departed Susan in a belated halo of romance
- 51: Fitch said she felt herself high an' mighty
- 52: Maybe she'll have love enough fur us both
- 53: Janet put her face close to Davy's
- 54: And Thornly had stared right ahead
- 55: No fear of a robber stirred Janet
- 56: A loathing filled Janet as she listened
- 57: Devant threw his head back and laughed
- 58: Devant took up the subject anxiously
- 59: Devant arose uneasily and walked about the room
- 60: Handing Thornly an old photograph
- 61: It isn't for us to set up the game
- 62: Thornly spoke almost affectionately
- 63: But Janet had an eye for the impressionistic touch
- 64: Pa Tapkins had his explanation ready
- 65: Janet recalled the old fancy now
- 66: His keen eyes saw Janet at once
- 67: Devant had noticed that sensation before
- 68: Devant heard the outer door close
- 69: Floatin' round like eelgrass up the creek
- 70: Jared began to show an interest
- 71: Ye might happen t' like t' fry up some isters
- 72: It oughter come to ye from a woman
- 73: Janet arose and stood in front of Billy
- 74: An' allus shall be fur whatever was hers
- 75: And that Eliza Jane insisted upon
- 76: Thornly had not looked him up after seeing Katharine
- 77: Devant staggered under the blow
- 78: Devant dared not urge his first claim of parentage
- 79: She wanted to get away over to the dunes
- 80: An' I didn't want you smirched
- 81: But I was allus a thinkin' I was more
- 82: With that imptiness in the pit of yer stummick
- 83: He was in his ilers an' boots when he went over
- 84: Janet was crouching by his chair
- 85: Had onsettled Maud Grace considerable
- 86: I thought once 't was your Janet
- 87: But that animal is too much like a theayter
- 88: He was peelin' taters in the Station
- 89: Kinder skittish actin' hussy she was
- 90: Jest fur feelin's in her bones
- 91: Janet came and stood close by Davy
- 92: While she acted her nerves were calm
- 93: Janet caught her breath and staggered back
- 94: A stupor was creeping over her
- 95: Thornly was holding the girl closer
- 96: Thornly did not relinquish his hold
- 97: After Thornly was gone the unreality passed
- 98: Ai explained while Thornly mixed a hot drink for Billy
- 99: When Ai had gone Thornly put the cup down
- 100: Mark Tapkins awkwardly entered
- 101: Tapkins raised his head proudly
- 102: How different from his old world was this one of the dunes
- 103: And Thornly hastened his steps
- 104: It would ease Billy and spare Janet
- 105: Thornly pressed the thin shoulder firmer
- 106: Thornly drew his lips in sharply as he looked at her
- 107: Ask for Grosset and Dunlap's list
- 108: Popular Copyrighted Fiction GROSSET DUNLAP
- 109: Ask for Grosset Dunlap's list
- 110: Ask for Grosset Dunlap's list
- 111: Popular Copyrighted Fiction GROSSET DUNLAP
- 112: As Get Rich Quick Wallingford
- 113: HillerThe romance of the son of The Riverman
- 114: Ask for Grosset Dunlap's list
- 115: Homely folk who dwelt there Jan Vedder was raised
- 116: Popular Copyrighted Fiction GROSSET DUNLAP