As for Owen Ford , the `` Margaret '' of his book , although she had the soft brown hair and elfin face of the real girl who had vanished so long ago , `` pillowed where lost Atlantis sleeps , '' had the personality of Leslie Moore , as it was revealed to him in those halcyon days at Four Winds Harbor . All in all , it was a never-to-be-forgotten summer -- one of those summers which come seldom into any life , but leave a rich heritage of beautiful memories in their going -- one of those summers which , in a fortunate combination of delightful weather , delightful friends and delightful doings , come as near to perfection as anything can come in this world . `` Too good to last , '' Anne told herself with a little sigh , on the September day when a certain nip in the wind and a certain shade of intense blue on the gulf water said that autumn was hard by . That evening Owen Ford told them that he had finished his book and that his vacation must come to an end . `` I have a good deal to do to it yet -- revising and pruning and so forth , '' he said , `` but in the main it 's done . I wrote the last sentence this morning . If I can find a publisher for it it will probably be out next summer or fall . '' Owen had not much doubt that he would find a publisher . He knew that he had written a great book -- a book that would score a wonderful success -- a book that would LIVE . He knew that it would bring him both fame and fortune ; but when he had written the last line of it he had bowed his head on the manuscript and so sat for a long time . And his thoughts were not of the good work he had done . CHAPTER 26 OWEN FORD 'S CONFESSION `` I 'm so sorry Gilbert is away , '' said Anne . `` He had to go -- Allan Lyons at the Glen has met with a serious accident . He will not likely be home till very late . But he told me to tell you he 'd be up and over early enough in the morning to see you before you left . It 's too provoking . Susan and I had planned such a nice little jamboree for your last night here . '' She was sitting beside the garden brook on the little rustic seat Gilbert had built . Owen Ford stood before her , leaning against the bronze column of a yellow birch . He was very pale and his face bore the marks of the preceding sleepless night .
XXXXX , glancing up at him , wondered if , after all , his summer had brought him the strength it should .
Anne Ford Glen Owen Susan day jamboree left night pruning