A rescued coastal girl finds love after a shipwreck, while Ann's intervention transforms heartbreak into hope.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Raised By The Coast
Periwinkle is rescued as a baby and raised by Ann at a remote coast-guard station. As she grows older, she joins the station's rescue work.
Key Events
Periwinkle Is Rescued — Periwinkle is rescued from a shipwreck as a baby. Characters: PeriwinkleLocation: Remote coast
A New Coastal Home — Ann begins raising the rescued child at the station. Characters: Periwinkle, Ann ScudderLocation: Coast-guard station
Station Family Forms — Periwinkle grows up under Ann and the station men's care. Characters: Periwinkle, Ann ScudderLocation: Coast-guard station
Periwinkle Comes Of Age — Periwinkle becomes old enough to assist with rescues. Characters: Periwinkle, Ann ScudderLocation: Coast-guard station
Love After The Wreck
Periwinkle helps rescue a survivor from a wrecked yacht and helps nurse him back to health. Their affection grows while he remains at the station.
Key Events
A New Wreck Appears — A yacht is wrecked near the remote station. Characters: PeriwinkleLocation: Open sea
Night Rescue — Periwinkle helps rescue a survivor from the yacht wreck. Characters: PeriwinkleLocation: Shipwreck site
The Survivor Reaches Shore — The rescued survivor is brought to the station. Characters: PeriwinkleLocation: Coast-guard station
Periwinkle Nurses Him — Periwinkle helps nurse the rescued survivor back to health. Characters: Periwinkle, Ann ScudderLocation: Coast-guard station
Affection Deepens — Periwinkle and the survivor fall in love while he recovers. Characters: PeriwinkleLocation: Coast-guard station
The Pain Of Departure
Periwinkle discovers that the survivor is engaged and faces heartbreak when he prepares to leave. Ann recognizes the depth of Periwinkle's feelings.
Key Events
The Existing Engagement — Periwinkle learns that the survivor is already engaged. Characters: PeriwinkleLocation: Coast-guard station
Departure Approaches — The survivor recovers and prepares to leave the station. Characters: Periwinkle, Ann ScudderLocation: Coast-guard station
Periwinkle Is Heartbroken — Periwinkle suffers as the survivor's departure becomes imminent. Characters: Periwinkle, Ann ScudderLocation: Coast-guard station
Ann Understands Her Pain — Ann realizes that Periwinkle is in love with the survivor. Characters: Ann Scudder, PeriwinkleLocation: Coast-guard station
Ann Searches For Answers — Ann finds the address of the survivor's fiancée. Characters: Ann ScudderLocation: Coast-guard station
The Telegram Of Hope
Ann contacts the fiancée and receives news that the engagement has ended because the fiancée married someone else. She returns to the station, and the obstacle to marriage is removed.
Key Events
The Inquiry Is Sent — Ann writes to the fiancée to learn the truth. Characters: Ann ScudderLocation: Coast-guard station
A Telegram Arrives — Ann receives a telegram answering her inquiry. Characters: Ann ScudderLocation: Coast-guard station
The Engagement Ends — The telegram says the fiancée married someone else. Characters: Ann ScudderLocation: Coast-guard station
Ann Rushes Back — Ann hurries to tell Periwinkle and the survivor the news. Characters: Ann Scudder, PeriwinkleLocation: Coast-guard station
Permission To Marry — The station men approve the couple's freedom to marry. Characters: Periwinkle, Ann ScudderLocation: Coast-guard station
A Hopeful Union — The obstacle is removed and Periwinkle is free to wed. Characters: Periwinkle, Ann ScudderLocation: Coast-guard station
Story Breakdown
Rescue And Adoption — Periwinkle's origin and upbringing establish her bond with Ann and the coast-guard station.
Shipwreck Rescue — Periwinkle is rescued from a shipwreck as a baby.
Coastal Upbringing — Ann raises Periwinkle at the remote station.
Life At The Station — Periwinkle grows up in a caring rescue community and becomes part of its work.
Station Family — The station men help care for Periwinkle.
Rescue Training — Periwinkle assists when shipwrecks occur.
The Yacht Disaster — A nighttime wreck brings a new survivor into Periwinkle's life.
Wrecked Yacht — A yacht is wrecked near the station.
Night Rescue — Periwinkle helps bring the survivor ashore.
Love And Obstacle — Caregiving develops into love, but an existing engagement creates emotional conflict.
Healing At Home — Periwinkle helps nurse the survivor back to health.
Engagement Revealed — The survivor's prior engagement threatens their future.
Ann's Investigation — Ann responds to Periwinkle's heartbreak by seeking information from the absent fiancée.
Address Located — Ann finds the fiancée's address.
Letter Sent — Ann writes to ask about the engagement.
Telegram And Release — The reply removes the romantic obstacle and allows the couple to marry.
Marriage Reported — The telegram says the fiancée married someone else.
Wedding Permission — The station men approve the couple's freedom to wed.
On a desolate beach near a lifesaving station, Ira, the youngest member of the lifeguard crew, rescues a baby girl from a wreck. The child is cared for at the station, where the men christen her Periwinkle. Living near the station are Ephraiam Rawlins and his childless daughter Ann, a widow with maternal longings. Joyously, Ann takes charge of Periwinkle and raises the girl as her own. Grown to adulthood, Periwinkle is the bright spot for the men at the station. One day, Richard Langdon Evans, a dissolute, wealthy young New Yorker, is cast ashore from the wreck of his yacht. Periwinkle, aiding the lifesavers, helps bring him back to life. Her innocent goodness and faith transform Dick from a carousing society ne'er-do-well to a man of noble ambitions. Thus rehabilitated, Dick wins Periwinkle's hand in marriage.
