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" Yes, Imt you are so very wet, you know." "Not half HO wet as I was this morning while bathing." " But won't your dress spoil /" Jack was an ingenuous young man. " Spoil !" A merry laugh and the careless air with which she wrung the water out of her dripping muslin was her only reply. Indeed, the misfortune was barely enough to furnish an after-dinner anecdote at the hotel table, certainly not enough to exalt Jack into a Lero or AHoe into a heroine of romance — a boat upset in water so shal- low that Jack easily waded ashore with Alice in his arms, a thorough wetting, and a hearty good laugh on the beach when the absurdity of the situation asserted itself. A lucky fellow this Jack Palmer ! A few weeks ago he had been driving the wearisome pen, conjuring coy inspir- ation, and now he is not only acquainted with the handsomest girl at Old Point Comfort, but has actually held her in his armH. Happy chance, of course ; for Jack was no modern practical wooer, and would have idied away half a summer ere he had embraced an opportunity or a maiden had not the lucky capsizing of the boat flung both into his arms. Once there, it was not in human nature to let either go, save very reluctantly, and it was no ordinary girl that this old mischief-maker. Opportunity, had placed in such tempting proximity to his manly bosom. Alice Yining was not only the handsomest girl at Old Point Com- fort, but also a reputed heiress — a country bred girl of eighteen years, full of life and animation, with a clear, ringing laugh whose music was infectious, a warm, impulsive manner, generous heart, and more engag- ing qualities than any heroine who had ever driven .lack into a sonnet, or, to speak more correctly, had ever been driven by him into a sonnet ; for Jack drew liis heroines from the world of his imagination rather than that of his experience. She rested her claim to beauty on two big soft eyes — Jack called them violet, and he ought to know — fair wavy hair at the tint that alternates in various lights between brown and golden, a mouth like a cleft rosebud, shrining a wealth of unexpected NO LAOOARDS WR. pearls, and bands and feet of the daintiest. Hutnot- gave her jS 1 00,000, which, even if divided by three— a fair allowance for the danie's report —was more money than had ever yet gilded Jack's dreamy, idle, dilet- tante life. " So you're sure you won't take cold?' he pucHued as they walkt'd up the beach together, he with the rescued oura on his .shoulder, and she sprinkling the aand with her draperies like an overdressed Nereid. " Take cold an afternoon like this ! Now you must be laughing at me, Mr. Palmor. The only thing I am afraid of is that there may be some strangers at the hotel, and what a figure I must cut ! " " The sweetest figure that ever rose out of the sea since Venus came to astonish a waiting world I I wonder what they did in those very dark ages befoie the goddess — " " How it is clouding up, Mr. Palmer ! I shouldn't wonder if we had a thunder-storm before sunset." Alice, for a country girl, wielded a practised foil. Jack, disarmed by the first parry, relapsed into silenw ; he certainly was neither a clever nor a sanguine antagonist. But silence suited Alice still less than compliment. Perhaps she repented, as many a skilful swordswoman has done, that she was so clever of fence. " Who would have thought a week ago that you would have res- cued me from a watery grave ! " '• A watery grave ! " cried Jack impetuously. " I only wish it had been. No ! no ! I don't mean that, but I wish i*. had been deep enough to make my service of some account. Why, you could hare walked out quite easily." " Yes 1 Thanks ! I got out very comfortably as it was." A side- long glance of the violet eyes accompanied this, but Jack would not luDge over the guard thus temptingly dropped for him. " Very awkward of me to upset the boat " (Miss Alice's quicksilver habits had occasioned that mishap), "and I got you all wet, too." Alice appreciated the generosity that took the blame, but without apparent notice. " O ! no. See, I am drying as fast as possible." Jack "barely touched the sleeve offered for his inspection. Another moment and the hotel would be in sight. Jack could be very bold — on paper. " Here we are at the boat-bouse ; excuse me a moment, I must leave the oars here." As be turned aside to deposit his burden her frank eyes followed him admiringly. He was a fine-looking young fellow, and his boating-flannels set ofT his fine proportions. More of the athlete than the poet in that physique, yet Alice read his verses and admired them. Abundance of the best traits of our young manhood in the open, ingenuous face which meets her as he returns. " I did not think, Mr. Palmer, that I should ever be such friends with anybody in a week, still less that he should rescue me from — " " You will insist on that watery grave. Do you know that beforo I had known you ten minutes a watery grave was the least of the adventures in which 1 fancied you the heroine and I the rescuing knight 9 " " See what it is to be a poet ! Now, mj fkncies about you were much mote proeaio." # BROI'OBT OUT or THE WATER. " Did you have any fancieH about tne?" cried Jack eagerly. "Oh '. what. *ure they ? " " Nothing worth repeating, I aHHure you." " But if I ank you to repeat them V " I shall say, ' No, thank you.' " " But if T say, ' Please, do,' and ' Ah 1 do' ? " •' I shall still 1)6 obliged even more reluctantly to decline.' " I don't believe you thought much about me one way or the other," said Jack, rather morosely. "Don't you? Well, /a'li too polite to contradict you. Here we are almost at the hotel ; I do hope I sha'n't meet anybody." " You'll meet my friend Harry Bolton, I'm sure. He was to have arrived this afternoon, and his punctuality is proverbial." ' My gracious ! with all my skirts sticking to me as if I had been ducked in a barrel and dragged out through the bung-hole ; I hope not." " Your hope must die a sudden death, Miss Alice, for there he •%.' And as thoy reached the piazza of the hotel a nattily-dressed hbde figure — a city man from the crown of his accurate hat to the tips of his shinint; patent-leathers — came forward to meet them. ,, " Harry ! " " Jack ! " A warm hand clasp, two pairs of eyes with a glad expression beam- ing therefiom, and — " Miss Vinniiig, allow roe to present to you my dearest friend, Mr. Harry Bolton." But Alice had gathered her dripping draperies around her and fled past them into the house. '■ Make my apologies, Mr. Palmer, and tell your friend how happy I shall be to make his acquaintance when I am more presentable." The voice floated out to them as she ascended the stairs, but its owner had vanished. " A charminti little girl, as far as 1 could see," said Harry carelessly ; " but 1 suppose, like better things, she will keep." " Like better things ! "' (indignantly); " there isn't a better thing in the whole length and breadth of the United States." " Hard hit already, eh 1 Well, my indignant poet, I'll judge at din- ner whether it will be worth my while to cut you out." " Wait until 1 cut in, Hal.' " I probably sha'n't interfere with you, Jack." " Thanks ! " " Lots of girls here. 1 suppose 1 '' " Eh 1 Oh ! yes, plenty." " You seem absorbed, my Jiden. I suppose you will admit that I shall cut you out if I try — eh, Jack / Ha ! ha ! it wouldn't be the first time." " Yes, but I never was in earnest before." " In eiirnest — sober earnest- — angels and ministers of grace, et Mtera ,' A girl, to wake our poet in earueBt, roust bftve Bometbing 8 NO LAOOAROB WB. about her out of the common. I shall take observations at dinner. By the way, do we dress for dinner riere 1" " As you please." " Well, I shall please ; and I suppose you will at least take off those wet flannels ? " " Time enough ! " " Time enough ! Why, Jack, how grumpy you are of a sudden ! You're not oft'ended at my chafi' about the girl, are you 1 " " Excuse me, Harry ; I acknowledge that you can come the swell over me too strong at timeH, but I don't think your society graces will have much efl'ect in this quarter." " Think not, eh t Well, you 've had a week's start of me, but what's that 1 " " Why, nothing, with your superior advantages." " Don't be sarcastic, Jack." " Don't be over-confident, Harry." " My nature *r> be, old chum. I feel assured that I have only to enter the lists ' t you bag and baggage." " Oh ! list 1 . " To be r 1 by the Queen of Love and Beauty, to revel ia the bliss of pure maidenly affection, to be transported into the — eh 1 " ''Let us dress for dinner. " 1' .' . • ( .1' ••^■t •* CHAPI'KU 11. I'lCKSIKLAUK AND KLIHTATION. HAKRY BOLTON was a ylockbroker. In the hours of businewi he uLouted, ucreaiiiud, and hurrahed on ' Change, sheared a " lamb " when he got a chance, ducuhued railroad stocks and securities, gave points (that were valuelehs), kept a weather eye on the niuvements of if ay Gould and Russell Hage, and on the ftox, fence, shoot ; knew something of politics ; but, above all, prided him- self u[K}n his society graces. The tit of his clothes was faultless, but the bright intelligence of his countenance, and the eager, restless flash of his eye would quickly undeceive anybody who, from his pemonnel, might feel inclined to take him for a model dry goods-store floor-walker. His best faculty was to catch on, and he had good staying qualities ; he knew that he had a taking way, and he knew how to protit by it. Summing him up, we may say that he was a raan-about-town, with all the good qualities of that article in city furniture and few of the bad. His friend was his antipodes in nearly every respect. How they came to be friends was, and ever will remain, a wonder, Harry lik«d Bhow — Jack was modest and retiring to the veige of bashfulness ; Harry had a toleration for poetry and art — Jack was devoted to them ; Harry appreciated the value of moniy and knew how to use it — Jack didn't know how to make it, didn't know how to use it, couldn't keep it when he got it, and didn't want any more than aflbrded him quiet living and gratified his modest desires. He was a student and a dreamer, thoughtful, earnest, self-reliant, not in the least ambitious for himself, at least not immoderately so — in short, a thoroughly good fellow, in whom thtre had never been awakened any ccubiderable power or developed any great strength of cfaaraoter. As a poet he had found the attainment even of his modest wishes just the least bit diflicult, and he had turned his attention to playwriting, newK|Miper sketches, magazine stories — in short, any literary labor that presented itself. He and Bolton had made each other's acquaintance on the occasion of a first aiglit of one of Palmer's unsuccessful plays, and this xhanoe Ift NO LAOOARDH WK. iD«eting hiiil ri|M'iH'(l into a frienilship quite ait ^xtnuurimuj an ch«i dilfprcnce Jietweei; tin' young men tliemHplve«. In May thoy had gono to Pike County tifliing, awd Pkihmw. »etj regretfully, liad promined liimnplf that the extent of Liit KuauBrtr fltmxir htg shcu'd end there anri he would no to work, a uecwnnMT pwjr.^m for obrioiiJi pecuniary reaHonn. Harry insisted ui>f>n his tukiii^ » p>inr, in W«()«flh. however, pioniiNing to carry it for him ; and a« & ftrnih wf find him in the middle of June, with a nice rf>ll of hv3j'i***lfiol\Ar bflU in his pocket, enjoying the opiTiiny of th»' netutcKj w «J»lri Point Cmnfort, and cpiite indiflerent to tin' denmnds of the kv* it<» haii eo^^ag^i himself to j>erform. ThitluT he had come »di4UMi» oi his volatile friend, who had taken a rnn do>> n TeniieHfiM> trmr Ux imwp^ct * railway enti-rpiihe he had just engiij;r>^ in, and fhf day fm wbii'.h fii»y meet a;^ain in the one ho fraught with fate to Jack. As Jack shook himself out oi' hiH wet clothing l>e Mt fant wavH of B^ieecli umi uiiauutling8 with house, sir — name of Vining in former daya a lever, sir — ^lever, Hir, of tinanuial world -yeH, nir, lever, sir -'tegrity of family ' ntarniahed, wir - tr'n.sinitted to Nelf- loHt not'iing, sir, 'Hure you, by tr'nHmiK'iion 'N my time, air, perHon'l honor consid- eretl precious heritage — guard with life -with life, sir. Present day, sir, sadly degen'rate — try to check rapid decay by 'xample, sir — pern'rial '\ample--but only one man --almost alone — sometimes discouraged nothing but family ' ntegrity, Mr Bolton, causes me porsevere. Proud to know you, air. Quiet here n' present— ^fill up by'n by. Sister's health forces anticipation of 8ea.ioii benefit of salt air - bracing, sir — bracing. No society, "'"'• — feel recluse — officers army — drink too freely — point, sir, of personal honor- — ^always stop at enough. " The Judge would have continued to present his views on diflforent subjects had not his soup just then been placed before him, and he attacked it with an appetite and vigor born of much bmndy-andsoda. "I told you, father, " spoke Alice, "that Mr. Palmer re.scued me from a watery grave this afternoon, and — " Jack blushed and trioi/ (,.if IJ'.'iU .U.I Ji', I .- li I ■. •J( CHAPTER III. " THE CRUISE OF THE JOUOSTER I i' • • ■ ,11 ., ii,', ■ , • , .1.. ' • 'i.^ iii:i< ■ ■ '■I' I, ii •■; f ■. ■; THE following morning Bolton's yacht arrived from New York, and that admirable reflection of social perfection precipitated himself into a wealth of gold lace and brass buttons. For the reason that yachts are registered in the New York Custom- House, with no end of statistics as to length, breadth of beam, depth of hold, measurement of spars, and so on, attached, we, the chroniclers of this too true tale, withhold the schooner's real name and call her the Jougater — a title having no relation whatsoever to her identity — and we may be excused if we do not give descriptive particulars about her for the same good and competent reason. As soon as the yacht had come to an anchor and the sailing-masi«r had reported to her owner, Mr. Bolton invited the Vinings to lunch on board that day and afterwards take a sail. In doing this he had found it necessary to include in his invitation Mrs. Chauncey Hazard and another lady, guests at the hotel, who had Beats at the same table. Mrs. Hazard deserves an introduction. Then see a woman of indeterminate age — let us say thirty — tall, straight, graceful, with lustrous black eyes, a large mouth, somewhat redeemed by a set of strong, large, evenly-set teeth ; square chin, indicative of firmness of will ; sensuous lips, wreathed constantly with an almost indescribable smile, which served principally to soften the otherwise masculine appearance of the determined jaw ; a sinuous movement of the body as she walked, a quick, hasty way of speaking, and a simplicity of manner which would have been delightful had she not at times betrayed a deeper knowledge of life and its intricacies than her ordinary deport- ment would appear to suggest. She was a widow of ample means, she explained, and resided with her father, a retired merchant. The other lady was a drab little party, with hair and complexion of no decided tint. Her toilet was Quakerish in its simplicity, and yet the set and fit of her dress might have raised a pang of envy even in the breast of a dovout worshipper at the ahrine of Worth. Sea-side gallants, endeavor- ing to " charm never so wisely," retired in confusion from the honest, searching glance of her soulful brown eyes, leaving the compliment unuttered and her to the solitude and reading she seemed so much to enjoy. Her name, Elizabeth Newell, suited her plain, quiet ways, and in the eyes of the people at the hotel she soon assumed that neutral position which was so much in harmony with her appearance and manner. The night after Harry's arrival he and Jack had sat out on the pier, smoking their pipes, until a late hour. Jack had been strangely inquisi- tive as to the methods of making money in speculative operations. THE CRUISE OP THE ".I0UG8TER. \% It."- ' York, and d hiniHelf Cuatom- am, depth hvoniclers til her the -and we ut her for lng-maai«r ) lunch on invitation , who had on. Then [, straight, redeemed licative of an almost otherwise lent of the mplicity of 8 betrayed iry deport- means, she The other no decided set and fit breast of a , endeavor- he honest, ompliment 30 much to ways, and lat neutral ranee and )n the pier, sly inquisi- ious. " It's all very kind of yon, Harry, to c^arry stock fbr me in order that I may have a little money to keep up thiH idling, but can't I get at the way myself 1 Now, I've got brains enouj^h to make money, if I only knew how. Theoretically I have an abundance of monetary wisdom. I have written liO end of newspaper editorials about bi- metallism in currency, on funding the national debt in three per cents, and three and one-half per cents., writing for both figures with equal facility and strength ; and I have diaunsseJ tiie finance of the Latin pations, and ko on, with nuch effect a.s tu attract considerable attention." " I thought you only wanted money enough to live, and that youi* poem of the fut»ire would bring yon all the income you wanted for your old age," said Harry sardonically. "The fact of it is," replied Jack, stretching himself out on the pier- bench and piifling away reflectively, "that, wiiile I have courted the Muse with satisfactory results, I have never realized much profit from my wooing. It was that failure, Hnrry, that drove me to writing more salable if less graceful material. Betweeu jou aud ine, I chink I would like to be rich, not vulgarly rich, but something like you are." " Why, Jack, you don't know anytliing about it With the excep- tion of a lew thousand dollars, represented in tiie solid old bank, a plac« in whose partnership I inherited, my wealth is us vague and impalpable at times as the substance of your poems. Do you lemember the Jersey Central deal? I was short on that to an amount that would have left me stranded beyond the hope of ever floating agnin ; I would have been $100,000 worse off than nothing. Fortunately there was a recover the next day, and by twelve o'clock I was' even. Nn, Jack, if your desires for wealth have a fixed object, don't make my condition tjie subject of your envy. What do you want of money, any way }" f t^,- " I don't know," replied his f lieud after a pause. " Why don't you marry a rich girl ? ^Marry old Brandyjug's daughter." i , n ■ j,^ " Marry for money ? Marry I not I, indeed." ,. Bolton swung around in his seat to get a better look at JaoJ Tliere was something in the indignant tone cf his voice, a peculiaf emphasis, that conveyed an imp^e.ssion not apparent in the words them-: selves. Their eyes met, and H.,rry laughed heartily as he said : " I 864 you are really smil'en ; it is the Vining who has done it.' Now, Jack, confess." " Nonsense 1 I am not ; but she is quite the best thing in girls I ever saw, measured by my stan^lard. What do you think of her ?" " Her father is quite as interesting. Ha ! ha ! he is a rare old guy. I had a bu. at he would like to have a drink ; swore barkeepers had no sense of personal honor ; in his time a drink was a drink. He grew very maudlin before he left, and treated me to a confused account of hiaaaelf and family, his hopes and feelings ; but whether it was his B u VO LAOOABDS WE. daughter who was (he apple of hia aged eyes, the core of bis very soul, or the brftndy he was drinking, I ^uld not determine. Jack made no answer ; his eyes had wandered to the eastern hori- zon, out of which the moon was just then lifting herself, tinting the sandy beach that stretched away under the lighthouse on Cape lienry with shades of gold and silver that mingled in exquisite harmony with the greet) and blue shimmer of the waves beyond. " If I was in love," he said, " I should wish the object of my affec- tion to be as perfect in her way as nature shows herself in such glorious vistas. I think I shall write a poem." " And I will go to bed," was his friend's response ; " so, my moon- struck friend, good-night." The invitation to lunch on board the yacht had been made at the breaJii^fast table, where Bolton extended it with an easy grace and hospitality of manner that sat much better upon him than the affected style, almost amoui.ting to priggishm • ■'•' ■■• ' .' ; :irt.- >i'ij.ti , I I: !..> lult •{.■,■-•>■ < ■■ ■ ■ I 14' ,Ji ■111; !! ,> .11 'i _.■!- .'■ .I>C,»1 -'>-■'■ t ' !)'i;':. :■' 1 ' . ■/ .,..>,;;!. ■" , ■•.'■. . ■.- ■ -W ..M , '-i' , ' »' ,!. „ •tw" -m:!. (■). .! J>. f M ■'li- 1(1 I 'i _ .••'i,^ »)hi ' • ' J} ill i';';! »!'>;• ' '! ■ " ' '■' ; . . 7!:.';, 'Ill- :\. iw! .':■ T I , v. . 1,1 1. :A'ri> ■.:\i Hi..'" i..-: l:--i; ; '•/ rr ■.,..■ _a. .-111! J'.- ;. ■ ji-r>; ''ji ! 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(fil't ■■ ..•'.■ -.i j:l.jtU>r ,' ■■/ I, 111 (!<'•■ ■.• •■ ''«^ •! . i ;i.!.y ; -111 s . ; ' ■' i ' • ,■'■<■ ^•i li r.'i, ,i(i ; )■:■:■ ''t< ■' \\- 1 ••' , i' : .1' . ■ =- •• ' ■ • -••' ■ ,t !ii;..'''i M.I ■!• 'b" 1 I •■. .'«i' ' ^ ,■,,,..,! ■" ,> .1 ■r .1 ,r ■.,,., . ,„ ,1./, .)■;' "ti ,i' ■'"■- ••. <)1 I :■■- ■ ■■» -■•j i- !.''•', .'l ».;^, -ri ii'jlml »ii>: ,1..:;' J I' ' 'i< J ! . -ii . ii'c. ifv y't III !>ii!'»>.»'. ..r.iii;'/;- / ' ''iii.iif i>' i-v^'A') a/- » .»,■■{■ !liA--.l i"'l, /'!■ U'^<-li ■ i'ii 'i-"''*^ ^'-ir ti f.llJ-. ; f-' ". ' f ,' ■' ' i" 1- ■•!:.; 4j ',-' <;'s5 M !l'; ■«■•'■' "^^si' -M i>(U;,,|!">J-5 'Jil li.'J -*>! :'"i ?• ' /.■ ■ .' - ■ .1,. '!. Ill'-; ■I ■,. CHAPTER IV. THE YACHT ON STORMY WATERS. THE night i>ussed in fear and anxious waiting, even Harry and Jack finding it difficult to concenl their appre^iension of the probable danger. They stood watch and watch, Harry on deck, Jack trying to soothe the cabin inmates, going on deck when his eloquence gave out to relieve Harry, who in turn continued the soothing process in the cabin. Alice was quiet but hopeful, Mrs. Hazard sick and querulous. Miss Newell calm and self-possessed. Aunt Mahala wrapped in devotion and resigned to what she regarded as their certain and unavoidable fate, while the Jndge, who had finally drowned his terrors in the copious draughts of brandy with which he had deluged himself, slept soundly on a rug in the main cabin, oblivious of personal honor, danger, or any other disturbing influence. Daylight broke, and the scene presented from the deck of the struggling yacht was calculated to daunt the heart of the stoutest sailor. The little vessel's light spars had been struck and were now securely lashed on deck, her jib-boom had been rigged inboard, and a storm-stay- sail bent on to the foreboom and hoisted on her foremast, by means of a jewel-block, half way to the cross-ti-ees ; preventer-stays had been reeved off, the hatches battened down, and the little craft, with every- thing snug, was bravely striving to " lay to " in the face of a heavier gale and sea than any man on board had ever before seen from the deck of so small a vessel. There was a patch of tarpaulin seized on to the weather main-rigging, which answered the dual purpose of keeping her " head on " to the toppling seas which threatened to engulf her and partially sheltered the skipper from the flying shower of " spoo. Tifi " which swept over the deck with a stinging rapidity. There was no land in sight ; the sky was gloomy and threatening, and the wind seemed to increase in violence rather than diminish. The sailing-master shook his head gloomily as he caught Bolton's eye, and said : " I'm afraid, sir, we'll have to scud to sea for it, if we can get her safely paid off. She can't stand this much longer." The word was passed to make everything secure in the cabins, in anticipation of the fearful rolling she would have to take as she fell off in the trough of the sea ; and if she wer- not thrown on her beam ends, there was a chance for her. When all was ready her helm was eased up, a corner of the jib hoisted, and as she rose on the top of a great wave, still heading to the westward, she cornmenced to fall off, and with a sheer into the trough of the sea swung due south ; the next wave on ber broftdsi4« lifted ber high in tbp uir upon it« towering crest, »nd, THK YACHT ON STORMY WATERS. 19 and Jack probable trying to ave out to the cabin, ous, Miss r^otion and lable fate, le copious oundly on r, or any !ck of the test sailor. V securely itorm-stay- means of a had been irith every- a heavier n the deck on to the eeping her f her and ooi 'rifi " ireatening, nish. it Bolton's an get her I cabins, in she fell off oeam ends, was eased of a great r, and with :t wave on prest, ftnd, settling away, left her heading E. S. E. If she could draw way enough on her and get fairly before the gale ere the next sea came, she was safe ; but the next sea was a short, quick, foamy billow that broke just over her stem, descending like a cataract fairly do'«n upon the little craft and sweeping its great green volume entirely over her. Jack had seen it coming, and his clear, ringing voice, " Hold fast, everybody," was heard even above the roaring of the wind and the crash of the wave that swept the deck. All but one sailor heeded the warning, and when the sea had passed by, leaving the Jotigster trembling and staggering under the force of the shock it had bestowed, the place where he had stood was vacant ; but on the top of a sea away to leeward was seen for an instant a yellow oilskin jacket, and from near there arose a piercing cry for help which thrilled the ears of those who heard it ; then the jacket disappeared and the voice was for ever hushed. As soon as the yacht was fairly before the wind, and enough sail made to prevent her from being " pooped " by the great seas that chased her, Harry and Jack went below to change their soaking garments and relieve the natural anxiety which rested upon the passengers. Alice, aiding herself by the rail of the stationary table, came to Jack and looked appealingly into hia iace. " Do not fear, Miss Alice ; every thing is all right. The yacht is sea- worthy and ably manned, there are plenty of provisions on board, and abundance of fresh water." " Water ! " grunted the Judge depreciatingly. " And," continued Jack, " the worst that can happen us is to be blown out to sea for a few days. When the gale abates we will ' 'bout ship,' make sail, and come pleasantly back again." ,. • ^, , „. " There is Ro immediate danger then ? " ■- " None in the least," replied Jack. " There, aunty, do you hear that 1 Mr. Palmer Sv ys there is no danger." " I am glad to be able to reassure your aunt. Miss Alice. We have doubtless caught the whip-end of a hurricane that has swept over the coast. It cannot last long ; indeed, the fury of the storm is already nearly exhausted." " I am so glad to believe you, and you do reassure us, Mr. Palmer. I have been awfully frightened, so has aunty," " Yes, we have had a pretty lively tiojie," broke in Harrx ; " but the barometer Is rapidly rising, and that is a sure precursor of good weather." " I should like so much to see the ocean in a storm," said Alice appealingly. " Well, thep, M iss Alice, let me encase you in this oilskin — so — and tie this nor'wester over your head — so — and now you can come on deck with some degree of comfort," said Jack, having suited the action to the word, while with rather uervous fingers he arranged the protective head-ge»r, that it took him quite a while to fasten. As Miss Alice did no^ attempt to direct or hurry the operation, we suppose his clumainess passed unnoticed during this interesting episode. ■.-"if^ 20 MO LAOOARPfl WE. Harry, after looking to the comfort of the rest of hiH guPHts, addressed Mrs. Hazard through the door of her Btate-room. " Would you like to come on deck, Mrs. Hazard 1 " • ' "" ' '•' " I want to go ashore," was the sepulchral reply. " I would very much like to go on deck," said Miss Newell, to whom Harry had turned with a shrug ; " that is," she added, " if you don't mind." She stood braced against the companion-ladder, a flush on her cheeks and a sparkle in those wonderful eyes (Harry had not noticed them much before), her attitude one of unstudied grace. " Why, certainly I should mind — be charmed," said Harry. Wonderful eyes, he thought, as he hastened to say a number of polite things. A bright smile broke over the girl's face as she listened to Harry's persiflage, and quietly replied to it while preparing for the proposed walk on deck. Meanwhile, Alice, leaning on Jack's arm — which she clutched with both her pretty hands, to Jack's great delight — and wrapped in the great oiled coat, which quite enshrouded her figure, had reached the deck, and stood uuuer the lee of the cabin-house, watching the sublimity of the storm. I'l She was, indeed, a pietty girl. How often that thought danMd into Jack's mind as he looked down upon her, the chestnut-colored hair blowing over her fai e and the violet eyes reflecting the thoughts of her soul ! They were presently joined by Harry and Miss Newell. A few remarks passed between them, until the sublimity of the scene asserted itself, and a feeling of awe inspired them as in silence they gazed on the heaving, mighty waters, and watched the horizon, which appeared to lift itself toward the zenith or sink again as the JougBier rose and fell over the tumbling seas. In the cabin the Judge, aroused from his drunken slumber, and having called in vain for the steward, sought out for himself the spirit- locker, and was engaged in mixing a *' refresher " when the groans of Mrs. Hazard in her state-room attracted his attention. Now, one of the Judge's redeeming points was his chivalric treatment of women. He was nothing if not a ladies'-man, a knight, a perfect Bayard and Launcelot combined — in his own judgment, at least — a beau of the ancvin reffime, of courtly grace and irresistable suldress and manner. He hastflhied to her door to assure her of his devotion, and was just in time to catch her as she staggered out into his arms. A sudden lurch of the vessel caused him to lose his feet, and he found himself sitting on the floor of the cabin, his precious burden on his lap in a half- fainting condition, and himself unable to move. Never before since reaching mature years had the Judge felt him- self so utterly unable to rise with the occasion. It was very unfortun- ate. In the first place, he had left the " refresher " untasted, and there temptingly it lay within provokingly easy distance, but he, alas 1 ponrer- less to grasp it. This disappointment lay incubus-like on his miiui, the widow being another of a less spiritual nature on his lap. THR YACHT ON STOBMY WATKRS. 31 Not in his previous experience had the Jiidge'H gallantry been so Heverely tested. He could not lift the weight that oppressed faim ; it was doubtful, even, if he could roll her off, and gallantry forbade such an act of barbarity. He had no appliances at his command to summon help, no restoratives wherewith he could bring her out of her semi- unconscious state. The charm of his voice alone was left to him, and that organ, from repeated " refreshers " and violent exercise in hailing the steward, was not calculated to soothe the nerves of distressed womanhood, being best described as husky. Something had to be done. "Mrs. Hazard — dear madam — 'sure yoj no danger. Brace up — beg pardon — mean look up, ma'am. Personal honor 't stake where lady's concerned — assure you ma'am. Where devil's that steward t Steward ! " with a husky yell. Now, the lady in question was a widow — proverbially dangerous creatures. Even the J udge's experience of leg dames might well teach him caution. To beware of danger is an instinct ; but when danger takes the form of a more than ordinarily charming widow, who is pro- pelled into your arms, and then, in spite of everything, sits down on you, or you sit down with her, what is even a learned Judge to dol ^ nd though the Judge infinitely preferred the plumpness of a well-filled tumbler, still his faculties were not so blunted. Well, it is certain he surveyed h^r with an added interest. She certainly was pretty " hefty " and solid — solid in more ways than one, thanks to the dear departed. The Judge mused on the chances of her marrying again. The widow, if her " dear friends " spoke truly, was not averse to creating an sarthly paradise for yet another masculine sinner ; bub being a sensible woman, exceedingly so, she fully understood the mercantile value of society " heavy-weights," while diamonds, opera-boxes in season, etc., with the thousand and one trifles dear to the feminine heart, had their full appreciation. The Judge was a reputed millionaire. Possibly this might have had something to do with the duration of her limp attitude on the Judge's lap. These widows are very astute, and an old imbecile with plenty of money and an unlimited supply of Hennessey might — who knows'? At all events, the Judge, after shouting himself still huskier, was induced to recommence his attentions b^ some slight signs of returning animation. " Cheer up, ma'am — relieved, Mrs. Hazard t Know me, ma'am ? — friend Judge. Don't give way, dear creature — don't give way," " Ah ! " sighed the lady — " ah ! Judge. Who called me dear ? No, no ! I am alone — deserted ! Oh I oh ! oh ! " To the Judge's horror, the convulsive sobs gave sign of another relapse, but no sign of moving. " My dear ma'am — my dear Mrs. Hazard ! " cried the Judge appre- hensively, adopting instinctively the saving tactics. A half-smile and a heavy sigh were his instant reward. " My dear ma'am," he repeated — " deepest sympathy in alHiction — suffering unmans me — dear Mrs. Hiizard — unmans me — crushed to the a^rih, ma'am — yes, nut'am, crushed. Steward ! " C ii no tAO<»ABft(» wn, besideH, Judge, it Hies to my head, and my tua'am — nervea unstrung —nothing but ro- " Ah! Judge, many thanks, dear Judge! Where am It Oh! do not call 80 loud" (as the Judge made a husky prepanition). " My pocr nerves— T am ho ■weak and tired. Where are they all ? Oh ! Judge, are we wrecked! Am I desirted?" (Signs of another hipse). " Dear, dear Judge, you will not desert me ! " "'Fend you with life, ma'am!" groaned the poor Judge, whose back was aching terribly. " Ah ! 1 knew it : I expected nothing less from you. Dear Judge, how kind you are ! " " Thank you, ma'am — but 'xcuse me. " "You are, Judge; I will not be contradicted. You are exceed ingly kind." " Politeness forbids — contradict a 'lady, ma'am " ( another gi oau stifled ), " but, ma'am—" "Then don't do it: □•rves are so unstrung." " My case 'xactly, fresher — " "Refreshing indeed ! Judge, to have a sympathetic friend iu whom one can have entire confidence, to whom one can open her heart, pour out, as it were — " "Just so, ma'am — want to pour it out but can't get at it." "Why not] Am I not here, dear Judge, to commune with and h«lp youl Ah I Judge, only a week back — " " I know it, ma'am — awfully sorry, ma'am — can't help it, assure 7ly. I mn afmid T am very heavy You must not think me un- womanly." " 'Markiihhi fine woman — 'markable fine, ma'am — 'n my young days, should have tieen devoted, nm'ani — devoted slave, ma'am. " Wliy, JuJgo, you talk about your young days as if you were an old man. Why, you are in your prime ! " " Fluttered ma'am — sure young in feeling yet, ma'am " ( a twinge in his back ijave the lie to his assertion as he drew himself proudly up) " old 'n ycai H, ma'am — still youthtful, assure you, 'n all constitutes j;entleman of honor — personal honor, ma'am — still a youth." The lady Hinilfd upon him as he drained his tumbler, and said : " iJo you know, Judge, that occasionally you remind me of my late husbiind I Ah ! Judge, he was as great a lover of honor as yourself ; and how hi! adored poor me ! There is something in the set of the head when you hold it in a certain position. Will you excuse me, my dear Judge ! I knew you wouhl. There — so ; no, that is not quite the pose -a liftle more to the left — that way. Now look me in the eye so that I can .judge of the effect ; there, that's about it." The inHgic touch of the widow's taper fingers about his neck and hair destroyed the small remnant of the old Judge's equanimity. The widow was a dear, tender-hearted soul — a magnificent creature, too, sir. Hhe seemed already more than half disposed to like him ; had she not said he resembled her late husband ? complimented him on his ad- herence to his pet theory ( He had made a profound impression, no doubt of it. Tlie correct pose may not have been obtained, but the Judge was Seizing her hands, he mumbled them in a senile manner, while the chiirming widow sat regarding her slave with quiet com- placency. To what greater length they would have gone just at that time in their amHcory li'te-ulete will never be known, for just then Alice and .Miss Newell were handed dOwn the companion-way by their respective escorts. " < > father ! " cried Alice, " the storm has broken ; the wind has hauled anri come out from somewhere, and is going to knock the sea •lown, and it wiL be plain sailing back to Fortress Monroe, where we will have breakfast to-morrow morning." And she clapped her hands with delight. " Yes, the barometer has risen one and thirty-eight-hundredths," added Miss Newell, thereby indicating that she was quite as accomplished^ a sailor as Alice ; " and as soon as the sea goes down a little we are going to haul on the wind, although that seems to me impossible, and head up for the two capes of Virginia." " It's quite time for something to eat, too. Steward ! " shouted Bolton, " Pipe all hands to breakfast as soon as possible." Half an hour later the clatter of knives and forks, the merry ring of Iftugbter and voices distarbed Miss Mabala at her devotions in the cabin 91 V6 hkimkKrm wk. that Harry hnd assigned to her the night Imfore. Bbe aaxo*- «w» pi»l« anH »firio«u, still clutching the religious newspaper. What wonder if she started and cried out, " Brother " f What wonder if the Judge sputtered over his ooffw aa-S ««wTitd to tell something about a great case he once tried 1 What wonder if Mrs. Hazard vainly attemped to gretn MiM» MabaU with placid mien but changed color under the reproachful j^aae »rf ni«^ v«»- tai's calm, upbraiding eyes ? MiM V'ining had seen the Judge and the widow j)rei«tiii^ ti*.a oeher'w hands under the table. , t heart i watchi . • «■ ' II % ■ /, ,>, - -/I feeling « was it ^:'i ■; -:■::. ■^-'i'--. . •■ "■ -' k ■ .' serious someth , ■ * Wf w - ♦ - ^. -^ - =Sr - ■si" ■-■"-- , * '" T-I-... II speakii 1 ' r lit ■ I }:. ■' ITwi to 1 4-.\ CHAPTKH V. i *ithtfr'n yi AKTER-UKCK M)VKMAKI.\(J. PTTHKN till! company went on deck the Hun was Hhiiiing brightiv, % the topniMHt'N were aloft, and under all full nail the •/ouyvter wait Rtanding in toward land, which it waa confidently expected would be Highted by sundown. The decks were cleared up, the sailors were clean- ing the brass-work, the awning had been spread aft, easy-chairs disposed a)H}ut the cock-pit ; a bottle of brandy and quite a stack of bottled soda nestling in a cooler were ready for the use of the Judge, and everything seemed a continuation of the interrupted pleasure of the day before. Alice, her feet wrapped in a warm robe, had sought a seat where •lack could and did find a place near her. Whatsoever his feelings may have been when he carried this charming burden out of the shallow depths near thj hotel, and however doubtful he may have been as to their char- acter then, he was in no state of uncertainty now. The events of the last twenty -four hours had done much to break through the restraint of conventional social intercourse, and had certainly swept away any cob- webs that might have obsured Jack's niental vision. He recalled with a thrill of pleasure the imploring glance and trusting words with which Alice had greeted him w he entered the cabin while the storm was still at its height, and the i'.emory thereof was not likely soon to desert him. Let us not imagine that Alice was in the least unaware of these sen- timents. Like every other girl she had devoted considerable time and stndy to the solution of that difficult problem — the relation of the mas- culine heart to cause and effect ; and however distant she may have been from the complete and satisfactory knowledge thereof, she had certainly made sufficient progress to enable her to derive no small satisfaction from her researches. A clever girl was Alice, one whose quick intuition had placed her en rapport with every difficult and tender situation she had yet known. She was fully aware of the longing, admiring gaze at her pretty face in which Jack was indulging, and, in the kindness of her heart not wishing t,o interrupt his evident enjoyment, sat contentedly watching the foam that lashed the schooner's sides. "We have had quite an adventurous voyage," said Jack at last, feeling that he ought to say something, but not knowing exactly what. " Yes, it has indeed been exciting. But tell me, Mr. Palmer, what was it happened this morning when you and Mr. Bolton looked so •erious? I heard you asking questions about somebody's family, and something about leaving a wife and children." " Oh ! yes," replied Jack ; " it was a sailor of whom we wo.e speaking. The poor fellow was washed pverboard during one of Mr. 26 NO LAOOARDS WE. Bolton's oruises, aad naturally he feels bound to make some provision for the widow." " Poor thing !" sighed Alice sympathetically. " How very sad .' What a gloom such an accident must cast over a family ! Do you know, Mr. Palmer, I had somw silly forebodings when we sailed from Fortress Monroe of some such terrible catastrophe ha|)pening to us. How I would like to assist the poor widow 1" Jack murmured, " Generous lieart ! " and then made a successful eHbrt to divert hei' thoughts from the suVyect. " And are you subject, to premonicious of good as well as evil. Miss Alice ?" he waked. " Yes, I think so. At school I was the weather-vane of fate to my companions, and could foretell invariably what was going to happen to the class." " Did you ever. try to analyze your peculiar gift, Miss Alice?*' " I tried once, but 1 became frightened aiid stopped. Some experi- ments in mesmerism were conduced by an eminent physician in New York when T was visiting there last winter. Shal' I tell you about it?" Jack looked in her face, a glow of admiration on his ruddy cheeks. " Do, by all means. Your naiTations have a pi(|uancy and charm that will interest me more than the subject." 8he smiled at the clumsiness of this compliment, and Jack, as he saw that he had not said what he had intended exactly, Hushed a little, but his natural good sense came to his rescue and he made no etifort to correct the blunder. " I am afraid you will find it very dull, but the pimishment be on your own head." " On my head be it," echoed Jack. " Well, the doctor had what he callefl a high magnetic quality, and cured sick headaches and nervous pains and tiiat sort of thing by putting people into a mesmeric trance. A number of the guests at the hotel had been successfully treated by him, .ind had invited him to give a parlor exhibition of his powers. Well now, are you interested, sure enough!' " Mesmerized — no, I mean enthralled," was Jack's earnest reply, .. " Of course you have seen people mesmerized \" Jack nodded his head. " He succeeded in bringing everybody in the room — a dozen or so — under his conti^jl except me, and he strove hard to exert his mental influence over me, but without avail. It was wonderfully amusing to see, however ; the people followed the bent of his most erratic inclina tions, seemingly without the slightest will or volition of their own." ^ „ " Just my case," murmured Jack. " That night, just l)efore we went to bed, and while we were all brimming over with interest in the subject, the young ladies proposed some further experiments between ourselves." " How interesting !" ejaculated Jack. "It was, indeed, and it was much more so when, to my horror, my companions passed into a mesmeric state and I couldn't bring them out of it." . ■' :^.<,- — ..<)- " Did you iicreaui f" said Jftok, '•" '*"" '/•oil t trv,,, .„i T 'j.iJ-Ij ..r ^Ilj^j QrARTBK-DBOK tOVB-MAKr^fO. 27 Certainly not." you do then?" queried Jack, ail intercHt and inter- " How silly : " What did rogation. " I judt Bat down and wondered, and finally had to send for the doctor to restore them." *' And you accomplished this ( " «aid Jack. " Yes ; the doctor said I was so charged with the magnetic influ- ence which he had imparted that 1 unconsciously operated upon them." Jack gazed on her in wonder and admiration. " What a smart girl I" he thought. " I wish — " he began. ' •'- ■ '' ■■ •. ' '■ ■■- " What V she asked. " That you would experiment on me and bring me under your con- trol." Alice laughed heartily. " I never shall make any further efforts. My success once deters me from making any more experiments." '* I don't think you would need to use mesmerism." Alice was on guard at once. " I think the air is a little chilly. Dc you mind, Mr. Palmer!" " Certainly, with pleasure ;" and JaoJ: rather unwillingly broke ott" his tete-a-tete and disappeared through the cabin-door, emerging in a few seconds with an armful of wraps. When he returned Alice was leaning over the binnacle, the quartermaster trying to instruct her in the mysteries of "boxing the compass." Jack, with a nervous tremor, put the wraps over her shoulders and relieved the seaman at once of the office of preceptor. Alice was a shocking dull scholar, and when she had been told that the main gaff topsail-sheet was used to haul Out the sail she insisted that the fore-peak halyards performed that duty, and that the main-boom topping-lift waj the esseutial element in the manoeuvre of " going about." How fared it with Bolton the while, and with the brown-eyed Miss Newell, to whom he had been paying the most assiduous attention '< He had already found her altivgethor the most interesting girl he had ever met. He began his conversation by trotting out his large stock of small-talk and store of compliments, delivering them with the air of one who knew it was only a matter of time l>efoie the object of them suc- cumbed to their power. He had just lodged a complimentary shaft at those same eyes, that certainly would have struck the gold had the target been held by an ordinary girl, but Miss Newell simply raised those " man-killing orbs " and said with demolishing quietness : " Mr. Bolton, you have a vagrant tendency to be very sensible at times. The fact that we are yachting, and that you consider it your duty to entertain your guests, ought not to limit the exercise of that rather intangible element in your character." Harry didn't know what to make of such a speech as this. His first impulse was to fael offended, hva next to be amused, >ind the final one to be angry with himself for being knocked so completely ofT his intellectual feet by a demure, quakerish little party whose calibre he had supposed was of the lightest. *S\ 28 NO LAGGARDS WR. As he looked al her, hesitating wht^t he should say, he thonght he caught a recognition of his embMrassment in the slight twinkle of tlie deep brown eyes, that seemed intently gazing over the blue waters. Presently he said : " Miss Newell, {jerhaps you will lead the con- versation 1 Your critical analysis of uiy character, if continued, would certainly be interesting." " It might furnish you the opportunity for self-contemplation, Mr. Bolton." " Do you think I would enjoy that /" asked Harry, quizzically. " I do " — very frankly. "And why do you wish me to see myself in the mirror of your reflected observat'oi. ! ' She turned toward him and laughed, a utevry, ringing peal, in which, despite himself, he joined." " Shall I tell you V'ahe asked. ' . .,,, . i, .,.. " By all means." .{ ,;, ■.. , . ., - •. ,.- .,- " And you will not be oflended?" ., , .,,,. , ,,i :. i » Not in the least." " Wall, then, in order that you may enjoy the contrast between your own compliments and my plain statement, i may tell you that the nbnsense with which you regale the ear of the girl you have just swung round in the raqiislte \& the reverse of pleasing to my ear." „ -;., , " Why, how would yot. have me talk T I") She gazeu at Harry with an honest directness which, as be after- wards said, " br^^ught him up with a round turn" and said : " Mr. Bolton, I want to ask a favor of you. Will you grant it 1" A slight movement of the hand checked the eager acquiescence and affirmation on his lips. " Your behavior during the past eventful hours has exhibited qual- ities that I assure you I am quite capable of appreciating. Will you let me become acquainted with the man and allow the complimentary gentleman to Me perdu for the appreciation of otheic?" " Remarkable girl !" thouf^ht Harry, whi'e he attempted to frame a reply in the affirmative, and the thought framing itself, " How charm- ingly unaffected !" : I tih .'; . ,..1,-. " Do you consent, Mr. Bolton X' Harry had by this time recovered his equanimity, and, looking into her earnest eyoe with an amused sparkle in his own, replied : '' I do, Misti Newell, and here's my hand on it" , , / 1. / • ..'i • ■ / ■»l>; 111 I. ■ . (. I . ;(/-j|'« ••i\Ji^ lii I.. IM;')' • «Jlti^ .-.Til \-H\ 1,1 X ■■ \ . - :;< „.!)■».' i'l ', I ,1 I. ■••*■ Vi; ...■; -ii . J i.*«h / K-lj •li.'v,! llf,i -l.t. >ii i. /<( J'V l«,'rjj'.,!t>.';'i ►. 'V '\., r^„ (>-., C>.' . 1 CHAPTER VI. INTO THE BREAKERS. f. THAT night, when all the people iu the cabin were soundly sleeping, the sailing-master stuck his head dovi the companion-way and shouted shurj) and quick : .; ,,; " Kverybinly on deck ; we're iu the bn akers ! " Almost simultaneously the schooner struck bottom heavily, and befora the startled occupants of the cabin were fairly awake she struck again, and by the time they had reached the deck she was thumping away on the beach, a froth of foam surrounding iier, and the gray sands of the shore gleaming white against the dark background of pine-trees less than three hundred yards away. " What does this mean ? " roared Bolton at the sailing-master. " Judge's brandy-bottle left where the watch got at it, sir," replied the captain shortly. " Settle away main-halyards ! Lay out there, a couple of hands, and loose the flying jib ! Hard over with that helm and keep it so ! Hoist away the flying-jib 1 Trim jib sheets flat aft ! Shove main-boom ofl' ! Lively there now ! Haul down fore-sheet ! " All in vain. The ertbrts to swing the Jouyxler^s head oflf shore, energetic and prompt as had been the action of the captain, were with- out avail. She had only struck a few times, but her sharp, deep model had cut for itself a bed in the if ai.cestoi-H -custom of the Vinings, sir — palmy days — " Observing Jack's impatient gesture to cast off, added hastily : ' The ladies, sir — cjmfoit of ladies — revive in sickness or faint, sir. Damn it, sir, you bovs don't 'sider per- sonal comfort of ladies ' " As the suggestion of the Judge contained a grain of common senSe, the brandy was placed in the cutter, and, the boats' painters being cast off, they started for the beach, which they af>proached stern on. As each inrolling wave drove them in its direction the bows of the little shallops were lifted to meet it, and, backing water rapidly on the outflow, the keels soon scraped on the shingle. Springing overboard, waist-deep in the foam, the crew held on until the next wave came along, when, seizing each boat by the thwarts, they ran them high on uhe beach, where the passengers stepped out dry-shod and in safety. But what an inhospitable shore ! Not a light in sight, not a house, no signs of humanity, nothing but the diy, yielding sand stretching away north and south, the dark ridge of pine-forest inland, the dreary waste of salt-water far to sea, the only sound the hollow, monotonous beat of the snrf as it lashed the barren shore. Bolton, the sailing master, and two men had remained on board, retaining for their use the dingy, and could be seen by those on shore lowering the sails and making all snug, clearing away the anchor and getttng it overboard. Presently they embarked in their tiny boat. Tossed like a oork in the heavy surf, th^y had almost reached the shore when the frail craft was overtaken by a boisterous billow, raised by the stern, and cai)8ized end over end. The crew succeeded in scrambling out of the water, but Bolton seemed to be caught in the undertow and was being swept out to sea, when Jack, throwing off his coat, on seeing his friend's danger, seized the end of a small heaving-line that was coiled in the bow of the cutter, and, calling to the crew to stand by to haul in, dashed into the surf. The two men were seen battling the wave.s. Jack had reached his friend, and supporting him in his powerful arms, a steady strain on the line aided them to reach the shore ; it had only been the work of a few moments, and they stood side by side on the land. I , "AD right, Harry?" "Thank you, Jack. I struck my arm on the boat and numbed it. 1 couldn't swim strong ; I — " Then he fell fainting on the beach. They picked him up and laid him carefully on some shawls the ladies immediately spread on the dry sand. " Brandy 's thing for him — yes, sir, Mr. Palmer, what 's needed 's brandy. See if this 's brandy — yes, 'tis— ah !" And the Judge took a loving pull at the Aaak he had torting Harry's head. Palmer, as he noticed the gentle manner in which she ministered to his friend Bolton's wants, her patience and tenderness, accused himself of having entirely mistaken her character, and mentally apologized for his hasty conclusions. The Judj^o was unubiially silent The recent occurrences had been by far the most important and fraught with more danger than any in which he had been before eugaged. No incident of his judicial career could be dragged forth that, und«!r the present circumstances, would be effective. The Judge felt that he was reduced t^ a minor {MMition. His personal honor was impinged upon — not violently, hut stUl he felt it. An occa- sional refresher from the flask would cause him to forget everything save the appalling fart that he was on short allowaiioe of brandy, uiid the snuvll (quantity left was fast disap))earing. In the face of this over- whelming calamity what could lie said ; words wen^ a mockery ; so with his tongue silenced, but a very anxious expi-ession on his face, be trudged nuuifully on. At last Noifolk was reached and they procured a surgeon. Harry had indeed broken a couple of ribs, besides receiving other slight injuries. 3» NO LAUUAROa WR So far RB medical skill could help he wa 1! ( . 1 1 •! ', 1 1 ' ;■ I ' ' ( il , 1 '.•';■• 1 1;-., FIER VII. .1. 1 >i. ; •• ■t r> ■• . '>!<> INTKNTION FOLLOWIN(i ATTENTION, PP^HE night following the abrupt departure of Miss Newell from Old 4b Point Comfort the clock on the steeple of the i3rick Church on Fifth Avenue marked the hour of eleven. An occasional stage broke the silence as it rumbled up-toww on its last trip, the white-slave driver sleepy and tired, the over-worked horses thankful for the approaching slight respite from lalior. With this exception, and now and then a hasty pedestrian, the fasliionable avenue seemed deserted. From one of the side-streets a woman flitted and stoud hesitatingly at the cornei of the great reservoir. A niin, rouglily dressed, with cap drawn well down over his face, a woollen comforter locsely tied round his throat, and a woolly puppy-dog under his arm, had been slouching i:nder the shadow of the masonry from the diiection of Foity-second Street, and as he neaiod her with tliat indescribable gait which seems inseparable from the genus dog-fancier she shrank perceptibly from him. " Bujr a dorg, mai m I Larnt one I got — kind as a kitten, mild as a hangel. Aren't a better bied un in New York." A hasty glance around and iiis tone changed : " Turn down Thirty -ninth Street, my darling, to Madison Avouutt ; I'll join you in a minute." _, j , . ., .. "O Kied I" with a revulsion of feeling. " Don't waste time, dear," he replied ; " off with you at once." The woman obeyed, and as she passed the lamp-post she cast an anxious glanc ■ over her shoulder. For an instant she raised her vail, the better to observe the figure in the distance, and the tjas-light fell upon a fair face whose lineaments were tightly drawn in lines of mental anguish. As she turned the coiner she cast another rapid glance in the direction she had come and slowly followed the instructions she had received. Ah he had promised, the man rejoined her in a very short time ; but now he walked erect, he came along with a free, swinging stride ; the slouchy gait had disappeared, the rough garments were gone, the cap and comfurter had vanished, also the puppy, while the neat spring overcoat, disclosing the full ilress beneath, the opera hat, and the gloves he was drawinj, ou to his exquisitely-shaped hands completed the metamorphosis. '• My darling I'' he said, putting out both hands and grasping hers ; " my own true wife ! " A rapid glance along the street in both direc- tions, and he drew her closely to her bosom and kissed her warmly on the mouth. " Fred, dear Fred, when will it end I" . ;• i • "* ., " I had hoped it would end long before this, but it's so hard to find a plage to stop." 34 NO LAUOAROB WR. " Let it all go, Fred, and let ua go away, far away somewhere, and work for our living honestly." " That Hcvinds nice, darling ; but the men with whom I am asBOciated would track me, kill me, Julia. I know what I am talking about. Pretty Hoon we will have done our last job, and I will be able to retire." " O Fred ! dear. I do hope so, but " " But what? Surely you are not getting tqueHmish now, after our exiwrience?" " It would be strange, dear, wouldn't it?" she asked dreamily. " Besides," jiursued the man, " I am shadowed even now on account of that Barre Bank forgery. I whs obliged to give them the slij) to got to New York, and to get through the dejiot safely I turned dog-fancier. Pretty good make-up, I fancy, too, Julia. 1 don't think even you would have known me But now business. What have jou found?" "I' '• The woman's demeanor changed. " Nothing. I have continued the work you laid out for me, btit nothing has developed except in a g*uer-il way. I have made the acquaintance of the richest family there, and of some other peop'e. The game we had originally in view is not wojth the candle." They were walking leisuiely along the street now, the woman talked volubly, the man listening intently, occasionally making a slight comment or asl-ing a question. " Well. I really don't see much there," said the man presently, after a few moments' t^.ought ; " do you 1 From what you say, the old man seems to be the best subject. Are t hese people pleasant company ? Are you contented with them ? " " As much so as I could be anywhere that you were not." " Then stay there for the present with them. Where are they going to from there ? " " Couiing to New York for a while, and then they go to New- port. I will do as you wish, Fred, but it must soon end. I cannot live this life much longer — haunted by constant fear, standing continually on the verge of the piecipice. It is growing terriljle." They had walked down Madison Avenue to Madison Square, and were turning past the Brunswick when a liveried servant came out of the hotel assisting an old gentleman who was far advanced in a state of inebriation. The couple did not observe him until he was in front of them, then he lurchetl heavily, almost falling upon the lady. Her hus- band caught him in a strong grasp and with a whirl sent him spinning to the ground. Intoxicated as he was, as to fact his head was tolerably clear ; however irresponsive his legs were to the wishes he vainly tried to have them execute, his tirst words .showed plainly that his faculties were in working order . "'Strodinary coiuc'dence. 'Pon my word — point of pei-sonal honor— seems s'matic effort — endeavor confuse me. But, by Jove ! sir — Judge Vining — weather-eye open — saw young man — stranger — 'n Widow Hazard — Wiuow Hazard — on honor of gen'leman." Ami it was. ' ' " INTENTION yOLLoWlNri ATT8NTI0V. 35 The June days 8lip)>ccl slowly by, aud for the palient with his liroken ribH they were uniui»tttkat)ly dull and dreary in wpite of the best niu-Hing and attention. Aunt Mahala wau a rare hand at that. She knew exactly how to humor the patient, to |>lea8e hiu fancies, and almost anticipated his wishes. Harry wan by no means a patient patient. He was fretful and querulous, and his foiced inaction made him decidedly disagreeable. Jack Honietimes lost temper with him, but the unrutHed serenity and placidity of Aunt Mahala was never for an instant disturbed. There are some women in the world who are constantly taking care of some one. A combination of circumstances may have deprived them of their inherited marital and maternal rights, but the instinct survives even when the hoi)e has tied. The pleasure they derive from this pro- teciive quality in their disposition may reasonably be considered in the light of a paiitial compensation for their disappointment. Aunt Mahala was of this class. "- ' •■ '' The Judge hud gone to New York charged with several commis- sions from the ladies, and to transact some imaginary business which needed his immediate attentioD, and it was on the occasion of that presence in Gotham, and the " high old time " accompanying it, that he accidentally encountered Mrs. Hazard under such peculiar circumstances. Much to his surprise, u(>on his immediate return to Old Point Comfort tiie first object that greeted him was the lady he imagined still in New York. Down the broad steps she floated rather than walked, arrayed in soft muslin, a bunch of General Jacqueminot and Marechal Niel roses at her waist. '• Well, ma'am 1 Glad to see you, 'suie you. Must 'pologize — gen'leman always 'pologize — too much soda in Brunswick brandy — bar- keeper lost to all sense, ma'am, of personal honor." *' Why, to whftt do you refer. Judge 1 " said the lady. •' Meeting the other night, ma'am — -'n N ew York, ma'am. " " I do not understand what you mean. Judge I " (shaking her forefinger at him) " I am afraid your running away alone ha.s resulted in too much — " " Pardon, ma'am — no, 'sure you — mean I saw you 'n New York — night 'fore last." " Why, Judge, I only went as far as Philadelphia to see my poor father, who was quite ill." " Possible, ma'am, not in New York ?" " Why, certainly not," with a laugh. The Judge looked into those black eyea, open so wide and looking so honest, and his first impressions aeemed to grow cloudy. " Pardon, Mrs. Hazard — twins in your family i" • r : , , . i ., The lady laughed heartily. "No, Judge." " 'Strodinary likeness — 'strodinary —coming home — scientific lec- ture, ma'am — always sp«nd evenings in New York 'n intellectual research — if have any oboice, 'stronomical — met lady near Brunswick Hotel — 'markable 'semblance," Mrs. Hazard remarked simply : " Very likely. Your arm. Judge." And the old Judge, with all hia old-time gallantry, began a string of 36 So LAOOARDS WE. ooniplimentH, and before they pHHHed into the house ho was qtntc con- vinced that for once in Inn life hiH " weatlier-eye " Inul niish'd him. That evening, for the first time, Harry got (hjwn to ilinner, and, while replying to the warm congratulatioiiH on liis conviileseence, onjoycd the pleasing surpriHo of seeing Miwa Newell, who had jiiat returned, enter the dining-room. Jack made room for her at his friend's side, and wa8 rewarded by a grateful glance (roni both. Dinner over, Alice and Jack wandered oil' together, she leaning upon bis arm in that charming, iudetiuable way wiiich so surely indicates proprietorship, so easy to recognize yet bo hard to desciibe. \et they had spoken no word of their love. They had skirted tht; edges of the subject, gently coquetted and ranged around it, at times approachi^^.g ditngerously near, and calling into play ail of Miss Alice's knowledge of _/ww«Ae. The ton-sof their voices- when a Alioe it didn't matter in the least where they went, and BureJv Mim Mj^IiaIa woald find that ultra-fashionable watering-place luoHt uuuuucnuiki It would be rather shocking to disclose the fact that lu^ &bitu k^ui Aant Mahala had directed the whole affair and led the party uti^^« Her tsxcaae must be that she had a good object in vie-v. Before she decided on this step she had a long Islk wnk Mrs. Hasard, whose tine-society manner had very much iajpFMUKici i&t» iiBple- cainded spinster, and confided to her that she was very ttxixx^ns ^huut her niece's settlement in life, and, although she saw that xitt cniKiition of affairs between Palmer and Alice was likely to result horxm^j, she recognized the force of Mrs. Hazard's remark that thousandt •'>€ joong firla select husbands for whom they are totally unsuited b«t3»u« o^ their limited sphere. To prevent this it is only necessary to gire at jcirl a cii&nce to see men before she selects one of them for a Luti^jkiLii. With tiua view Aunt Mahala heartily agreed ; hence Newport.. It is needless to say that Mrs. Hazard had exp.liLUMi4 r^-j Miss Mahala's entire satisfaction the little hand-squeezing the yacht, that lady being familiar with her brothe' (iuhioned gallantry; so that at the present time Mr,'-; impUnted in the good graces of the spinster. Shortly after they had established themselves in «a»fort»ble cfoarters at the Ocean House Miss Mahala knocked upom t&i^ 'ionr of her room, and, being bidden to enter, sniffed suspicioufiJj, ^ZiSiaiaing : " My, what a smell of tobacco-smoke !" " Yes," Mrs. Hazard calmly replied, deftly dropping a ^mskr^ of Torkiah cigarettes into the bureau-drawer ; " we caniioi fi»»->i*a6 the gentlemen's smoking on the piazzE^ and the breeze is blunojiij in. this direction." And, beaming with smiles, she drew the elder IkifT into an eaaj-chair, declaring how pleased she was to have her ximn hit. do winning was her manner that, had Miss Mahala Ijaen « iiB^icionit woman, which she was not, her suspicions would have btiou diiaHpated 3tt once, even against the evidence of her senses. :ritroking the hair of Mrs. Hazard as that lady half lay. hiM laC oa an ottoman at her feet, she approached the subject that Ist attarmt her heart, and to which, in her tete-a-tetes with her, she was u^caCantly referring. " I want your advice, Mrs. Hazard," she began. " It Trill appear absurd to you, perhaps, that a confirmed old maid as I aau. asc given ipiaod* 'JO, boanl of 'j.oL.maam «neak of, and, while I think he is honest and good and above seeking to marry Alice for money, he is scarcely calculated to ensure her a happy home- life such as every rightly-constituted woman should look forward to." " Alice has money enough, or will have, to provide a home for both of them," said Aunt Mahala thoughtfully. " Yes, but the thought of that might cause him to bury what little energy he has already." " But if they were in love — I mean for ever in love, you know — as people ought to be who seek happiness with each othor?" The words and the low, intense tone in which they were spoken caused Mrs. Hazard to look wonderingly at her companion. " Why, how romantic you are, to be suro ! Your own love-affair must have been serious " (a slight pause and a caress); " I should like to hear about it." There was a decided suggestion of a blush on the thin, pale face, a nervous interlacing of the fingers, and when Miss Mahala spoke her voice was strangely subdued and tremulous. Then she began to tell the story of her girlhood, speaking of the beauty of who.se existence she knew because of the homage that was done to it — perhaps, after all, only the potent, wonderful charm of youth —of the young and ardent lover, their betrothal, and the glowing promise of the future. As .she talked her narration became earnest to eloquence, her thoughts framing her speech into poetry. She told how her lover had gone on a long sea-voyage, and described with almost tearful pathos the bitter yet hopeful parting that marked their eternal farewell. She had waited and waited, faithful to the memory, until her youth had fled, leaving the crumbled leaves of its hope tenderly preserved and shrined in the loyal heart. " And — and sometimes it seems that my life began when he came ; and I — and I know it stopped when he went away." She took from her neck an old-fashioned guard, to which was attached a time-worn locket she was never seen without, and after a long, earnest look without a word handed it to Mrs. Hazard. That lady, with the interest that every woman displays in a real love story, had been enchained during its recital. The picture contained within the locket was an old-fashioned ambrotype, showing the profile of a strong, hand- 8ome facri, whose expression yns marred by the slight lurking sneer that settled in the corners of the mouth, giving a sinister appearance to the lower part of the face. Aunt Mahala had turned her face to the window and was gazing over the sea, the usually stern features relaxed, her eyes humid, and her lips quivering on the verge of a sob. 40 NO LAor.ARDS WB. A moment of silence, broken suddenly by a sharp exclamation from Mrs. Hazard, who sprang to her feet, gazing npon the locket in her hand. " And this is your lover ]" she gasped. 4.:,) ' • "He was." , .'<■.... -, ■■.. ,, • . •. "His name— tell meV .< . i . •• ., . H " Frederick Campbell." i ■: i - • iMJ- . i -. , -■■ ., - )■• Annt Mahala never askhd the reason of this e notion, nor did Mrs. Hazard accord any explanation, further than to say that she was accus- tomed to nervous attacks when her sympathies were excited. Some- times she caught the eyes of the putative widow fixed upon her with a strange, melancholy light in their depths. Once Mrs. Hazard broke the silence as they walkeil together by suddenly asking : "And do you still lore him?" " Yes," was the hopeless, dreary answer. "How much better for you that he went away!" sighed Mrs. Hazard musingly. " How very, very much better ! " This time Miss Mahala was thoroughly aroused, but the quick question on her lips was checked by Alice, who came dancing along the hall. "0 aunty ! here you are. I've tried to find you everywhere. Good-morning, Mrs. Hazard. We are going to have an archery-match this lovely day, so come along, you dear old aunty, and see it. I think you said that you would engage in it. Mis. Hazard, so ofi" we go." And the high-spirited girl, chattering away, put her arm around Aunt Mahala's waist and carried her off in triump' .. The archery of that day proved an important event. The party — Jack, Harry, the Vinings, Mrs. Hazard, and Miss Newell had come to regard themselves as one party — had been in Newport several weeks. Harry had completely recovered, and although not yet able to engage in polo-playing or the more violent athletic sports, was quite strong enough to dispense with a boatman when he took Miss Newell to row. " And the way that fellow walks and the way Miss Newell walks with him is a very wonderful thing altogether," remarked tht "Apient Jack to Alice. When they reached the archery ground they found the targets up and Miss Newel Harry, and Jack experimenting with the bows. Tlie Judg3 ha4 brought out a shaded chp'r, as.sumed the position of umpire, and proceeded to fulfil its duties by at once falling apieep. The match bad been made with the young ladies pitted against the two young men, with liberal distance allowances in favor of the ladies, and no end of gloves, bouquets, and forfeits wagered on ihe resnlt. Perhaps it wasn't the archery after all that did the mischief, but it at least furnished the opportunity which Jack had longe! ■•^'■ iiiii "fi Mrif', ■. ^ ■■•' I ■'.>•■ •]■<* ;|:- ,■<•/••■•> *■•:''.< ,ii<-M >J n t\i< r •^, 'tf i't- . »:'<[' .'CM .■ K ,,,!• ' [fu' '•<3,::i-" ;.-,.. t "\ I *sH< •-'■• -■•1 ti •< ■•( i,-«;i4* ■>''r-| » 'H 'i->ii '•' tt \ ( - ■• "^ ■•■4 ' , li < . ' 1. 'if.- rl'.i !V ! ■ • .i CHAPTER IX. THE Jl'DCJK ON POLO. ■ A' ■ .. ' •■■ 1- ..Mi'i«^ ) i-f.i ■ < ■ .,it' ■i I '.f '(i<'''( 1 1 ,•'••• II'.. ;';!!(. .jni'TiV '. 1 ^- J' IH!«ll*»i 'f'l,! /- I ; '• '1 ri-iii. rijii; ,■ Til .V.',. T'' ■iii)ih ui ?nend to observe the effect of his thunderbolt, and was not a lits.. ;< .'i >?d that he smoked away calmly. •Tminlov-. '. /.^j/ nted. •( ;l ...'• " I knew it." .■...•sii>- . .: wy-'. ui.i •_ ii^i'k vi^.^. "Knew it! Why, .<^v" (' 'I "You t"''' me about it, you know — when you were asleep." ''1 ■'' ' "Ajlf " tihoed mystified Harry. >•- '■ »•• ' "Certau...^ -Miss Newell. It's all right, Harry." ' " ' ' " But it isn't all right. She iuiH something to say about it." < " I know it ; that's why it's all right." " What in — well, what Jo you mean ] Is it beca"ie you are assured, as I am, that I have no chance, that you regard me as safe ? Hurely, in the li^ht of your own happiness, you can't argue like that." Jack hefi: ,•■■ \ <7hat to say. He had almost told Harry that Misa Newell was b; • tc i^eans indifferent to him, and had been on the point of telling him L; ? j I aew it, when it flashed upon him that he had no right to divulge a secret which the young lady had reposed with him. U|, jn her return to Old Point Comfort he had returned her the envelope, which she had destroyed, saying as she did so, " This is an affair in which I alone am oMUsemed, Mr. Palmer" ; and he had replied, "Cer. .linly, to be suffer" and, raising his hat, left her, comprehending ^^aite easily that she ifiahed him to respect her confidetwe. " Why do you say that ? " persisted Harry. • «t KO LAGGARDS WE, '« 1 " Oh ! well — 1 don't know ; it seems to me she reciprocates your feeling — why, hang it, man ! it's apparent." An amused smile hovered around Harry's lips as he i-eplied : " Well, you ought to know something about apparent affection. Surely, on that you ought to speak ' as one having authority, and not as one of the scribes.'" , , . Jack flushed rosy rt " W^iy, what do you mean ? " i-i'ui'um " Mean t Why, AlitJ »u are apparently in love." ,, \ .■ " Yes," mused Jack, " 1 , , that's so." ^ ^. ( ,; ,.(,..,( *' Well, when are you goiii^ co tell her about it 1 " Jack, with a few vigorous puffs at his pipe, leaned back in his chair. «' Told her about it." "The dickens, you have!" ' ' " ' ' /, / •"■ " .' "' " Yea, Harry, I am g!ad to tell you we have found 6ut the state of our mutual feelings." " Well, for a lazy fellow like you, things seem to have l>een pushed with amazing rapidity. When is the marriage to take place ? " " Oh ! I haven't spoken about that yet, of course." " Not spoken of marriage 1 Why, Jack, Jack ! " ' " No, certainly not ; we have just found out that we love each other." " What ! haven't you asked her to marry you?" " Great Hea' 3n ! I never thought of that." ' '^ ' •' ' • '=• " Then you had better." " Why, Harry, I took that as a matter of course. I'll do it to- morrow." " You must not take that sort of thing for granted. Girls want not only love made to them all the time by the fellows they love, but they also want definite expression on every kindred subject." Jack retorted : " I hope you will demonstrate the truth of your theory when you begin the practice." " Perhaps that is the reason I have failed in my approach so far. The practice I have had in lorely, on that one of the )ack in his the state of ^en pushed ? " e love each ['11 do it to- Girls want ley love, but ruth of your roach so far. I of the right { » I > • was tending /hich there is short ' on love y troubles ; I )he main dilti- ige and go to re florid thfin . an admiring capturing th«. f the style he ch was always cld-£ashioned eollar, ahd high black silk stock. The coat and stock w«% unfailing barometers of the Judge's spiritual condition, each succeeding potation causing the one to be hoisted a little higher over his ample paunch, the other gradual y veering around until the bow reached his left ear. At the present moment the indications were that the Judge had by no means been stinting himself. His rubicund visage glowed with indigna- tion and Hennnesiiey ; his iipa.i^e grdy' hair, usually trained carefully over his bald crown, was rubbed up and stood out like quills, each hair antagonistic. With one arm outstnstdhed, the hand of the other hooked by the thumb to the arm-hole of his vest (his favorite forensic attitude), the Judge acknowledged the axtvent of our two friends by a slight nod, Mid continued : .-i-.;) ^ "AH nonsense, geu'letheib— hold Iny 'riginal prop'siticm. Whet's poloY Bah! what gen'leman invented game — eh? ^laroo Polo only gen'leman of any histor'cal reputation. He was nav 'gator — never catch him riding pony sev'ral sizes too small for him — trying poke small ball with big stick — too much gen'leman. Pony shy — coarse they shy — 'nough make 'em shy. Young men not 'ffected that way — strip to undershirts — striped undershirts — 'sgraoeful garment for gen'lemen — Haiform convicts. Polo — 'bosh ! Beiis get the blneii, 'n' bines get bruised — fact, get all colors o' rainbow-'— crack across shins — 's if gen'leman was a ni^;er — 'sgraceful. . If I was to return judicial bench, gen'iemen, would hold polo-players same class 's iaro-players. Poker only fit game for.gsn'lemen. 8'oiety for P'vention Cruelty to Animals — ought make riders carry little poui6s— ^eh t — pony, Mr. Bolton 1 Yes, thank you, with little soda — same as 'fone. Gen'lemen, your healtL" hjl- UM\i i-l it '•iC.I'H.f li-Jil-H* JiVl oJ fl'VOfj ^ttHi '< Ot > •J.\ I . •< » ■ •• i^i^i '(^it ,'*■!;»;((« ••«« iju. .iio/l'^l .il' ,>i.v •.• ■ .• ■ . i ■'.■ .I'-'ii iM ri tiKi ili' • '--v ' , , ■. .v;..'iiji /■ t«'t/. ."iif Jx; I •■ -J Mfh •Juxi-i «! to urh-'^'rj.' . r^ . • ;[ • '■.y|q(i lui'ut, U <;m.n -.{iuv ito'Jj 'Mh '.*• ->■> • i' ^r-.:.- i ii'?''*! v|>'>.' .. .;»:• H .il.' »/ • f, I 'i .-ii^A i.J ilnA Jt: •Ui'H-Jlfrt ■!■■> ,♦(*"•"' "1''''''^ Wi-;'.( t V_ ht'.t. ' 'Mifii.tiit ruij m» iii>*T'jt| VIM/" ,< ^/. ^,. . lO Kfiji- •>!-i'.« J,!t(jf !lO i\li>- •■' ':.'• ,"ls.n •b jl.m!." J ri.b fri.; fni: mis I ufv -if^jij -if, ' . * . k.K V i^Kiui |i^-u .';>)f'(.r.' ^iil ",.i iK'b V')f l] 4 .1 a .tt.-.; • " • , h»l^ ?«« tij;''ii( r)i(j U, ' -Xtiiii; tV{.ii,!uf. : !...i' : y. '' j'j"»i<*"« *'»U >'0 • u ■ I .11 . . '■ '",yU»«l>^ i.-v'a Urw 1 i»ox biji fl«a f U I • .-. ..».. i'xi :!■' '.■■xhhA w'ilf. tltiv/ "vtit M wsx I'* .•(_n«'ll .;'■•. L •' ' ' .'' ".oiiw vm «»'' 3}Ij)iii or itiil l*.'uow I Lhm ~.t,< , ; :'»^-''," " •; rHuMA <.UtJjil^ ;ni)A ijrws "5 iwi »... 1 1 •■ r. ; . I n-j^t S((«r ■\-^ I ^ll:H\m tiJM' J -'Ai rtd OUT RIlwAf. '•^\.'. L ,1 >j ^ I • ,iJU^ jjiut 01 Jiit*W I S>a\'H viiw vr'jj)! j'u< b I I. lie .1 -..at.y.n-- .,. H It liifcwo liiiUlviW Lmx-J; ,f«UH( to ,l*(il ri£'llr> tfi ^l^i ijn. ii • .; i _• .*' ,r i' til )n«*t ii -ivil jor ui- J .ii^iiMi ^11! rti f'.'»jnit|ijiM{ v-iJ • *: It *w ■ I I',! f'l.firt 7.n a, "»'>!' •.^r: ;.!-•.., v., .f: U-tthr.'^ji wiiii' - / .'1 OHAPTEll X J THE POLO-HATCH. . ' ;7/ , :,,..,;. ,^ THE old g^nfieman's rpm^jr ks bad beeo called forth bjr rMaaoa of a polo match ia which the crack riders and players were to engage. The games were to be contested on the following day, and all Newport was excited in its dilettante sort of way over the prospect. Harry, before his injury, had been one of the most expert players, and really loved the sport. He was a daring horseman, to the extent almost of recklessness, and the tact that he was to play created quite an interest in the trame independent of any other feature of it He had indulged in some practice since his illness, and on the morning of the match bad raced down over the beach just after sunrise, and was exer- cising his pony by devious turns and wheels under the cliffs when he encountered Aunt Mahala walk;'ig alone. He drew rein, and, dropping out of the saddle, walked alone beside her, leaving Chiquita to follow, which she did, looking as staid and demure as if she had never tossed a rider or ran wild over the pampas of Western Texas. " ft's quite early for you to be out. Miss Vining. Are you always such an early riser 1 " queried Harry. " Oenei-ally ; I like to come down to the beach before it is crowded. I do not like crowds, Mr. Bolton, and am not much in sympathy with the gay and useless life that is led here." " That has a suggestion of a rebuke directed at me, Miss Vining. I hope you think better of me than your remark would imply." " Well, Mr. Bolton, you lead a pretty gay life. Everybody seems to know you and you know everybody, or appear at least to have a bow- ing acquaintance with every person on the Island." *' That is merely the result of long association with the class of people who come here year after year. I am sure you don't think any the worse of me for that, and if you don't," he continued hasti y as he saw that Aunt Mahala, with an ominous shake of the head, was about to speak, *' why, I wanted to ask your kind advice. You see, Miss Vin- ing, I am without female relatives t^most, except a sister younger than myself, and of course I couldn't apeak to her on this subject." " Go on, Mr. Bolton, and if 1 can aid you I will most gladly." " Well," blurted out Harry, " I am in love with Miss Newell — very, very deeply in love — and I would like to make her my wife." " Why don't you ask her 1" said Aunt Mahala kindly. '- 1 have tried, but she shunts me off the topic whenever she sees I am approaching it, and I don't know why. What I want to ask you, Miss Vining, is if my life is such that a pure, good woman could not love me and trust her happiness in my hands. I do not live a fast life divi( ■ii'-, ,\::f*-u).:> Jll'^odl *!ilJ ;1- (( «fu-»-•• < ■injiiaJiifc y rtUMon of a are to engage. I all Newport rpert playew, to the extent eated quite an I it. He ha)d orning of the and was ex«r- ilifft) when he andt dropping lita to follow, never tosaed a Lre you alwa'^s B it is crowded, sympathy with I, Miss Vining. nply." 'erybody seems to have a bow- th the class of ion't think any id hasti y as he ead, was about 1 see, Miss Vin- ir younger than jject." »Bt gladly." Miss Newell — • my wife." lly. never she sees I ant to ask you, aman could not it live a fast lite TOB POLO-VATCR^ 47 really. I nave, of courae, lived as have moat men in my station, I sup- pdae, but there are, after all, but few things in the past I would blot out," Aunt Mahala aimply said : " As yon seem to be at once your own aoouter And apologist, I do not quite see where you have reason to ask ad vice from me." " No ; but tell me — you see Miss Newell is so different from other girld, the sort of girl I have been accustomed to, that I lose confidence in h«tr presenc , and yon see. Miss Mahala, I — that is — " said Harry blunderingly. " W^l, Mr. Bolton, frankly, I do not see or know any reason that should Stand betwem yoar h(^>e8 and their realization. V)VU i-MJ rfill ' He either fears his fste too much, Or his deserts are smalL" ,,,,) j (.•r>-i 7 1 ''! Harry was disappointed. He had hoped that the spinster would !ie able to give him some clue to the state of Miss Newell's feelings, '.aving a vague idea that women confided in each other to that extent, ff, howevei^ she had been the recipient of any confidence she did not see tit t>o bietray it, and be was forced to unbosom himself still further, until they neared the hotel, when Miss Mahala said, at separating : " An honest love, Mr. Bolton, can do no man anything but good. I wish you every suooess in your wooing, and may you win what you deserve."^ '^ '.^^^ ,,',)', \ ,:,,,,, ,-,, _ " How few would 'scape whipping ! " quoted Harry ruefully as he leaped into the saddle, and, putting spurs to Chiquita, to her amazement, dashed away at a pace that astonished the morning idlers on the porch. Four men were to play — Mr. i.Iontgomery Bell and Harry for the Blues, Whyte Rockford and Oliver Rich for the B«ds, all of them well- known society-men in Gotham, and the leaders in the polo interest. Under the canopy sat a crowd of bri'liant women, among them Alice, Mils New ell, and Mr& Hazard- — as lovely a trio as could be seen there — and Aunt Mahala. The Judge, his black stock only half way to his left ear, and the lower button of his coat just lifting over the swell of his rotundity, stood near them, rather abashed and silent in his unac- customed 8uiT0unding& The scene presented on the ground was gay and animated. Young America was in his glory, and, emulous of his British cousins, was laying numerous wagers on the result, g*' -nng and taking odds with a reeblessneSs born of ignorance of their values. The ladies, bless them ! shone resplendent in all the gorgeous tints of the rainbow, fully entitled to the reputation American ladies have won of being the best-dressed in the world. Of course, the long likt of gloves and trifles which they stood to win in the event of their favorites being successful cannot be class^ as V-ets — a little harmless excitement ; yet they seemed equally as earnest, decided and positive as the heaviest plunger among their attendant cavaliers. The ponies on the ground, well cared for by their respective grooms, divided the attention with the ridera — compact, hardy little animals, 48 KO liAOOAkDIVTBi with any amount of fire and " staying power" in them, more renowned for their hare-like doubling qualities than absolute speed. Among the ladies Harry's Chiquita was deservedly a favorite, being honored with the declaration that she was a perfect love, just too awfully awful sweet. And we must confess she bore it very well. She tossed her little head and champed the bit as if proud of the notice she excited and of her personal appearance ; and with good reason, for she was a splendid specimen of her breed. Perfectly white, with the exception of a black star in her fore- head, dashing, intelligent eye, wide-open nostril, long mane and tail, her whole appearance indicative of careful grooming and tending, well and cleanly built, with all the good points that horsemen love to descant upon, she was a picture. Fully up to Harry's weight, as she caracoled around the sward she exhibited a docility that spoke volumes for her complete and careful training. Harry was proud of his bachelor den, of his yacht, his pet meer- schaum, of many of his possessions ; but his chief weaknesss was Chitiqua. She would follow him like a dog. No matter at what portion of the field he was standing, a shrill whistle would bring her bounding to his side, when a caressing motion of her small head against his sleeve and a whinnying neigh showed ho^fr thoroughly horse and man were in accord. Harry to-day was enjoying himself. Possibly he felt at his best, and knew that Miss Newell would have no cause to be ashamed of him . He was almost ubiquitous, flitting hither and thither on the back of his favorite, chaffing with one group, laughing and amusing himself with another, and, in response to Miss Newell's express fear that his pony would be tired before the game began, laughingly assured her that his favorite scarcely warmed up to her work until most other ponies were exhausted. Harry certainly was in excellent form. We have described him before as a small nan; but in his polo dress, wiih tight-fitting Guernsey shirt, he looked bigger than in ordinary every-day costume. Constant exercise at the games be delighted in had divested him of all superfluous flesh, and, in spite of his recent accident, the well-trained muscles stood out in bold relief. Having no weight to carry, his shoulder and arm development enabled him to outstay miny larger and seemingly stronger men. He sat his horse like a centaur, and it needed but a pressure to cause an instant response to his will. Jack, much to the Judge's disgust — " for who should be a better judge than hel " — had been asked to act as umpire, and, all being ready, had advanced to the centre, and, having placed the ball, sprang to his saddle in time to escape the charge. The first two games were hotly and evenly contested, fortune, sup- plemented with skill, daring, and readiness of eye and hand, having secured for each a victory. The third and deciding game was now to be played, and party-feeling ran high. The gentlemen had equally distin- guished themselves in the preceding games, and the friendly emulation was intensified by the fact that they had been so closely contested, so hardly won. A gain they stood in rank, opposed to each other for the final heat, drawn up in line like unto the knights of old in a grand tournament, but with a small ball to receive the shook, instead of shield or casque:. TRtC POtiO-MATCH. 4V Bitch hettrt beat high with hope and the desire to win. The eyes of their reepective queens of beauty beamed upon them and spurred them to renewed effort. 'Twas only sport ; yet the flashing eyes, the com- pressed lipH, and general air of determination of each contestant (*Ar6 evidence that they were of the stuff that could perlbrm deeds of " der- ring' do," should ev -^r occasion require it. " Go ! "—a rush. " Charge ! "—a clash of mallets, and all the practised skill and Jtnetitie of the riders and docility of the horses is exer- cised. The opponents are playing a preventive game ; with mallets croaspd they feint, parry, and foil any attempt to break uway. A sud- den twist on the part of Harry causes a disengagement, when, with a rapid movement, the ball is crooked under his pony, and the blue skirmisher sends it spinning towards tho goal. The movement has not been so rapid, however, but one of the Reds has anticipated the move and now sends it bounding in an oblique direction. A rush from the main body, a scramble, and away it flies to cross field at right-angh s to the goals. Helter-skelter, tho principal favorites in a ruck ! A taste of Chiquita's speed puts Harry i lightly in advance, gives him barely time to hook it off the line by a rapit* double recover and .send it spinning towards home. Again it was intercepted and sent in the opposite direction. Away they go, this time with one man and a horse down, and Whyte Rockford, a noted hard-hitter and deliberate player, slightly to the fore. With a force that sends a daisy-cutter in the direction of the opposing goal, away it goes. •' Stop it I " Stopjjed it is and sent spinning back again. Another crash, men and horses mixed in a heterogeneous mass, and Harry disappears from view. Miss Newell, sitting with her hands clasped, does not change her attitude or seem to move a muscle, but was it the pressure of her fingers that burst that pair of gloves ! 'Tis but a second ; the group divides and Harry is seen again erect, having swooped down, Indian fashion. After a long scoop, the force of which not being strong enough to carry the ball far away, the struggle is renewed, riders and horses swaying together in one mass. Another opening and Rockford darts out of the press, closely followed by Rich, and before the Blues can interpose they get the flying hall between them and commence the nursing process, their skirmishers meanwhile well placed for defence. The game seems almost hopeless now for the Blues, for the goal is but a short distance and is being slowly but steadily reached. Harry sends Chiquita flying away for a rod, and, wheeling, returns at full speed, as if he will ride them down. A word checks her on haunches — a slight wheel and a rapid movement betwt en the legs of Rockford's pony— the Blues have the ball, and away it flies back again. The skirmishers ride full speed to intercept it ii\ cros.-^ing the goal, while the Red champions charge down to recover the lost treasuie ; but Harry has the ball well in hand, and by rapid drives has almost reached the goal when, for the first time in her life, Chiquita stumbled and she and Harry rolled over on the sward. With a shout Rockford recovers the ball, but is met by Bell, wh") struggles manfully but vainly to keep the ground Harry has won. The latter had shaken himself together and started to circle Rockford and Bell, interposing between the goal, when 50 NO LAOOARD8 WE. Bell stumblefi and fell, while Rockford gathered for a drive which Uiould decide the game. It struck, Imt Harry had gauged its direction correctly, and, checking Chiquita, ht struck at the ball flying in hi« direction. AH the force of his arm wa.s launched into that saving stroke. It succeeded, and the rebound sent the ball spinning to goal in the right direction. A word to ChiqiiiUi and shf* was off like the wind, paseicg Rockford like a flash, hikJ, with a ringing hurrah and a cheery cry of, " Lie still, Monty, old fellow 1 " Harry raised his little pet to a jump, and a few more strides brought him level with the ball and victory. The BJuis had won. ., , .; ,1 .:...., . I ,.r ; J.. tn tr.M .-v. ,: 'Xi t: ,.i'. t.. T"' t I*: ' :. r H(ril!)T'. "i; -'' 1 ■• ', .( '1^ ' 1 O' II ■■ .1 '■* llr. il ):l l.t>! rl' ' ■'' .V \.Hi a ;*(^'t '■">'3 "■rl ■' ' '■• ■• 1 .> iwp ! '■> . ' ' f ■ ' ) 1 ri'x>' f , >l H-l! ».\tt. Kl'<* ■ , ■ .7 ' .(,'•.■•!..■ r-h , , ,, _< •>. •yn ..,,.j ,-.7.' ',> ,■{ I •' •■* '•'■■''; -'"' <-iip ;'♦ r.t ' >„.i).-. ■'V • . . \>v ■• >*-\n .■ ■■tu t ^ 1 1. . . ■1 . ''.■1 ■ i : ■(■ ^ , I' . .f. .'!> I'.W V •! ■ \ ' 1 tn t-i'\ |.l w . .. i-< ,l-yr ^V't ■ - ' ,, "I • V' ■ t-.,-> ■■ ■ . ( • . ' »*l i ii' ^ • ■ 1 -. . .- ;v.:i i, 1 ' 1 « ■: .. .('••.< !,'■•'{ - ■-• 1 J . ■ \[ .. ■■".. »,:■-•■'■ ,. 1' V: . ■ t' , . •. !..>' •( 1.. I CHAFfER XI. -1 'i^ ^li .1 ./•'! JUDGB VININO FOK TUiC PLAINTI*"*'. . • XI .11 •" a..... . ..' . I- - . .1./ i-t.\i I n ON the (lay following tlie poJo-tiiatch Alice, Jack, Miss Newell, and Boltou diaposed themselves oointortaljly iu the shady corner of the hotel piazza and discussed general topics languidly and lazily, vainly attempting to ioipress theuisblves with tlie belief that they were iater- ested iu Newport and the world t large, when the Judge, in hu) ponderous way, sauntered toward tliem. Now it is a fact that the Judge was rarely sober, and it is also true that on this occasion lie was splendidly drunk. In his cups he wm generally boisterous, slways dogmatic, aggressive in si)eech and manner, and, when brimming over, he added to these ever-present qualities the more imposing one of great dignity. His dignity this morning was lofty and overpowering. His black stock was quite a distance behind his left ear, the lower button of bis coat was far up toward his shirt-stud, and his stride was mighty, as l>ecame a man to whom all others were simply and only human beings. " Gen'l'men, mornin*. Glorious niornin'. Al'ce, my soul's ap'le, ita eye — 'low me — proud par'nt — to coinp'nient. Bea\j'ful child, gen'l'men. Practice in Vining fam'ly — have beau'ful children — matter pers'nal hon- or — ancien' custom — hon'r'd thousan years' 'bservance — women al'avB lovely — men al'ays brave — brilliant — m'self judicial — I'm judge. Gen 1'- men, mornin'." Alice, feeling heartily ashamed of her father's condition, and anxious to shield him from Bolton's irrepressible raillery, hastily said : •' Will you not come with me for a walk on the piazza ]" " Walk ? no, m'd'm, You, scion Vinings, want walk ? No, m'd'in — Vinings al'ays ride — coach all time — I join pl's'n't pai-ty — asked walk — p'nt of honor — per.s'n'l honor — not walk," replied the tfudge, twisting his neck so that the stock threatened to make the complete circuit of his throat, and dragging the coat still higher over his chest with a flourish of haughty indignation. "Judge Vining will sit — sit, sir — have sat upon bench thirty years — ^judge — 'Iways had Judge Vining in our fam'ly." So saying, the Judge settled himself unsteadily into a chair and monopolized the situation. '* Mizzer Bolton," he began, after surveying the group with a wavering glance of patronizing superiority, addressing Harry, as was his invariable custom, and ignoring Jack, as was aLK> his ' custom when he met the young men together, " Pardon me — take the right of judge to speak as feel to young men. Not right, sir — -then, sir, this op'tunity to say my daughter — in presence of ge'l'man — and this hdj 53 NO LAGGARDS WB. — Miaa Kewell —Hay, Hir- o£ honor — Judge— —and you, mad'm — that Jndt* — Jodf* VouBf^t -Biblu Hays not good man be aicaM>-— Jwige a ■an -prou' station— if u'low man, say so — 'cause Judge, wMaa \a lone — DO, gen'l'man — Alice — Go' bleau you — Judge —your faxittr — Jadg« Vining — going get married — not goo' be 'lone.' " Father I" exclamiued Alice. *• Dazzer — what is it — waz matter Judge's daughter T While Alice sat with a wondering look in her great riolot njn* ami a pained expression on her face, the old gentleman Taiulj trM ib& gxv« atterance to Honie further dctai!;^ of his intentions, but iiu tcui^ fr«^w inanicalate, his speech became a blended sibilation of tmfiTt*.my mad aa Us head fell forward on hia capacious shirt front he was Leaxi by Ehvry to murmur something which, being interpreted, soundfid IiAk: "Judge dnmk — man drunk — pers'nal honor drunk — dignity drusk — l iina k all rmrad." And thus he fell asleep. When he awoke he found himself alone. There was a luerrj party of yoong people at a little distance, talking and laaglditf lesfij, i^nd Iwjvnd them sat Mrs. Hazard. Her dress was creamy in color and soft in fabric, nsxi a bread- Irimmed hat, deftly wreathed in lace and roses, shaded btir faotv aati her vhit« hands gracefully moved in and out through tbe.iBtneiu pattern of some iancy-work. The Judge's condition was a trifle steadier after his dacrt s»p than before, so he made such haste as his dignity and cups aduiitMid r£. piaoe UuKlf beside the lady toward whom he had directed his SMSnamiial aopes. "Good momin' ma'am," he began, when he had finally mktkgui her — '* good mor'in', ma'am. Not seen you 'cepting at ycAo ftisa^"^"^'; ruxn for bim by a sweeping in of her flowing draperies. " If day ten time's lovely — not lovely 'noogh to low MOb to cast jonr shadow, ma'am." " Why, Judge, you are indeed — " "True — quite true — sp,)ak as Judge — no dedracsu jwerred in eout I pay you, ma'am — pers'nal honor deouui's should y»m ^paiigmeat «t once, ma'am." Mrs. Hazard beamed at the Judge and he drew kis dboar doaer, and, readjusting himself in it, did not observe that tfae ladj itaS. pre- ■erred the distance between them by quietly re0U>ving her owx. "Yinings, Mrs. Hazard, hold it point honor — ^persaaJ iiuiAr — to 4aBe to point. 'Xcuse me, ma'am — bave'nt got answer imrfyniial — do JOB 'cept offer to be Mrs. Judge — ma'am — Mra.— Jodipe'e wiiit T Mn. Hazard's eyes danced with merrimu^t as s^ SBTT«7«d ker ■sdent though aged adorer, and then, aa ahe saw tlw aammBimnsi in hia iKe, the anxiety of his manner, and his nmrvoos tnpidalaua, th* fiset m in^preaaed upon her for the first time that the Jw^ nrfnarii what he 1 ii hrooK viwiiro roR the PLAiNTirr. Hi said, and was bent on obtaining an answer to a question dictated by a deeper feeling than she had ever thought him capable of. Mrn. Hazard had had frequent Burprines before, and as a rule was prepared for any emergency, but she had never had one so entirely asioninhing and so far beyond her experience as this. " What a mistake I have made in this man ! " was her thought. She was not the first woman who too readily accepted as the whole what waM really only the preface, who mistook intention for attention, and when her mistake i>i discovered knows not which way to turn or how to act. In thiH CHse Mrs. Hazard did just as a woman usually does under such ciicumstHnces — she gathered her skirts about hor ard ran away. The Juilgnce strove in vain to dull the edge of a feeling by no mei vsant or comfortable. A little later he encountered Harry on the hotel piazza, and, stand- ing erect before him, asked abrup.^y : " Mizzer Bolton, why does miin drink brandy J " Bolton looked at him with surpiise, and, although feeling as if he should say, if the question were direct and personal, that it was " because he likes it," replied : " I have read that drinking is the effect of weak minds seeking occupation." " S'posin' 'tis," roared the Judge — s'posin' 'tis 1 Fond quotation, sir? So 'm I. Remember this 1 n' li.) .\' f.ii.-' ill * If Horatius Flaoona Made jolly old Baoohus ' S'oft n hie fav'rite theme ; .(:,.■ If 'n 'im it was claasio To praise 'b old Maaaic And Fiernian to gulp in a atraam ; Sh'd we not make merry O'er port, olaret, 'n' sherry, Ooo' brandy, and boiling poteen ?' " r— to With this he strutted off indignantly, leaving Harry surprised at the nev phase of his character, as indeed nearly everybody else had recently been by some unexpected developments from tlie same source, and aottgkt again the comforts of the bar. I •». .':ii,i«- '( ■ "■■•' I' ,i--' *■ '■■• '" ''■''"' ■'■■'"-• '■.■'■ ,< -it ... i.v i.5i>' ii-i-.-.i .-^'-J J ; •i''^\ ■ ("i- "i •-■'■■ '■ '■" " r. i t..|fll-('.-^* •i;«'i liiS i',> l<.'-}til.lTfMU »d-' '»JK(,"'i\i> ^' '''d • '. # ■ «■ ■■ -ilj 1 L • ..•Ml CHAPTER XII. •* ' ■ LOVE ON THB TANTIVT. THE summer (la>a passed swiftly by. There were balls and drives, bathing, flirtation, dresses, gossip, the attructionN of the casino, more polo games, the arrival of the New York Yacht Club, the attend- ant regattas and gayeties, the little runs over to Martha's Vineyard and Shelter Island, and all the rest of it ttat goes to make up a watering place life. To Jack it was simply heavf n. TLe whole world took ou a new color of beauty to his enchanted vision, and lif*) became so entranc- ing that he could not contemplate the thought of death. Strange, isn't it, the way love affects some people! Every day he diseovertid sooie new beauty in Alice. Every night he sighed, " God bless her ! Crod bless my love, my darling !" He tried i. vain to regard his own con- dition as something quite natural and only the reasonable and projter "elationiship to " spooneyisui," but without avail. "What a glorious life!" he said to Alice one day — "ouiamer waather and hammocks in the open air." So little does it take to satisfy tiie already satisfied heart All the time his stock ventures prospered, and he had withdrawn fifteen thousand dollars over and above what he had retained in specu- lation. On the day he did this he resolved to speak to Alice's relatives, but whether it should be fir6t to the pompous father or the gentle aunt he had not yet decided. Blissfully unconscious of the fact that not only the immediate family of his love were aware of his idolatry, but that every one else who eaw them together rightly estimated that thdy were "awfully mashed," as Harry remarked, he pondered deeply on the way the woids he would adopt in making a formal proposal for Alice's hand. He had acted on Harry's suggestion and consulted Alice herself, and she, having taken something, as he had done, as a matter of course, simply put up aer red lips to be kissed, and that had settled it. At the sa ae time they knew that the formula must of necessity be observed, and ^lice was sometimes quite nettled when Jack day after day came back ar.'^ ;etert«Hl again to the old, old topic and sought her advice as to how he should proceed in this momentous matter. " Dear, darling," (kiss), '• stupid," (kiss), " blunderi'ig old Jack, aunty is the one to speak to. P^pa always accedes to my wishes. He can't help it, yoj know, and Aunt Mahala has had your foolish, loving girl in charge so long ; and he never interferes in the least, why should he V Magnificent May-storm of ki8i.e8. Aunt Mahala had witnessed plans in coming to Newport. the destruction o.' all her well-l»id v;> LOVE OK THK TAHTIVT. 98 " Now abont my niece Alice," she had said to Mrs. Hazard. " I don't think she has had that opportunity to see fashionable life that I haid wished and which I hoped to gain for Ler by bringing her here. She is h^iid and ears in love with Mr. Palmer." An. Haaard had smilingly replied that it was no trifling macter to attract a young girl's attention from her first love-affair. ft is a fact that, brilliant and clever as Mrs. Hazard was in all the ways of watering-plaie life, so far as her experience had extended, New- port wss a trifle " swell " ifor even her ready adaptability, but, while no onfe of th6 party except Harry, and possibly Miss Newell, had suspected this, she managed to preserve her oocial eminence unquestioned in the eyes of the others. She bad learned soon after their arrival that hotel life in Newport was not the right thing, and having delicately conveyed this fnct to the i-imple-niinded spinster, the third week of their stay saw the Yinings established in a cottage which happened to be vacant at the time, and with them Mrs. Hazard herself and Miss Newell, while Harry nnd Jack, although retaining their ruoms at the hotel, were so frequently at the cottage that they might almost be said to live there. At any rate, they often ame to breakfast, were rarely absent from dinner, and iuvaiiably present at tea. Miss Mahala thus having the cares of a household to divert her mind and occupy her time, found in them a compensation for the other- wise, to her. rather dreary and uninteresting life on the sea-shore. One day Jack tbund her luder circumstances that favored his intentions to formally ask for Alice in marriage, when, as he wisely thought, she WHS in one of her best moods, so he began : " Miss Vining, can I have a little of your time to say something of the deeiHfSt im|K)rtanoe ?" " Why, certainly, Mr. Palmer, you can always have my time," replied the old lady, rubbing away at the silver castor bhe held in her hands. Jack, much encouraged by this reception, stepped into the dining- room out of the embrasure of the window from whence he had spoken. " Well, Miss Vining — " he began. " Well i " said Aunt Mahala, taking up another piece of silver. " I have long — no, I don't mean long — I, in fact, 1 — " " You were saying ? " said the kind-hearted woman interrogatively, who knew just what Jack was not saying and what he wanted to Siiy. " You were saying f " she repeated after a pause. " Perhaps you have noticed, Miss Vining," pursued Jack after' an effort, during which he felt as if he had swallowed the round part of his head several times and it would not stay down, " that between — " then he Stopped short and speech failed him entirely. Aunt Mahals cast off her apron, and, drawing the diflUdent young man into a seat beside her, took np the thread of his failing intentions and came to his rescue by saying : " Of course I have noticed, Mr. Palmer, that you are ir lOve with Alice, my niece, and I have noticed, too, that she by no means fails to respond in some measure to your love." 56 NO LAOOAKIM WB. " Oh ! no," broke in our able diplomat ; " she reciprocates it t|nite as ardently aa I do hers." " Why don't you speak for yourself, John 1 " casting a look at the picture ol " Miles Standish's Courtship'' that hung on the wall before her. " Yes, I am trying to ; and I am authorized by your niece to ask you for her hand in marriage, as she has already accepted me." This with dignity. «' Then why do you ask my approval 1" " Why, Miss Vining, as a matter of form, you know, said Jack, all earnestness. ' " Only as a matter of form, Mr. Palmer 1" " No, no ! I don't mean that way. 1 — I — really, this is harder to face than the original situation." Then the words came to him fast enough, as he felt this was the decisive time indeed. " Miss Vining, forgive my blunders ; I beg of yon, don't weigh what I've said against what I'm trying to say. Were the circumstances the same as when I first met you I would hesitate to ask you to give me Alice, but I now have a little money, not a great deal it is true — $15,000 that I have made in Wall Street this summor. I feel that it is not enough to jus 'fy me in asking for the hand of Alice, but perhaps it shows, as I hope it does, how I xm striviog to keep you from thinking I care for Alice's money. I wir.'i with all my heart she hadn't a penny. I will try to make her happy, indeed I will, and. Aunt Mahala, we love each other." Now that Aunt Mahala was brought face to face with the question thht had so long tilled her mind, she knew not what to say. She had no thought of 'tvithholding her consent, even if she did interpose a few objections. S)ie was too tender-hearted to refuse him, but, being a woman besovght to do something, she wasn't ready to yield oflT-hand. Then he had called her Aunt Mahala. " Maj- be, Mr. Palmer, money obtained in stock speculations will do you no good," she mildly said. " I Will not attempt to combat any opinion you may hdve like that. You know that in fact I almost agree with you, and very likely it won't," replied Tack, trying to trim sail to the wind. " At the same time, if you hadn't made it somebody else would," continued Miss Mahala ; " and, then, we cau't reform the world in a day." " Just what I was going to say," broke forth Jack. " But you do not answer my request ; you see how unhappy your refusal would make me." " And me, aunty," cried Alice, who had entered unobserved, throwing herself into her aunt's arms. y,^,,(i j, " And do you love him so much, my darling ]" she asked ber. " Yes, dear aunty ; if you separate us it vtrill kijl me, ] love bin^ so much that — well, aunty, hefinows." r**'. i »•:»« ,:>' dr ■/«« ,»>■' •tt.'siwia '»a:cB jt I- t'><]i<-ti LOVB ON THE TANTIVY. fff .'■;■'<■ » Well, my children, you know that I am not inclined to oppose your wishes. God knows I would not stand between you and your happiness — no, not for worlds. But you must speak to Alice's father, Mr. Palmer. I believe you to be a good honest mtin, and that you love my niece. So far as I can, I will influence the Judge in your favor." " Won't you speak to him yourself! Do, please," pleaded Jack, almost piteously. " Yes, do, aunty, dear ; Jack's such a donkey about some things, you know," echoed Alice. While this scene was being enacted another love aflair was going forward between Harry and Misd Nt-well as they sat together on the high seats of the Tantivy coach. It was not the best place in the world to make love, perhar , b^'* in Harry's state of mind any place where he could get the brown-eyed little Quaker to look at him was good enough, and he pressed his wooing with earnestness and assiduity. When Harry found that his speculations were going all to pieces and that he stood on the threshold of serious disaster he had made fre- quent trips to New Yoi k, and after a while he began to see light ; but it came slowly, and only just as the festivities of the closing season were upon them he found himself established in good tiuancial btauding. During these da^s of doubt and fear he had, of course, refrained from seeking at Miss Ne well's hands the answer that he t-^lt must trans- port him with joy or plunge him into the depths of misery, but this day he had made up his mind to speak, come what would, now that be had her where she could not escape him as she had done on other occasions. So, as the Tantivy rolled along over the country road on the out- skirts of the town, with a couple behind and another in front, perhaps within listening distance, but entirely too much engrossed in their own affairs to pay much heed to this solemn-looking ])air, Harry began, with the same result in view but in a style quite different from that of his friend Jack. " Miss Newell, I am going to say something to you that does not concern the green fields, the ocean, the ships, or anything that we have been talking about " Harry was much more at ease than was Jack under similar circum- stances. Perhaps he had had experience. " Surely there is no reason why you should always talk about fields, oceans, or ships, Mr. Bolton," was the demure reply. " But what I am going to say concerns you and me very much, Miss Newell." " Something of a mutual importance, doubtless," was her nervous comment, for she saw that her suitor w^s determined to arrive at a definite expression this time, unless she could hit upon some way to avert it. May be she didn't want him to be siient and was almost ready to hear him, for in her close companionship with Alice that viva- cious creature had doubtlf-ss told what Jack had certainly pot withhel<^ from her. Jack couldn't keep anything from Alice, . ■' Well, Miss Newell, will you bear me ? " 58 KO LAOQARDS WB. " If the coach doesn't get into rough ground, I suppose, sir, I will have to." For once Miss Newell couldn't lift her brown eyes and demolish that young man at her side. " Mibs Newell," began Harry earnestly, " you have seen that I am very much in love with you, and wicn I have attempted to give my feelings the expression they sought } "U have avoided me. Time after time have you either escaped from n j yoursdf or jire vented me by some charming ruse from uttering the words almost on my lips." He had caught her hand in his own as he sjioke, but she some way or other managed to tangle iIih points of her gray silk sunshade in the scarf about her hat, and she drew away her hand, not unkindly, as Harry thought, to release it. Wheit this was done he ft^lt that he had made no progress what- ever, and that it was necessaiy to begin all over again or adopt different tactics, HO he fiankly asked : •' JNJiss Xi well, will you be my wifel" And Miss Newell quite as frankly answered: "No, Mr. Bolton, I cannot." For a m'".n<-nt Hairy cnnld not loply When he spoke again, and it was som;^ time before he could control liis voice, the young lady had the sunshade f>o held that he could only see the lower part of her face, but his heart gave a bound as he thought he snw the sympathetic under- lip quiver. '• "V our refusal," he said, "is so positive that I can't ask you the reason. It carries its reason with it. Miss Newell." "And I could not tell you the reason if you asked it," was the mournful reply. " Then there is a i-eason. Is it one tiiat may be overcome 1" " No, I fear not, Mr. Bolton. Btlieve me that I appreciate your offer at its full value, and if I say to you that I would rather be your wife than V)e assured of all the hapjjiness in lii^' woild beside, you will then understand that the reason is indeed in.supc I'able." " Thea you do love me 1 " " With all my hearc and soul ! " was the eai nest answer, and this time the biown eyes looked into his and Harry saw that they were full of tears. . • . ; i.«i- T' Mr. ( ■■ u ..i( I; Hi,' I. '••.tjl l' ' !| T I'. '.-V . f\:: r-ri- ■> ■ r ' . •: : !.♦ ■. i' I- t ■• i' I ■• , '.i ,/ ■'■I ■ •l! • 'f^ >!1/ I ■"!■ „ ■,'■■, r . -11 ; .'1 ■• - ■ ■ ' '• : ' CHAPTER XIII. ■ '...( !-.-•.<•■< ^ .< i ,.:.,{-'.f 'i '.»• •' " ' i; ij ((. ' . -1" .;.'^'^ I I ■ .. . ALL ABHOAD. THAT night five letters were written. Boltou wrote to Lis business partner in New York as follows : When r A^as in New York laat we ductiwed Mveral their face looked so promiaing that I waa incliDed to " My Dear Moork ; bttflineiB prospects that on join with you in them ; but on further consideration I feel lUAble to ondertake anything of the magnitude they embrace. I am far from well ; indeed, I have been ailing continually since my accident, and the durry in btocks Laiit month did much to retard my recovery. " My physician says it wocld be well fur me to go to Europe or some place where ■tocka are unkuuwii and a quotation is never heard. This may surprise you, knowing me as you do, but what is the use of a man pushing on so faat in thia world when the price he pays is his health ? " I have made up my mind to go abroad for an extended tour, and I wiU either dispose of my interest in tliu lirm to you, or I will, under a new partnership contract whereby your share ahull be made with regard to your reaponsibilitiea, leave my entire business int^rcHts in your hands. It is exceedingly painful to me to withdraw from an association with you which has furnished at once a pleasant companionship and a highly successful business career fur us both, aud did I not feel it imperative I would not do so, " Wire me in answei i,u i :is, for 1 hope to be able to leave the United States early in October. ► " Very truly your friend, " Hexbt Bultox. > ' "Mb. Thomas H. Moore, "Bond Street, N. Y." ■ ' J > h. Jack wrote one in an.swer to a buHine.ss piojwsition from a pablii«her : Mr. Litkrarv B. Roe: •• ■• " .»,.■:.. Dbar Sir : I have delayed uuswering your letter of the 20th of August, which contained a proposal for me tu oumluct the new magazine you are about to establish. My excuse for the delay rests in the fact that my affairs are in such a condition that until to-day I was unable tu give you a detinite answer. I regret very much to have to decline your flattering uffet. I do not think I shall engage in literary work any more except as a recreation, but if I do it will be aa a pub- lisher. " Our old acquaintanceship, and i^uite apart, my dear Hoe, from other con- sideration, renders it appropriate foi me to give yon the delightful information that I am about to be married — in fact, within a month. 1 shall then take my wife abroad for a short tour, sailing early iu October, and will probably spend the winter in Pau. If I cau serve you as an occasional contributor, command me. Bless you, my old friend, aud wishing that you may prosper as you daserve in your new undertaking, I remai.a, " Your old chum, *'' "Jobs Pauun. Mr. L. B. RoR, " Park Row, N. Y." 60 KO UGOAROS WS Miss Alice wrote one to her cousin " You Dear, Darling Hattie : "It's *U fixed, and I am the happiest girl in Newport. I wrote you how dear Jack had finally decided to make the request for my hand, and the amount of encouragement he had to have was something simply awful. At one time 1 feared he would back down altogether. You just ought to see him ! He's the tallest man in Newport, and just as shy as he can be. Well, as I was saying, he trembled like an aspen when he was beginning to speak to Aunt Mahala. But she helped him out, and I was listening behind the curtain, and came on the scene at the right time. Well, the dear old aunty made a respectable demur and then said, ' Bless you !' and it was too cute for anything to hear Jack call her aunty. Anyway, aunty spoke to papa, and ybu know how he is. She just said in that quiet way she has : 'Brother, Mr. Palmer (the idea of calling my Jack Mr. Palmer) ' has proposed fir Alice's hand, and, as the young people are in love ' (of course we are), ' I think it best they should be married without delay. Delays are dangerous ! ' And she sighed so strangely. "Do you know anything about aunty's love-affair ? Well, papa snuffed and •wore that no Vining should marry a poet fortune-hunter — his personal honor waa concerned ; but aunty just said : * It is my fortune that is concerned, brother ; ' and then papa cried over me and said, ' Bless you,' and all that you know, and I ran away to tell Jack. I'm so happy ! Do you know, everybody thinks that papa is rich. Poor papa, he is poorer than I, and people think I am his heiress, not aunty's. " But you will come on right away now, won't you? We're going to b« married in October, and then we are going abroad. I want you for first brides- maid. I have told you about my friend. Miss Newell. She is the strangest girl I I want her to be my second bridesmaid, and I asked her this evening, but she acted so funny I can'c tell you. bhe kissed me aud cried over me as if I was going to be a funeral. I thought she and Harry bolton, Jack's friend, were going to make a match, but something has happened. " Now, I am going to wear" (and the letter went off into a wo-:Id of satin, laoe, blossoms, and trousseau, all of which Alice having written, she signed), " Your loving, happy little cousin, ^^^ "^Alice Vivdjci" In the quiet of her own room Miss Newell, in agony of spirit and with tearful eyes, wrote a letter to her mother. lu it she said : " Dear mother, I am coming home soon, very soon. I believe my errand is about accomplished. As I approach the end I tremble with apprehension lest our worst fears shall be realized. Perhaps it would have been better to have allowed poor Will's name to be forgotten. " I feel my own weakness now more than ever, for stranee things have hap- pened, dear mother, and in carrying out my duty as a sister f find that 1 cannot forget that I am also a woman. "This very day, only a few hours ago, a noble, honest gentleman spoke to me of love and marriage. It waa so sweet, dear mother ! I denied him, bjt, mother, Ood help me ! my heart is breaking. In a few days I will be back to our dear Quaker home, and if I cannot live there and forget, we will sell the old homestead and go abroad, you and I together, my mother. ,.!:'> 'i:') " Yonr heart-broken daughter. » " ELXzABvrH Newell." ' ' vi\i !. ' ■>! i.i ' "■'" Judge Vining also indulged in a little epistolary recreation, select- ing a table in the bar-room for his task, and enjoying the assistance in hia effort of no end of " refreshera." Having written on the left-hand upper comer of a score of sheets " Hazard v$, Vining " and destroyed (hem, he finally accomi^ished the following : ALL ABROiD. 61 Msa Chauncet Hazard : "HoKORKD Madahk: It WM my proud privilege, u yon will donbtless remember, to address yea with reference to a proposal made by myself as party of the second part " (the legal phrase was erased and the letter continued) " for the hand of yonr deceased husband's widow. " Id thus offering myself at th« shrine of your transcendent charms of person and virtue, believe me, noble lady, loveliest of your sex, that your petitioner is actuated solely, only, exclusively, and entirely by the pure motives which you of all women awaken moat in the heart of mankind, " It affords me unspeakable gratification to continue the suit already begun, and believe me, respected madam, that I shall carry my case to the court of last resort, in the hopeful endeavor to obtain judgment for the plaintiff. And your petitioner will always pray. "JvMuin tt tenacem propotiti virum, as we say in the law, which, to trans-, lato, means a just man and one tenacious at his purpose. "Should you regard the application favorably it would be my greatest pleasure to lead you abroad after our marriage. " With feelings of the profoundest regard, permit me, in anxioai expectancy of your answer, " To subscribe myself, " Your most obedient " "Servant and admirer, "C. Lyttlbton Vinino." To the first letter came back the following answer by telegraph : "Hknry Bolton. " i}cean House, Newport : " Am astonished at your decision. Leave on Fall River boat at five. See you to-morrow morning. ' ' "Thos, H. MOORI. -Pd.88o." , , , Also by telegraph : "John Palmer, " Ocean House, Newport : " I congratulate you with all my heart. Do I gc t a card ? " Collect 29c." Also by wire : L. B. Rox. " Miss Mahala Vinino, " Newport : "Hattieleave8byrailSaturdayfiveA.il. Arrivos 6:30. Meet at depot "Robert Vimuto, "Pd. 52o." Found by the Judge on his plate at breakfast : " Motion denied. Plaintiff nou-snlted. Mail. OoACNciT Haxlsd," ')<..! CHAPTER XIV. CLOSE QUARTERS. ttrllHE last ball of the season was under way, a brilliant affair, with 4k the most distinguished attendance, the richest dressing and display ofdiimonds that had been seen. They were all there, all our party, ei'en Aunt Mahrtla, who, feeling more out of place than ever, had for an ever attentive anJ delightful companion the evening through the .society favorite, Mr. Bo'.ton. Vainly had she striven to drive hirn from her. He hail found ia the charming spinster a confidant for his troubles and a syinjiaihizing friend. He had told her how ill fared his Iove-m»king, and that hia disappointment was so bitter that he proposed to go abroad a.s scon as he could arrange his business affairs. She in turn had urged him not to decide s-o hastily, not to relinquish all claims to the Utile Quakeress, that until some other man got her there was always hope for Lim. Hut he shook his head gloomily, and said : " Not so, there was no hope, no chance for hirn — no, none for ever?" and had clung to her for the b.ilui of sympathy, which Jack, in liis ecstatic state of happine.ss, was unable to bestow. So all the evening ho stayed by her side, much to the dear lady's embarra-ssment, taking especial delight in having Miss Newell see that his attentions were devoted to so worthy an object. The little Quaker party was in the very vortex of the social whirlpool. She had suddenly, and miicii to her own surpii.se, become the rage among the Newport beaux, who found in her quaint ways, dry sayings, and unvarying good nature anatcraciive relicff from the society belles, with their conventional chatter and half-balanced minds, and they with one accord had come to offer the incense of their admiration at her feet. A loss sensible ])arty than our little friend might have had her head turned by such adulation, but one of her greatest charms to her newly-organized army of adorers was the practical way with which she accepted their attention and turned the edge of their compliments. Still, it was not in human nature (certainly not in the part of it remaining after man had got his share) to be insensible to such a condition of affdirs ; .so it is not strange if Miss Ne well's eyes flashed brighter and in her staid way .she metaphorically tossed her head as she i gned supreme at the grand ball. Let us not attempt to penetrate to her more secret and tender feelings as she passed lliirry half a score of times, bowing in silence in return to his respectful obeisance. Heart-broken women may not long CDUtiaue in that identity, but surely none of them recover quite ao easily that a week's interval will cement the pieces and obliterate all BignB of tho fractui-a »^«tSijW»M^rf^»o ^ ffi. » .: ii . .|.^ wi V ^. CLOSE QUARTRRS. 63 with jNIrs. Hazard was in her element, and when they all met in the gray liglit of the breaking morning, after the last whirl of the fitrman, and watihed for a time from the j>iazza of the cottage tlie gatliciing fogs, and the Htais fHde out, she laughed and chatted, as morry as could be. But under the folds of lace on her heaving bos m n pcscd a note scratched on ro»igh ]»ai)er whose contents might easily have distuibed a fitronger minded woman than this one. It liad been pushed into her hand just as she had left the ball and was entering the carriage by a man who wore an ill-fitting coachman's coat, and whose face she had only caught a glimp.se of as its owner hurried away, leaving Aunt Mahala to (liter the coach una-s.^isted, and herself half fainting in the corner. By the time home was reached she had recovered her spiiits, or at least control of them, and was exceptionally witty and brilliant. Ap toon as she reached her room she tore open the paper, and, sinking down at the window, read by the dim light of daybreak the following : " Mv LovK : Come to me at sharp sunriHe at the foot of the steps below Iho cjtta^e. Don't let anybody see you ; you may be shadowed. Be careful, and for God's sake don't fail, For over, Fred." There was not an instant of hesitation. Kis.sing the note fervidly and thrusting it into her bosom, she tore oft' her fine dress, and, wiench- iiitr open the white satin boots without stoppirg to unloose thtm, drew about her a wrapper of dark-colored stuff and threw over her powdered hair a black Ifice scarf. Her feet encased in walking (^hoeH, idie huiiied to the window and looked out to the east. The liorizon was not yet brightened by the sun, and she had a few minutes to wait. 8iie glanced in the mirror and caught the reflection of her face, ashy pale, her eyes gleaming with excitement, the red lips diawn tightly over her while teeth, while her hands trembled with nervous excitement. She laughed half hysterically as she muttered : " This won't do, my girl— no, no ! this won't do," and, hastily opening a vial that lay in her dressing-case, she poured out half a hnndf d of bellailonna pellets and swallowed them. Then she sat down and tried to compose her.self, and ten minutes later, when she again approaclied the window, the face llut looked out was calm and impassive as the gray eastein hills on which she gazed, watching for the rays of the lising sun. C'iisting another look in the glass, she nodded at herself in an approving way, and, stepping down the stairway and cut throu<;h the French window, she stood for a moment on the piazza looking about lier, and then with a leisuiely step strolled over the dew-laden gra.sfi stopping now and then to pluck a rose from its stem or to look aliout her, as one to whom the beauties of dawn were inexpietsibly charming. The morning sun stretched his rays out over the hil^s and gilded the tops of the steeples, and as he climbed a little higher lifted the giay ofl' the cottages and Vjjazoned their wir.dows with gold. Pre^etiily ho cast a shadow with the lovely rose-bushes fiom \\hich Mrs. Hwzaid had just j)lucked the floweis, and, creeping still higher, his blaze iell u] on tlje edge of the cliff and the si(iingly beach below, R8 also uppn th^ «i HO UlOO&BDI WB. haggard face of a man peering fearfully around the gray edge of a rock, casting at intervals nervous gknces over \m shoulder. " Why don't she cornel " he muttered between his teeth. " Why don't she make ha.ste? I don't know how much longer I can keep up on grocery whi.skey," he continued, taking a long pull from a tla.sk. " Ugh ! what beastly stufl", damnable rot, but I can't get anything else just now. Where can she be I " Again ho looked around, and this time ho .saw the erect figure of a woman at the head of a flight of stairs that led down from the top of the cliff, her form standing out in bold relief against the blue sky beliind her. A moment she paused, throwing a shaip, "uick look in the direc- tion she came and another along the beach, then, gathering her skirts around her, she ran swiftly down the steps. When she reached the bottom the man was there, but ere he had time to gieet her — •' What is the matter, Fred ? What has happened ? " she questioned breathlessly. " Is it serious '/ " " Serious ! yes ; more than that, it couldn't be worse. Have you got any money 1 " " Money 1 no, my dear, I have had only a little from you this sum- mer, and I have not economized." " Confound the luck ! (lod ! what shall 1 do ( " The man threw his hands in the air, and, clasping them over his head, with quick, nervous steps walked up and down on the board walk that ran au equal distance on either side' of the ivy-covered summer- house. The woman followed him, and, catching his arm with both her white hands, walked by his tide with a tender, clinging movement inex- preFsibly touching. As they walked they passed and repassed the sum- mer-house, screening themselves somewhat by keeping well under the bluffs. " Fred," said the woman, " tell me what has happened 1 I am mad with anxiety." "Happened! the whole game is up. We took a detective into our confidence, believing him to be a crooked man himself. Our mis- take we discovered just too late. Jem and Tom were nipped." " And you ? " " I heard them coming into the hotel after me and I got on the roof, taking the porter's clothes with me as a disguise. 1 had but little money — only enough to bring me here. I hoped you had some." " dear, dear ! " wringing her hands. " Yes, but that won't help the matter. No doubt you thought we had succeeded, and I had come to take you on a long journey after honesty and respectability." The lady reached out and caught a sprig of trailing vine as they passed the summer-house. '' 1 didn't know what to think, dear. I was so glad to know you were near, and then my anxiety for you is so great that at no time can I escape the bitterest pangs of fear." "Fear! Julia, a crooked man's wife should not be so squeamish, There, Julia, I don't want to be hard, but I want your help." «' Yes, dear, I know," was the sad reply. OLOSB QUARTBBS. 65 "Why keep lip a tlusk. hing else \ i "You mnnt get me some money, and that right away." Thoy were paflsing the Hummor-honue again, and another sprig of ivy wau added to the roseM slie had gathered on the lawn ; then, aa they moved on again, nhe ankcd : " Hut how i " " How ! do you Htop to ask me how i Twenty years in priuon stare me in the face, and you ask me how ! Can you not think of some way 1 Can't you borrow it I Surely you have not been throwing away all the good op[>ortunitieH of thu season." They have turned again ; the man stopped to light a cigar under the lee of the Huininer-house, and as she asked : "How much wil do, Fred]" '* Not less than 8500," was the sharp reply. " And I haven't a tenth of that sum. I renlly do not know from whom I could borrow it," she added thoughtfully as they walked on again. " Steal it, then." " My God ! no." "Why not? It's nothing worse than we have done, although, in plain words, it sounds worse." " I will not steal even for you." She shut her lips tightly. " No," he quietly retorted, " you will only live on the money that I steal for you." She dropped her leak again than open your lips to upbraid me at such a time as this. It is cowardly, Fred." " Don't get on your defence so quick. As you say, this is no time for recrimination." The womiin did not turn toward him, and then as he could see no relaxation of the hard look on her face, he continued in a conciliatory way : «« NO tAOOARDB WB " It's my wretched plight, Julia, that makes me so bivuer. I aever voald say such a thing if I were not trying to hurt somebodi 9 fwtini^ I fcel like having revenge out of some one. Forgive m*. hit iwiinjf. ' She dew to his side, and, catching his band, kistied it h^i^a and again. " You ought not to speak so to me, Fred, who am so f«.it/WiB]| to yon." " True enough ; I know it, dear. But can you not aid tut ao* ] " "I don't know ; there must he some way. I could p« j.omp drafts here that I could jK)Ksibly get oauiied snyntit' if I codld go into the town ; they are only dummies, though. Tnh^ ikm one, it's for seven hundred dollars, endorse it with the nauiv yon v.f iiujwn by. Don't be excited ; say quietly to Bolton that you want tAj^ moiiey, anbell, it is Mab.\la Yining," she said as she advanced toward him, " the woman who was your betrothed wife." " I — I thought — I heard, in fact, that you were dead," he stam- mered. " I never got un_> lotterd in reply to those I se.it you. I — " " Do not add fair'.^hon < to your list," she interrupted ; " at least, do not lie to me, Frederick Campbell I " She hissed out the words aa she towered above him. Placid Aunt Mahala, lik'> many women from whom such demonstrations could hardly be looked for, was thoroughly aroused, but there was a dignity in her rage before which thi.s hard man crouched and would have fled fiom could he have done so. " Do you remember," she went on, " that it was a morning not un- like this that we parted 1 And now nearly twenty years have gone by ; no day has passed that I have not watched the dawn, and, with this picture pressed close to my heart thought of you and the love of my }outh that could never die. It was my only solace in life. I will not reproach you for destroying the idol, for shattering the faith that until now was never for a moment shaken " She paused breathless, her thin hand clutching convulsively at her breast where hung the locket. Her long speech, though uttered quickly, gave the man time to recover himself. " Whatever has been your life, Mahala, however overcast with sorrow and deprived of its hope and blessing it may have been, it has been happier than if I had come back to you Hgain. Believe rae, I could have brought you only a deeper sorrow, and perhaps something harder to encounter than sorrow — " ..'.i'j'niM- She put out her hand toward him to stay his words. " Do not speak of that," she said. " Let me pass, and we will go our ways, and all shall be as if we never met." "That, alas ! can never be, Mahala." He drew aside as he spoke, and she moved by him and slowly ascended the steps, leaving him gazing after her. When she had got half way up she stopped and looked back. The man's face was lifted toward her, and there was something in his look that reminded her of happier days. " You are in great trouble 1 " she asked heeitatioglj. 68 NO UklOOAMDn m. " Then jon i\uvf> ov«rheard," was bis quick antwer. "I only heard you say that your need of money was vital" "And did you not hear me say why?" " I could not help hearing what I have repeated. You were by the snmmer-house when you said it. I would not have heard that much if I could have helped it. Neither should you have seen me could I have escaped then, or had you not pushed open the uoor." It flashed upon him that she had not heard all, that the whole truth had not been revealed to her. He tried to think of some way to detain her, for he knew her presence at the house might, and most likely would, prevent the success of his wife's plan. He thought he saw his opportunity now. " Come back here," he beg>»n ; " com<3 back and let me tell you of the influences so powerful that I could not return to you. Let me tell you of my days of struggle, my life of failure and suflering. Ltsi, me tell you a story so sad in its truth that even you, burning as you are with a woman's sense of outraged pride and love, will foi^ve its cause even if you cannot forget. Let me, I beseech vou, when we part, carry away the recollection of one bright moment in my hard, unha;i)py life, and let that moment be the one when you say, ' I forgivo you.' " "I have nothing to forgive, and the'e L? nothing I can forget. Your needs m mt indeed be pressing that p « my bauds you seek forgive- ness and at the hands of another womar. you seek money. If your life has been what you indicate, it is at her hands you should seek to be forgiven. Then let me furnish you with the mouey, since your search for each, it appears, is at the wrong place." As she spoke she drew from the pocket of her dress an old bead purse, and, leaning over the rail of tiid stairs, she dropped it at his feet, and tearing the locket from her reck, 8h«) threw it at him. 1'hen she turned and fled away. " No, CO, Mahula ! — no, do not humiliate me by such an ofler as this." But she had gone, and he stood still and looked at the purse where it Iby in the sand. After a while he picked it up. Evidently he was thinking how he could return iv. to her. Then he slid back the ring and opened it. His eyes sparkled at. he saw the coins i^ contained were doable eagles, and that the roll of bills were of large dei uinationa He glanced around anH <»w some people on horseback riding towards him. He took up the locket and laia it with ^he purse in his open hand. He looked again and daw the people on horseback coming nearer. Then ha dropped the purse irto his pocket, and, turning away, started on a sharp run under the bluSl 1 " .i>W-r ">•'•■ '.IjmI,,' '•! j:j-'-'|« Mil i' i •' .1 1- 7 '. 1,' ;',i'-,, i .id> -!-■ f I" -ffiVl.if ^(■'ii.S^H V.i !■•-. 'itl -, ■■■■■■>! ■ i' .f.U Ai-A^ - -•- "->V i/.r ■/ [I--' <■ ! ^ • t ff-. CHAPTER XV. ' ETIL, BB THOU MT QOOn. *HEN Aunt Mahale got back to the cottage she found Mrs. Hazard dressed in a flowing white wrapper seated on the shady side of the piazza. A freshly-gathered rose was in her hair and a few tendrils of vine, artistically arranged, drooped on the lefc cide of her head back of the ear. She was apparently buried in the pages of her magazine, but her face wreathed with smiles as she addressed Miss Mahala in her chperiest tones : "Ah! good-morning. I did not know anybody was stirring so early as I. After your dissipation of last night you surely nee Jed rest." Aunt Mahala's lips looked very prim and her features set. She bowed stiffly. Mrs. Hazard saw that something had occurred, and her quick perceptions indicated danger ; but she was too wily to assume any other [xwition save the defeu'^tve. If her heart beat faster, or the hands tbM held thd magazine trembled, the woman who stood grin (ind threat- ening before her was unaware of it. " I was tempted out so early because of the pure air and cool breeze," she rippled on ; " and then i was interested in an article I began to read lust nigh.." After a pauM, during which she filliped the leaves of the book she held: " What a splendid ball last night ! I used to go to many such >>erore my marriage. I am sure you ^ujoyed yourself immensely — ^you seemed to, at all events. To tell the truth, there was no reason why you should not, you had a gallant escort." The situition was getting more and more embarrassing; to the woman who sat complacently running her white fingera over the leaves of her book and from hoc half-closed eyelids studying the straiaed face of the spinster. " Do you expect the young gentlemen. Mi. Bf>Uon and Mr. Palmer, over to breakfast?" she (jn«lly asked, putting the que iion so direct that it necessitated some reply. , , Aunt Mahala looked hie fall in the face while she said deliberately : " I have just loft Fi-edentk Oampbell." " You have seen him 1" siippres^iug all sign of the shock by an effort. " Where 1" Mrs. Hazard had risen to her feet, and tha two iromett faced each other in evident antagonism. Ta the youn'j;er the ^tiil felt that the end was near, but until it was she would aorificB no chance or opportunity. " Why did 1 not t«ll you?" she queried ; "why? Tell me what you have discovered, and I'll tell you why." " I discovered sufficient to render an explanation necessary. My relations with you are such that I may well demand it." " Yes !" " Yes ! Apart from any personal feeling involved in the fact that I saw you at an unusual hour walking ftmiliarly with the man who foully deserted and deceived me, and overheard his demands upon you for money, I have in charge a young and innocent girl with whom you are in daily association ; that is reason enough why I should question you." " And did you not overhear also on what grounds and by what right that man demanded money from me 1" " No, 1 did not ; that is for you to explain, and you must make it clear as day." An expression of relief passed over Mrs. Hazard's face as she sank back into her chair, and, pressing her handkerchief to her eyes, began to sob convulsively ; but could any one have caught sight of those eyes 'neath thut handkerchief he would have found them guiltless of ttars, while the face alone simulated grief " O Miss Vining ! don't say any more ; don't accuse me even in your thoughts. I cannot bear it from you," she sobbed. " Alas ! injustice from those we love is indeed hard." "Inju'itice ! Mi-s. Hazard, what do you mean ?" " I fullow your thoughts, and they are cruel and unjust to me. Oh 1 why, why am I fated to suffer so much ? " " I do not understand." " No, how should you ? Sit down, pleu^e — no, come to my room and I will tell you.' She snrang t her feet and darted up-stalra, Aunt Mahala slowly following in wonderment and expectancy. As she entered the door Mrs. Hazard swung an eaiy chair into the light and half ushered, half pushed Miss Mahala into it, seating herself so that her face remained in shadow. She had had tinu to prepare for the p-rt she was about to enact, and, throwing a sharp, questioning glance at the spinster's face, she began : EVILf.BB TBOU UT OOOD. 71 "Do you remember that when you showed me the picture of Frederick Campbell I remarked, ' It was well for you he never came back?"" " Yes, I remember." • " It must have appeared strange to you that I did not tell yon Trhy?" " I did not speculate upon that, < • seek to know. I thought pos- sibly, that some page from your wedded experience had suggested the remaik." " How kind you are in little things, and how thoughtful of the feel- ings of others ! " A gesture from Aunt Mahala checked the half-caress, and without appearing to regard the repulse Mrs. Hazard, with soi row- ful face, continued : " I never would have told you of the shame and disgrace he has heaped upon me and mine. I would much rather that you had not sought it. My wrongs and grief are great in comparison to your own. You at least were left a pleasant if sad memory, 'vhilst I — " " Became his victim," paid Aunt Mahala with a flush on her cheek. "Great God! no. How you misjudge me! No; Frederick Campbell is a fugitive from justice. He came to me to aid him, for money to enable him to escape. Where else should he come but to me 1 Where should a brother seek help if not — " ^ " Your brother 1" " Yes, my poor erring brother. His life has been stained with crime. Vainly have we tried to rescue him, vainly have we sought to restore him to position and respectability." " Your brother ! " Aunt Mahala sat as one stunned. " ' • ' ' ' ■' " You did not know his family," Mrs. Hazard continued, }\er^ voice tremulous with emotion. " They lived in a distant State, and Heaven only knows what stoiy he told you about himself and hia former life. Had you known them, Mahala Vining, you would have known that at the very time he was at your feet breathing the sweetest vows of love his mother was dying, heart-broken, over her son's conduct and disgrace. When he left you it was in response to a summons to her death-bed." " Is this true V " The saddest thing in it is its truth." " Tell me no more — no more I" rising. " Mahala Vining, I have accorded you the explanation you claimed and I recognized as your right, and you have no right to shrink fiom the cruel truth that I have borne so long alone." Miss Mahala's face was whiter than ever as she sank back in the chair. " You shall hear the whole story that has bung over my life like a black cloud," continued Mrs. Hazard vehemently, her eyes seeming to penetrate the very soul of her listeuv . " I will tell you how, even as a boy, he was the incarnation of deceit and fraud, how he robbed his own father and before he was thirteen had begun a course of crime that hif. parents w°re powerless to check. I was a child at the time, but my young life was clouded by his career even then. Nevertheless, I giew to love him ; he was my brother, and when even his own fither cast him off I clung hopefully to bim. After my marriage I brought him to my T2 vo zjiooABM m, baaband's home ; lie repaid his kindnefB by forging his name, and fled, having Qiadn bis name a hy-word and a reproach to as. I have.occasion- ally hetiid of him, but always connected with some ^a'e of shame and infamy, until bis life has brought him to what jou have witnessed tj-day." '- This is terrible !" moaned M»hala. " I would have spared you the knowledge of thic, but you placed me on my defence, and now you know the reason why I thought it well your lover never came back to you." There was a long period of silence, broken only by the short breach- ing of the two women. The deepening of the lines in the at-hen-hued face of the spinster, the pained, hunted look in her eyes, and the nervous interlacing of the lingers alone showed with what agony she endured the violent disruption of the cherished romance of her youth. At length, riaing to her ;eet, she moved slowly and silently to the door. Tuining as she reached it, with a far-away lo^ > in her eyes, the said, almost in a whieper, as the extended her hand to the widow : " I was wrong. I am very sorry 1 misjudged you, Mrs. Hazard ; forgive me, please." The door closed, and with a gleam of triumph in her eyen, yet with a big sigh of relief, Mrs. Hazard sank into the chair the spinster had just vacated, exclaiming : " Anything to gain time ; one obstacle vanquished, at all events, but it was warm while it lasted." She fell into a musing vein, and a shade of sadness overspread her face as she quoted : " * Farewell, remorse. All good to me is lost. Evil, be thou my good. I . .)Vi I Ml , . , CHAPTER XVI. FUTURK HOPES AND PRESENT BRANDY. FALMER and Bolton, returning from their plunge in the surf that- morning, engaged in conversation as thty loiteied a^ong toward the cottage summer-house which had been the scene of the f-xciting events of the last few hours. Bolton was gloomy and morose. Jack li^fat-hearted and happy. The former had chosen that mo ning hour to u-ll hln com- panion how wretchedly astray had gone evei y hope and desire of the summer. It had been on Jack's lips a score of times to teli Harry that his love was reciprocated, as he had neaily done onoe before, and, when the question he regarded as inevitable followed, to narrate ihie time the little episode of Miss NeweH's visit to Harry's i-ick chamber at Old Point Comfort Hotel. He had long felt that it was r glit and jiroper to do this, even though he had tacitly promised to re8j>ect the lady'tt confidence. Adopting the cant phrase of similar sophints, he had repeated to himself that " Circumstances alter casfs," and " It is ri;;bt to do a wrong if good may come," and had finally resolved thet at the first favorable opportunity he would acquaint his friend with ».I1 the important facts in his possession. Harry's free expresHion of his own feelings and diaap- pointment furnished the occasion he had been looking for, and he began : " Hft-.ry, if I tell you something that applies to your case, will you consider it under the seal of confidence 1 I axk you this becauiie in telling you I am in a measure violating confidence myself." " It is only necessary, Jack, for you to say that it is in confidence to assure yourself that no word of it shall ever pass my lipa." " I know that, old fellow. Well, when you were aick last Jane I discovered that Miss Newell loved you." " So you told me." " But I didn't tell you how I knew it." "»)." " I will now. One nigi t, as you were sleeping feverishly and I was dozing by your bedsid^^. r> : came to the door equipped for travel- ling." "Yes." "She asked after you anxiously, and gave me enclosed in an envelope her address while she was away. I was to teleg;raph her in case your illness became more serious." "Well?" "That's all — only she flew away." ■ .^ : ■> " And that proved to you that she lovod me t " " Why, yee ; certainly. She seemed very anxious, and I should ooDsider it ample proof. Was it not T 74 VO LAQOABDS WB " I have better proof than that, Jack ; ahe told mo — confessed it herself." " Then why are you so despondent 1 What more do you want 1 When Alice and I — well, when we came to an iindei standing we haidly said that much." " Yes, JhcIc, unfortunately, I heard more than I wanted to hear. After confe.sb.' fig that she would rather be my wife than anything in the world, she crushed me V)y saying it was impossible. Hang the women, anyway ! they are as hard to understand as a Central syndicate." Jack felt that further attempt to console his friend would be to act the part oi' a Job's comforter, and was silent. On the lawn they met the Judge on his way to the hotel, arrayed in sumptuous attire, but with the reverse of a cheerful cast of counte- nance. " Mor'ng, Mr. Bolton ; glad t' see you. Ah ! Jack," familiarly and patronizingly, as became a prospective father-in-law. "Charming morning, Judge," said Kairy, with a smile at the Judge's manner and distinction. " Ws've been having our plunge." '• Jns' so — jilunge— noih'ng like plunge — char'cteristic of gen'le- man — in 'fair.s of life nlwi ys plunge — 'nvaiinbly successful — last plunge made — great shock." " Shock, Judge ] Why, I never heard of it," said Harry, with a sly wink at Jack. " Won't you tell us about it?" " Gen'lemen, notice an'thing "tic'lar in my 'i^earance 1 " " Well, Judge, now you call attention to the fact, you don't seem so sprightly as usual — don't enjoy life as you used to." " 'Zactly. ' Life's but a fleeting show,' gen'lemen — bud of my 'feotions blasted — life barren — all lost save honor — a.shes — Red Sea ashes." " Cheer up, Judge ; not ao bad as that, 1 hope. Come, let us go and drown your sorrow." " Gen'lemen, 'xcuso me. * Look not upon wine when 's red ' — biteth like copperhead — stingeth like bumble bee. No, sir — fault of young men pres'nt day — drown sorrow — gen'leman, sir — old Nchool — 'ndure 'n silence — silence, sir." ^ " Some love-afl'air, Judge V " Sir^ — pangs of human heart," smiting his capacious shirt-front. " In'xpress'bly charming female, sir — charming angel, sir — too good for mis'able sinner — merciful to me, mis'able sinner." By this time they had reached the bar of the hotel, and it needed no persuasion to induce the Judge to discriminate in favor of brandy verstM wine. " Gen'lemen, pleasent days spent 'gether this summer. I like you, boys — Jack, son-in-law by 'n' by — will have him under m'own eye — force 'xamplo ; you, Mr. Bolton- d'barred piiv'lege — give you benefit of 'dvice, young man — never let charming woman sit in your lap— never. sir. "Why, Judge?" " Dangerous, sir — char'ct'riatic of gen'leman face danger — cannon's PTTURE HOPES AND PRE8EWT BBANDT. 75 ii -never, mouth — swords' points — al! that sort thing — 'nly flesh-wounds, sir — nothing 'pared to ag'nies breaking heart." " Breaking heart, Judge 1 " " All result fair lady in gen'leman's lap — accident — pure accident — 'sure you, sir — but nevei'leai fatal — vista future pai'dise— mansion in skies — man's 'llusion given." "I wish you would relate the incidents, Judge," said Harry, evinc- ing great interest. " 'Xcuse me, Mr. Bolton — blighted hopes — too harrow'ng — youthtul dis'ppointment — soon got over — time gieat healer — my age, sir — too deep scar — buried 'fore time chance t' operate." " Is your case, then, so hopeless 1 Why, Judge, with your charm of manner and appearance — " " Jes' 80, sir — manifold 'tractions — ppr.s'nal and mental — no hitch there — lady loves me — no doubt 'bout it— obstacle can't un'stand — tboutiht knew soraeth'ng 'bout women — read book Sol'mon — wise man — un'stood women — ought to cei'nly — says all van'ty, vexation and bad spirits. Ye.«, thank you, some with soda." " W».ll, Judgp, you are sufficient of a philosopher to conteniplate even a woman's refusal." •* Philosophy no cure, sir — reed, sir — broken reed — dry— only two things ov'come 'tack of love like mine." "Judge, I would like the benefit of your judicial mind on the remedy." " Cern'ly, Mr. Bolton— -judicial mind brought to bear heav'ly on subject — subject become pers'nal, sir — pleaded cause bar of lady's 'feo- tions — all el'quence at ».ommand — naluial and 'cq'iiied. Verdict adverse — moved reconsid'ration — ^judgment previous count sustained — refused, sir — better to loved and been 'fused than never felt an inclination that way. Hope told flat'ring tale — loved doomed to mourn. Rem'dy, sirl Brandy with soda, please." " Brandy, Judge, the remedy 1" " No, cern'ly not — low — vulgar — morning headache worse 'n pangs 'spi&ed love Int'lectual, moral remedy — 'ligion." "'Ligiont Oh! yes, religion, 1 see." " Soothing syrup for mind — tills heart with hope. Poet Byron .says ' naught in doubt s' much the spirit calms as rum and true religion.' Choice of drinks, prefer brandy. 'Ligion vigorated —external ord'- nances — an'mated faith and hope — salutary influenje of 'xample — 'ligion is love — love's 'ligion — fight one love 'gainst 'nother love — overcome dis'pointed love with 'ligion. Follow meV *' Judge, I am convinced ; but have you decided to what denomiaa- tion you will belong 1" "That's trouble — s' many d' nominations, puzzle which to patronize — Baptis' ruled out — other 'nominations to receive 'sldnration — form new sect — call Viningtons, or Fold of Broken-Hearted — organize fam'ly services 'mediately-- -begin this mornin' at breakfast." "That reminds me that we are about due," t^aid Jack, and the young m^n took the Judge by the arm, one on e»ch side, and started for tke cotUig*. CHAPTER XVII. HALF BREAKFAST, HALF TKAOEDY. EVENTS were crowding themselves very rapidly into the morning hours of this r'ay. Bieakf ist was rarelj' nerveii at the cottage until after ten o'clock, and tliis luorniiig Alice did not ii|>|>ear, tiie fatigue of the i)reviou3 night's bill caus'ing her to indulge in lengthened beauty-sleep. Aunt Mahala sent word that she was not well and could not couie down, and therefore Mi.ss Newell sat behind the coffee-urn to greet the Judge, Harry, and Jack, and haw rather stitlly to Mrs. Haziird, who floated in rather than walkevhat shocked ; while Mrs. Hazitrd, bowing her head over her plate, might ba waiting in respectful silence for the Judge to begin or pondering deeply over her own affairs, more liktily the latter. The Judge, with a solemn look upon his rubicund visage, rolled up his eyes and formulatfni as follows : " Desire return thanks tliis a.m. — court now open — ten o'clock — priv'Hge of sitting op[)osite oh>«,rming woman — roses match bloom on cheeks, Mrs. Hazird — digression - sanctify trou^ —charming women to our use — tea and coffee service— supply good appt, Ues — teach us to love those who spitefully reject us — freshen our eggs 'n lives — mis'able sin- ners. 'Men." After this religious and mental effort the conversation assumed a general character, the Judge coming forward now and again with refer- ) the morning sr ten o'clock, the previous ^sleep. Aunt iMie down, and let the Judge, who floated in I, roses in her ays bvhat shocked ; ;lit ba waiting i;: deeply over sage, rolled up -ten o'clock — tch bloom on ing women to iich us to love — mis'able sin- ion assumed a in witt refer- ItAI-r BRRAKFA8T, HXr.F TRAQEDY. 77 ences to saving grace, sanctification through faith, the happiness of ro- pentanco, the joys of a new life, and other indirect allusions to his pro- posed conversion and personal honor. Finally he pushed back his chair, and, asking to be excused, was presently seen imiking his way toward tiio hotel wheie he usually spent his morning hours in company with a retired captain of the navy, who, like himself, was aflccted with a di^ep sense of personal honor, and addicU'd to deep potations ann it heavily. She felt that this time she had an adversary of a dill'erent calibre than poor Aunt Mahala Vining to encounter. Something ter rible was impuMiding, the more fearful becau.se she had no conception of its nature and could form i o plan to meet it. "I am at a loss, then," said Bolton. " Not marly so much as I am, gentlemen. I am sure Miss Newell has, or ffincies she has, a reason. " Miss Newell's eyes were fixed on Mrs. Hazard. " I have a reason. Shall I tell that reason in the presence of these gentlemen I" she asked. Mrs. Hazard was face to face with the situation now. She was called upon for a decision, and she chose it on the side of boldness. Her voice was as low and soft as that of the woman facing her as she replied : " By all means give it now." " That draft is a forged one," came the rea.son, sharp and decisive. " Forged ! " echoed Jack and Harry. Mrs, Hazard never removed her eyes from the girl's steady face as she gently said : " To assert this is no proof." " Do you insist upon the proof 1" A slight movement of the head and a hard glitter in the eyes of Mrs. Hazard. " Mr. Bolton, will you com|)are this paper with thi«, and this, and these?" handing him several papers drawn rapidly from her bosom. " You will observe tliey are all fraudulent — wrifen by the same hand, the fruit of the same sui)tle broin, the woi k of the accomplished scoundrel who is the ruling passion of this woman's life." '• Mrs. Hazard ! " cried Harry. " Nut Mrs, Hazard," broke in Miss Newell, " not even a widow ; but the wife ot the notorious bank-robber, forger, and thief, Frederick Campbell ! " The blow had struck at last, and Mrs. Hazard — as we shall still call her — drew up her form braveiy to receive it. A slight smile hovered about h<-.v mouth as she replied : " You evidently take a great interest in my belongings, Miss Newell — an interest born of what? " " Born of justice — of retributive justice. For months I have done HALF BREAXVAST, BALV TAAOEDT. T> violence to my feelings in associating with one whose life I knew to be a living lio, an oiiitoiiio of ciiiiie." " It was in your ])owor to cease the association and spare your sen- sitive feelings Why did you not do so?" '• It Wll^ in my power to put an end to your career of deception by bringing ynu at any time to justice. The jjroofs I have liad in my {)ot-sc'H>ion for a long time are overwhelming, but I want(;d to make .sure o\' ^lie greater criminal, your husband. For a long time he has escaped me and the otlicers engaged by me to discover him ; but I knew that by kei ping near you I would gain somo clue to hia movements, and eventually lie would be trapped." " V'es, but you see he has escai>ed." " You are mistaken, Mrs. Campbell ; he is within twenty minutes' waiking-diiiance of this cottage, carefully watched, and the expression 'if my winli will consiijn iiim at once into the hands of the law. ' The wile s eyes flashed and her breath came hard as her husdand's danger w«8 so contidently predicted. " I would like to hear what reason you had for this determined pursuit and espionage " " Vou shall hear it," said Miss Newell grimly, "and if an\ thing could call you to a sense of shame and wrong-doing, surely it would be the recollect on of the young, confiding victim that you so foully mur- dered. Ay, murdered I Was it not enough that by your wiles you en.snared his boyish heart into a devotion that was hopeless i Was it not enough that you led him into the socie ■ of your sinful set and bad him instructed in all the base vices that |)oilute and distinguish them 1 C)ul I you not leave the poor widowed mother her only son, the sole hofie and prop of her life 1 Was it necessary that you sliouhl blatt both body and .soul, enticing him to commit a crime by wliich you and your woitliless husband alone benefited! but you must needs, to save your contemptible selves, threaten him with exposure and shame, the dread of which induced the {)Oor boy's suicide. Ay, murdered I Do you ever think of that poor boy, woman? And can you, in the know- ledge that his only sister, who loved and mourned him with a devotion his kindly, generous nature merited, find no reason in her determination to pursue to the bitter end his tempters and murderers and bring them to the justice they merit ?" No trace of jiiirnness now in Miss Newell's demeanor. As the words came rushing in fieice denunciation from her lips her largn brown eyes flashed fire and her figure towered the incarnation of a Nemesis. Mrs. Hazard had shrunk before the withering accusation, the allusion to which evidently touched a weak spot in her armor ; it was but fur a second, however, and she lecoveied herself and stood pale and contained. The men had watched the rapid scene breathlessly, and felt that it was not their cue to interfere. " I have watched you carefully during the past few months," con- tiniud Miss Newell, "endeavoring to find why a nature like yours, strong and contained, capable of great deeds and generous impulses, should so thoroughly suboidinate itself. Why do you allow that bad, wicked man to control your life T'' «0 UOOlkM Wl )tf n. Hazard smiled— such a smile ! " He ii not good — *isa wy good — but I love him." •' Such love ia idolatry. I have prevented your attem^iuid v\xr%^ tgainat the hospitality you have enjoyed, and I would miait y-.n. i-iv I tuve found out that your nature is not thorou^'hly bad, if i-.u will proaifie to leave that man to his punishment and fate. Fur ijat I huw ao pity " " For good or evil, for better or worse ! " breathed u*t v^muko. " No wonder the scoundrel has b«>en so sucoestif ui iu Lik >»ner, flawing such a devoted slave at liis back," burst forth Hhitv- Mrs. Hazaid ;:uzed into vacancy, and her voice bouiMittd i»t ^vay, ati if following her thoughts. " Slave ! Yes, I am his slave, for I love him. I would rt'Jun be kia slave than queen it over the uiiik-and-water bpecim^uK ninut ooly ditim i^ negative goodness. I knew he whs not a good uum ^htn I ■ATiied him — but I loved him. Hard and cruel at nuj*-s to 'Ut^n. he waa always kind to me." Her voice was gr)wing eiiCj'iruvjj w.iz acd £^ He ia a«c all brtd, his anxiety for uie led him on. I am veiy ecw9-.i^;»at, ami — O Fred ! my love, my darling." A sharp cry escaped her lips, the only sign of «eakii««» iUii bad ftt displayed, but it was quickly smothered, and she 8tr>od vru.ius.£ Hiss ^<%well'a decision, looking, save for the rise aiid fall uf ila .^a^vuig boaom, aa if carved iu stone. :a.- ■-..; (f CHAPTER XVIII. ' MI8B nkwell's mission fulfillkd. THE silence that enHued waa almoHt painful. Miss Newell stood gMzing at the woman who had jnxt spoken, anl whose words ha^ seemed to fill the room with their dettp, earnest tones. She was not wondering if she had told the truth. Every accent, every gesture, every Leait-cry that came up in those words, not of self defence or apology, carried the weight of indisputalile fact in them. They told the story of this woman's magnificent devotion ni'>re effectively than could any ait this subtle creature was wont to use so skilfully. The heart of the woman had spoken, and none could douVt. Mrs. Hazurd stood there to all outwanl sppearance the most com- posed and unmoved person in the room. The two men turned their eyes first to one, then to the other, and wnited. Miss Newell seemed on the point of speaking. It was not difficult to fathom the cause of her silence. Harry's quick perception went straightway to the truth in the mat- ter, and, although lie felt he would not inteifeie now, he interpreted the fact aright; that hail not this strange little woman had a new light of life and love her action would not now be delayed. At length she spoke. Her tones were subdued, almost tender, and the hard flash in her eyes had disappeared. " I asked you for a promise," she said. "I asked you to say that you would leave this man, who has dragged you through crime and misery solely for his gain, made you a fugitive when you might have been honorefl WK. Fiom an attitude of Hup])lication her form assumed one of defiance. Her tall, willowy figure seemed to tower in air, and her voice rang out clear and jtiercing : " Don't answer. You would preach to me of a pure life, you who have never been tempted ; you would point the way to repentance and reform who have never s-inned ; and you would weigh the measure of right and wrong in another's life and name its punishment, you who have never known what the mainspring of a woman's life is. You were ready, were you not^f Come in. oti'cers, come in, and in obedience to the pitiless ton^jjue of a jjooil, pu'e, and virtuous woman lead away the woman who.se crime has been a loyal heart." "Slop a mom'jnt, please; stop a moment, otficer ; just step back," interposed Harry. " Jack," with a noil wiiich the other quickly under- stood, and, with Jack at the door, Harry advanced to the centre of the room and, taking Miss Newell's hand, said : " I do not know the extent of the wi ,..g this woman has done you, except as I gathered it just now -"lom your O'.vn speech, but whatever that wrong was it is done, and it cannot be undone, for death has stayed the undoing. Let us, tlieu, fdirly consider what we should do, in mercy quite as much as in justice. Putting aside every consideration of public acandal growing out of such a scene as this, should it or any of its attendant ciicustances come to light — and in such an exposure there are otheis to be regHrded than ourselves — would it not be well to leave the punishment of this woman to the time when our meicy cannot intervene to preven it !" " I ; ave no desire now tliat she should be pun'shed, certainly not through any act or agtincy of mine. I do wisl.. wit', all my hear', that the hAppiiieas her love merits may come to her. It ought to make a worse- nian than Frederick Campbell worthy of it." " Then, Mrs. Hazard, let me say to you for Miss Newell, and for Jack and myself, that we not only do not wi.sh to move one step against you, but we will, if you will allow us, aid you. Your needs must have beer pressing ; take this money as a loan only, these •ii'TOO, and leave quibvly. Your husband is in no danger from this source now." The woman turned toward him and tried to siMi-ak, but tears leaped into her eyes and sobs choked her utterance. There was a look of grat- itude that could not have been expressed by a volume of words. She caught up the money, and with an eager and feverish hasie drew a veil ove^ her head and darted vH't of the window, and was seen for a moment flying along the path tht< ., led to the steps down the bluff. " It was right," murmured Miss Newell. "It was indeed right," replied Jack, as he opened the door and bade the officer enter. " I am sorry to disturb you," he said, with rough politeness, " I asked for the gentleman of the house, and they told me he was out. Then I asked for the laly of the house, and they said she vas sick, so I did not know who to ask for. i ( amo on a very peculiar errand." " Speak out," said Harry ; " what "s it ?" ' ' ' •' Well, you we — there is a body down in the uummer-bouse on the beach." r//''v > . HISS KKWBLL'lt UIBBtON l^rtFT '.tED. 8S " A body — a dead body '?" i; r ):r: :,■ - " Yes, it was u man 1 saw talking to some ladies near there very early this morning. We got a dispatch to look out for a man of h'* description, and I followed him up the beach when he went away. It was about six o'clock. , .,„ . i .j " Go on ! go on ! " • - »-( . •> ' • " Well, he got into a boat and rowed away. My partner and me was enter him then. You see, I always work with a T^iartner." " Never mind that now, but tell us what you are trying to say." "Well, I didn't know but what the man might, be something to you, so that's the reason I was hesitating." " Well ! w<'ll ! go on with your story." " Well, when he got into a boat we took another, and when we f'ot pretiy near him he fiied at us and we fired at him, and — well, you see — he fail out of the boat and vas drowned." .,,>, v .* -:,J.-'i>'- <.S' lo -fiw^a "Horrible!" cried Jack. " Well, we grappled for the body and got it, and it's down at the sumraer-house. I thought some of you might be able to identify it perhaps. " It is Frederick Campbell." It was Miss Newell wlio S|K)ke, and in her voice there was a tone of awe, for vengeance bad been disarmed by death. They walked out by the same path over which Mrs. Hazard had flowD down to the head of the stairs. On the way they met some men bearing the inanimate form of a woman. " It's a lady what's fainted," they exclaimed. They carried her back to the cottage, and bore her to her room and laid her upon the undisturbetl bed. After awhile she recovered, and, singlinz out Eiizibeth Newell from the group about her, she said feebly : " He can never be taken now. You said *ie was within twenty minutes of this place — only twenty minutes. True, but that twenty minutes is a time over which the world's justice cannot cross. Do you know he is dead 1 " There was something so womanly and tender in the little Quaker lady's manner as she cam>; forward, taking the other's hand, at the same time striking the pale, white forehead that looked strangely white over the glittering eyes, that Mrs. Hazard yielded to the softening influence and listened as she heard the other say : " Yes, I know it ; perhaps it ?s for the best." " Perhajjs it is "; hoi»eiessly, with a strained look in her eyes while she lay silent. A motion of Miss Newel's hand and the party consid- erately retired, leaving her alone to her grief. An hour afterward they came back and knocked at the door. There was no answer. Tliey knocked again ; still no response. They tried the door ; it was locked. Then they went around and came into the room by the window. They found the woman there. She did not reply to them ; and the doctor's foot, as he ha tened to th« bed-side, crushed a little vial, from the fragments of which they afterward picked a labfl reading, '■ Poison." " She has b^en dead nearly half an hour," said the doctor. ^ . rr C3HAPTEK XIX wtk THE TRUE BEOINNtNO OF OCR END. rf J^** THE early fall frost wan just tinting the leaves of the Pennsylvania forest-lond. Elizabeth Newell sat on the steps under the shaded porch of the tine old Quaker homesi^ead, from which sloped the rich pasture-iands of the farm Her mother sat near her, arrayed in the stiffeat attire of the sect of orthodox Friends. " Thee has always done well and right, Elizabeth ; far be it fk-om thy mother to reprove thee ; but the youth thou hast named is not of thy people." " True, mother, he is not, but we love each other, and where love is there is content. There comes a carriage now." A cloud of dust flew over the limestone road down under the shaded spring house even as she spoke, and as it drew nearer the adipose tigure of the Judge was seen on the front seat with the driver. When it drew up at the steps and the door opened who should it contain but Alice, blooming and happy, Aunt Mahala, Harry, and Jack. '- As Aunt Mahala got out they saw she was in deep mourning." " Glorious country — glorious," said the Judge. " Horses rather used up from jaunt — depot. If owned this farm — se'l a field — build roilro'id to the rest— great idea railroads— v'st 'stitution. Ah ! Miss New'I, the 'carnation of every charm. Your m'ternal relative 1 Madam, your m'at 'bedient — 'joyed your daughter's company mwt all summer — sorry have her leave — had t' follow — our' 'preciadon of her made it point of pers'nal honor —your blessed child — blessed, ma'am." That evening the moon rose over the hills full and rich in its intumnal color. It tinted the tops of the trees and glorified the maple- Imivta. It oarntx^ its shadows ofi* the white road and wound down the valtey to the railroad station, and brought into the range of Aunt Mahala'fi mions as i^he sat with the Judge and their Quaker hostess on the vine-«Bbowered stoop, a group of figures that sauntered idly towards the faouH^. They walked in coupKs, and they moved very slowly. They must be lovers. Aa they came nearer and the moon rose higher, it was sc'en that they were, first. Jack and Alice second, a long way behind, Harry and Elizabeth. .... That night as Jaolr and Harry sat toipRther nnd smoked, said the latter: " I Imve won ht-r at last We wM \*. married the same day you Alice are." " Why did she fight fw off so long V "She felt tb»t •hc' could vindicate htm bi^rther'a name, and that her life's work." A long pause. " Are you happy, Fal 1 " " Yes " " So am 1." Ancvher looger pause. « Harry ! " " Yes." " We pushed onr wooing." "^ and was Yes ; in love, at Itiast, ' no laggards we.' '(>«1 A. VVKJUaUJi BT hk»OmKU> USMVIUaM, ■AMtUrOM. lylvania shaded ;he rich in the it fkt}ni i QOt of ire love ier the adipose When bain but I rather — buiid ! Miss alative t a)st all of her .am. 1 in its ) maple- ■)wn the f Aunt stess on towards slowly. en that rry and e latter: Jay you nd that l'tt«l «