Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-16

lenee, at last, and pensively regarding The
splendid heap in the bottom of the boat.
"Just as you say" answered Lutrell.
They drew in the anchor and the tackle. Val
took up the oars again,
Papa and we're wrecked once in the South
Pacific" she said, az she pulled back near the
days and nights. with two of the foremost hands.
We had between us q fish, nos 50 large as the
smallest of these, and none of them would take
IL, but gave it all to me-
"You didn't take IL, of course" said Lutrell,
eolemnly.
"ButI did. and ate it too; and, in punish
ment, the taste remains in my mouth TO this
At the landing-place Val began gravely to
divide the spoil
"To carry yours nicely TO the inn," she said,
"you must string them. DO you know how
"NO," answered Lutren.
every well, watch me then-I viii show yon.''
He did watch her with very intent, quiZLing
eyes; and be found the occupation so pleasant
that he was sorry when the fish were all dis
posed of.
al And now she cried leaping mp with Ia
tent mockery in her air, al 1T you II be so good as
Your friend, Miss Mays dinner"
She nodded wickedly, and ran off into the cot
tage. Lutrell took up his strings of mackerel,
and departed down the beach.
Ii was nightfall when he appeared again At
the light. Far up in its tall tower, like a great
red eye, it sbone, and as Lutrell mounted the
rocks, he saw seated there side by side, just as
he had found them that morning, the old man
and the brown girl. Their faces were turned
towards the seattle sea which lay under the
low evening sky-smooth as glass-a great daz-
changeful OPAL rose and amethyst. Walls grand
eyes were fixed upon these costly colors
dreamily. One hand rested on the old captain s
knee the other held worn book with clasps,
from which he seemed to have just been reading.
90 And there shall be sa more sea, " murmured
the old sailor, catching the last words from her
lips. To an old salt that has tost on blue wa
ter forty year, them words be a pang Seems as
if I'd not know what to do without it, even in
Heaven"
cay" she answered sadly, ~ feel like that
myself"
Then she looked up and saw Lutrell. His
steady, intent gaze brought the color to her
handsome face, but she did not speak. He
passed by the two and entered the cottage.
In the window of the curious old parlor, curled
up like kitten in the captains big chair, sat
Laura. She was in dead Opaque white. with
blue forget me-nOts in her fluffy yellow hair.
Very sad and sweet and penitent she looked
very romantic too, sweeping the strings Of a
guitar which she greatly affected, especially
when her lovers were by.
Did you have apleasant sail?" said Lutrell,
showing his red beard at the door.
She gathered up her white draperies to allow
him to approach.
"Detestible." she sighed; "of course you are
cross with me. meant only to go little way,
but the boat got aground, and kept us there till
appOinted?''
lie did not say, but took a seat at the window.
" A jolly sunset" he remarked.
'sOh, I'm tired Of sunsets!" she pouted, "and
quite out of spirits' and she twanged away at
the guitar, and hummed snatch of" Hear me,
Norma"
THAT is bad" said Lutrell; "were not you
sea-sick or something"
"Sea- sick aground on sand bari" she cried
certainly not. And really, with quick, sud-
cot of cir hrf Of thafn ri
What girl?" rather sharply.
"Why, that bold creature who tends the
lamp, and with whom you went fishing this
morning" cried Laura, in an irrepressible
burst oftemper. "How very stupid you are to-
night!'
"Am I?'' he answered, looking somewhat
dumb-founded. "Well, in that case, / had bet
ter 60. But you quite mistake; was watching
Mr.. DAVIS scrambling up the rocks yOnder," and
lie took up his hat and stepped out into the
porch.
Iassed him in the darkness. The two men sa-
luted each other CURLY as they met. DAVIS went
up to the window, and leaned over the sill.
There's ship coming up the channel" he
said, but Laura was in tears on the other side.
1" Great Heaven! what is the natter" added
DAVIS.
He is angry with me-" sobbed Laura, cali
"Thank God" cried DAVIS devoutly. "Come
down to the rocks and see this great ghost fan
ming and floating up through the dark. May
temptation Of his Internal money far hence
from you"
She set her pretty white teeth stubbornly.
Arthur, il he should propose to me tonight,
should accept him. and you know it,"
Even though love your" he said, growing
pale.
"why will you fem such obtuseness? Am 1
MT to share your struggles, Arthur? Do love
poverty? Could do you greater injury than
to marry you-answer me that?"
He did answer her-by leaning fercely over
the sill, snatehing her in his arms, and pressing
Stop, for Gods sake!" he cried from the
depths Of his goaded heart "If you ever give
again, even, will kill him-I will kill myself!"
Meanwhile Lutrell had gone down to the
rocks, and was lying stretched out there at his
ease, watching the ship come plungiDg up the
channel in the purple dark, with all her sails set.
grand, stately sight it was, and on a broken
point above him stood Val, holding alOft a
blazing torch, the sparks of which showered
around her, like all the stars of Heaven falling,
the red lurid light OF which streamed in broken
ado you know the ship?" asked Lutrell, with
his fascinated eyes turned upward to her dark
face.
sit is fruiter from the Levant," she an
swered.
Dangerous, is it not, making the passage at
this hOur?"
"Her pilot knows what he is about"
On went the great sails past the light. Into
the purple mOOnless dark they vanished away,
like splendid dream. Val tossed her torch
Kissing into the water, and Of to the cottage,
and Lutrell rose frem the rocks, and plodded
back TO his inn.
1t stormed the next day, as IL the windows of
Heaven were opened. Nevertheless, in the
murky twilight, Lutrell made his way with
some difficu to the cottage. The sky was an
inky mutinOus black. A binding rain swept
the curled, white, thunderous sea. Uprose the
wind, sbreking and bowling, like a lost soul.
Loud rOared the harbor- bar in the darkness.
At the seward window, washed by shreds of
spray, stood Lutrell, and saw the lighthouse
lamp fashDut from the tall tower, bright and
watchful as ever.
What dreadful night" sighed Laura.
EYES," he answered, with his eyes on the
beacon. Rather hard for Miss Kilburn."
"Oh, those sort of people do not mind"
DO not they? She will watch all night,
suppose?"
livery likely" said Laura al have heard
her say she never sleeps in storms-the lamp
might 60 out, or something
Swift and dark fell the night As they sat at
supper, the cottage seemed fairly to rock in tn g
terrific blasts that came sweeping in from sea
cts rising to blow great guns" said the old
captain. "God pity all on the sea tonight"
Val turned her big Spanish eyes on Lutrell.
" How will you ever get back to the inn?" she
asked, abruptly.
"Really, don't know" he answered, with
beautiful indifference. "Pm afraid / shall
have to beg shelter here till morning"
nd ha oil