New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-28

\ Hard by the shore of the bay, and hal
, hidden by drifting sand hills, stood low
nOndescript structure, to whose cOmpOs
ton sea and shore had equally contributed
It was built partly Of logs and partly o
drlft-wOOd and tarred canvass. Joined I
one end Of the main building-the Ordiuar
log cabin of the settler-was the halfroun
pilot house of some wrecked steamer
while the other gable terminated in half O
broken whaleboat. Nailed against til
boat were the dried skins of wild animals
and scattered about lay the flotsam an,
jetsam of many years gathering, bamboo
crates. casks, hatchets, blocks, oars, boxes
part OF a whales vertebra, and the blade
OF sword fish. Drawn up on the beach Of
little cove before the house lay canoe. A
the night thickened and the fog grew NOR,
dense, these details grew imperceptible, ant
only the windows of the pilot-house, lit u,
by roasting fire within the hut, CLEANED
redly through the mist
by this fire, beneath ships lamp tina
swung from the roof, two figures were
seated-a man and woman. The man
broad shouldered and heavily. bearded
stretched his listless, powerful length be
hind broken bamboo chair, with his eyes
fixed on the fire. The woman crOuched
erOsslegged upon the broad eartheu
hearth, with her eyes blnkingly fixed on
her companion. They we're small, black
round. merry-like eyes, and as the freight
shoRe on her smoky face, with its one
striped cheek of gorgeous brilliancy, it was
plaiRly the Princess Bob ard no other
Not word was spoken. They had been
sitting there for more than an hour, and
there was about their attitude suggestion
! that silence was habitual Once or twice
the man rose and walked up and down the
narrow room, or gazed absently from the
windows of the pilot house, but never by
look or sign betrayed the slightest con-
seriousness Of his companion. At such times
the princess, from her nest by the fire, fol-
lowed him with eyes of canine expectancy
bly, return to his contemplation of the fire,
and the princess to her blinking watchful-
ness of his face.
They had sat there silent and undisturbed
for many an evening in fair weather and
foul. They had spent many day in sun
shine and storm, gathering the unclaimed
| spoil of sea and shore. They had kept
these mute relations, varied only by the in
| cidents of the hunt or meagre household
duties, for three years, ever since the man,
wandering mOOdily over the lonely sands,
had fallen upon the half-starved woman
lying in the little hollow where she had
crawled to die. 1t had seemed as if they
would never be disturbed until now, when
the princess started, and, with the instinct
of her race bent her ear to the ground.
The wind had risen and was rafting the
tarred canvass. But in another moment
there plainly came from without the hut
at the door; then another rap. and then, be-
fore they could rise to their feet. the door
was thrown briskly open.
II beg your pardon" said pleasant but
somewhat decided cOntraltO voice, but |
don't think you heard me knock. All see
you did not. May come in9'
There was no reply. Had the battered
which lay deeply imbedded in the sand on
the beach, suddenly appeared at the door
demanding admittance, the occupants of
the cabin could not have been more speech
lessly and hopelessly astonished than at the
form which stood in the open doorway.
1t was that of a slim, shapely. elegantly
dressed young woman. A scarlet lined
silken hood was half thrown back from the
shining mass of black hair that covered
dropped fur cloak, only restrained by
cord and tassel IN her small glOved hand.
Around her full throat was double neck
lace OF large white beads. that by some
cunning feminine trick, relieved with its in
fantile suggestion the strong decision of the
lower face.
"Did you say yes! All. thank you. We
may come in, Barker" Here shadow in
a blue army overcoat followed her into the
cabin, touched its hat respectfully, and
then stood silent and erect against the WALL
Don't disturb yourself in the least, beg.
What distressing. unpleasant night. Is
this your usual climate!'
Half graciously, half absently overlook
ing the still embarrassed silence of the
group, she went on: ave started from the
fort over three hours ago-three hours
ago, wasn't it, Barker :" 1.-THE erect Barker
touched his cap)-'to go to Captain En-
you call it Indian island don't you! p (she |
was appealing to the awe-stricken prin- |
cess land we got into the fog and lost |
our way; that is, Barker lost his way"
Barker touched his hat deprecatnglyl |
land goodness knows where we didn't wan
der to, until we mstook your light for the
lighthouse, and pulled up here. No. no:
pray keep your seat, do Really, l mus.
insist"
Nothing could exceed the langud grace
Of the latter part of this speech nothing
except the easy uncOnsciOusness with which
she glided by the offered chair, of her STAN
nering embarrassed host, and stood beside
he open hearth.
Barker will tell you" she continued.
her feet by the fire, .'that am
Miss Porttire, daughter of Major Portfre,
|
,hild." (She had accidentally trodden upon
he bare yellow tones of the princess
Really, | did not know you were there.
am very near-sighted.' In confirmation
If her statement she put to her eye a dainty
louble eyeglass that dangled from her
leck.) 'It's a shocking thing to be SO near
sighted, isn't ii y
If the shame faced. uneasy man, to whom
his remark was addressed, could have
70 Mt ha hn, ,uhf hot |
n his confusion struggled uppermost in his
mind, he would, looking at the bold dark
yes that questioned him, have denied the
act. But he only stammered yes The
lext moment, however, Miss POrtfre had
forgotten him. and was exam
ming the princess through her glass.
And what is your name. child!'
ye-glass, showed all her white teeth at
nee, and softly scratched her leg.
Bob"
Bob! What a singular name
Miss POrtfre's host here FASTENED to ex-
,lain the origin of the princess title.
Then you are Bob!' tEye-glass.)
mo, my name is Grey-John Grey"
And he actually achieved bow whose
was rather the air of imper-
fectly recalling a forgotten habit.
Grey! All, let me see. Yes, certainly.
lou are Mr.. Grey, the recluse, the hermit,
he philosopher, and all that sort of thing.
Why, certainly; DIR. Jones, our surgeon,
has told me all abont you. Dear me, how
interesting rencontre. Lived all alone
here for seven-was it seven years! Yes
now. Existed quite az nat,rel.
Dne might say. How odd Not that |
know anything about that sort of thing,
Sou know. I've lived always among peo-
Dle and am really quite stranger. | assure
YOU But honestly, Mr. beg your par
lon-Mr. Grey, how do you like il p
She had anietlY taken his chair and |