Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-06-21
CHAPTER. "

"A little before nine O'clock"
CHAPTER. "
There was never such an excitement
known before in the little sea-coast
| town, as that consequent on the myste-
rious disappearance of Walter Hargrave.
Every body in Brent felt personal in
terest in the matter; even the widow of
Dane Hargrave, whom everybody knew
had not spoken TO him for twenty years,
offered magnificent reward to any one
who could bring any posi-
tive knowledge of his whereabouts,
whether he We're living or dead. Peo-
pie wondered, imagined and sllrnlised,
until conjecture was exhausted, and
were still no nearer the solution of the
mystery than before.
About two weeks after the disappear
ance, and while the mystery was still
fresh in the minds of the people, coast
ing vessel picked up a boat drifting bot
tom up, and tOwed it into Brent. What
should it prove to be but Joe Davitt's
lost ''Polly Jane" This revived the in
terest, confirming, however, in the
minds of most people, the suspicion that
had been slowly gaining, that for some
reason which they could never know,
Walter Hargrave had taken the boat,
and been wrecked, doubtless before he
reached the harbor bar; and there was
IA sort of furtive watch kept up all along
the coast for weeks. for his body, but
wherever it was, on the land or under
the sea, it came not to the shores of
Brent.
But Mollie Sterne, bright, hopeful
Mollle Sterne, remembered the strange
vision she had seen through the mist
and darkness Of that wild night, and
had faith that the guardian angel who
had guided him oyer the terrible harbor
bar, had guided him also to peace and
safety. For Mollie believed just as firm
ly as she believed in her own existence,
that the man she saw lying in the bot
tom of that boat was Walter Hargrave,
and it went far to strengthen her faith
i'll the supernatural, and she dreamed
with increased relish, but they were all
of such a cheerful character. that she
had nothing to do but grow brighter
and merrier over them. Mollie and
Hugh would gladly have kept Lena with
| them; but the pretty little cottage
| where they had dwelt together, the
books, the pictures, and the flowers
which they had enjoyed in company
called her, like SO many voices. back to
their silent conpanionship. Indeed,
| everything seemed to haye found voice,
talking continually of him-always oi
him.
Everybody III Brent pitied and SYM
pathized with the desoIate girl, but she
had never made many intimate friends
| and could not all at once accept the
well-meant friendships that were prof
fered her. She shrank from their ia.
miliar mention of her sorrow. Theil
well-meant sympathy seemed sort OF
sacrilegc to her. 1t was her grief; why
| shonld everybody handy it about, max
ing common staple of it?
She had been to her Uncle Danes fu
neral-been like one walking in theil
sleep, so incapable of thought, it almos
seemed of motiOn-stye in an uncon
seious, automatic way-had she been
Only one thing out of it all, came bacl
to her out of all the dreamy pageant
and that seemed more like some vague
sweet spell of 'intoxication, than any
thing belonging to the real, tangible ex
periences which she had hithert
known. Only one thing-only on
memory coming into the darkness, an,
gloom, and desolation-a memory sub
tile and sweet as the death of April flow
ers; a memory of dark, bright face
instinct with sympathy and tenderness
though the lips said but little; fac
that drew her away from herself, ava
from earth-ay, even from heaven
drew her surely and irresistably as tn
needle attracts the pole.
1t came to her-this memory-whe
she lay awake in the long silences, wit
only the dull bloom of the surf sount
D ing in her ears; it came unbidden an
walked beside her among her flowers,
e f1uttered out from between the leaves s
e she turned them dreamlly in her fug
tive readings, and lowered, n sweet, il
S tangible presence, about all her con
}, mon life
!. There were some changes made at tt
II old Hargrave mansion after the death
its master. Luke Varney had left ii
establishment, and bought little far
a on the outskirts of the village, half co,
# cred with huge rocks, and half wit
e bayberry, sweet-fern and bramble
II Luke, however, did not expect to NAL
;, his fortune out of it, and was in no in
If mediate danger of being disapppointe
+. He had nice theories about scienti1
: farming, ,and thought this good field
e operation; as it most certainly was, sc
g encc having if all its own way, with Ii
.p tie help or hindrance from natur
There was 4 little cottage, too, with
l. straight up and down look about it. al
high picket fence run out in front, lii
re feelers, wherein Luke proposed to e
at pertinent in domestic economy. n
OF that he intended setting up "a permane
ay branch of this miserable abortion
ID housekeeping, but merely tempora
'g accommodation, while he was coqu
ne ting with him. Indeed, one of t
ed chief attractions Of the place had be
- its availability for operations in the l;
~ ter department of cultivation, as it "
lg almost Immediately contiguous to t
IS Bluff.
Gray. ZOO, had gone away from Bre
in He went away rather suddenly-at LEI
Id it was sudden to most people-about t
er weeks after the death of Dane Hargra
h. 1t was not positively known where
nd had gone, though there were RUM
I'D that he had shipped on board the coas
,er that had towed in Joe Davitt's bo
asst Somebody had heard the captain say
was short of hands, and somebody e
ok had heard Gray say he "was sick
in Brent and meant to see little of
IN world outside of the harbor ba
i'll, Neither was it positively known t
ere Mrs. Hargraye had favored his goil
though it was remarked that she seen
M in better spirits, and not SO strange
nd nervous after he went away.
rds One day, accompanied by her brotl
ON she called to see Lena. She was v
friendly and pleasant after the first
ler barrassment passed off, for neither
go them could quite forget the coldr
that had been between the famil
wn Mrs. Hargrlve seemed very anxiou!
ms be Oh friendly terms, and Lena was
, to cinated by the charm and elegance
NV, her manner, and the delicate attent
one and evident interest she took i'll
There were only they two women
Ies- who bore the name OF Hargrave, '
e to should they be enemies! Lena arg'
was There had been some trouble betW
her father and her Uncle Dane, that
ing resulted in coldness and estrangem
bat what its precise nature was she
ook never known-probably she m
?. should now-why should she perpet
my the feud while ignorant of its natl