The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-08-27
SELECT STORY.
TOO LATE.

the harbGr empty, except Tor couple OF
travlers and coal vessel laying in close
to the quay, with sailor or two asleep
on deck in the sun-an odd, dreamy
hush, a stiffness of intense heat over ev-
erything, even the smoke creeping iazily
from the chimneys-and, far away,
where the faint sea-line merges imper-
ceptibly into the sky, cluster of little
brown dots close together-the herring
feet crept out into the bay.
But the hot silence is broken present.
ly. The regular dipping sound of oars
is followed by the appearance of long
green and white yawl, pulled by an old
man in blue guernsey and an oil-skin
: hat, which crosses the harbor obliquely
in the direction Of flight Of stone steps
leading down from the quay to the wa
ter's edge.
Another much smaller boat, with two
men stretched lazily along the seats, is
laying in close TO the wall, rising and
falling slowing on the long swell which
heaves in from the harbor mouth. In
the boat are Will Caxton and myself,
Hans.
At the top of the steps party Of la
dies and children are watching the ap-
proach of the yawl. There are two
young ladies in the party, CaxtoD's sis
ter and my cousin Hilda Pennant. Aunt
Sophy and several smaller cousins make
up the party They are waiting for two
persons who are coming leisurely along
the quay, and whose heads presently ap-
pear above the top line of stones which
form our visible horizon.
The two last arrivals drew nearer and
come within my range of vision. Mr..
Tancred is small slight man, with a
worn but handsome face, to which a
pointed gray beard gives a rather Eliza
bethan character. The girl beside him
is tall and straight, with pilot jacket
on, and wearing her light brown hair in
knot of plaits high at the back of the
head, under sailors hat with black
ribbon around it. 1 watch the embark
alton of these two with bent brows.
81 say, who's coming with us?" cries
Caxton. "Mr. Pennant, you're not go
ing to appropriate all the ladies?"
"Have you room for Hilda and me?''
asks his sister, looking down rather dudi-
ously at our small craft bobbIng up and
down like cork on the water.
"Room? / should think So"
i look at the girl in the pilot jacket
as ifI half expected her to speak. though
know she will not, and assist VIII in
his arrangements with a shade less OF
enthusiasm than he has displayed.
"Are we all IMP" says uncle George
That's all right. Now, Tom, give us q
shove.'
The old sailor has stepped ashore, and
given the boat a powerful push. W.
watch them forge slowly ahead, and ther
slip into their place and take our freighr
on board.
One pull, and we shoot past them and
take the lead.
otis a shame to have left Helen will
the old fogies," says Hilda, drawing he
brown hands through the water. ''Sh,
ought to have come with u.s."
perhaps she doesn't think Mr.. Tan
cred an old fogy," says Miss Caxton.
"But he is, he is as old as the hills
Hans, you and Helen used to be grea
friends long ago."
"Helen's going to marry old Tancred
isn't she?" puts IN Will.
I have never asked that question
though have been nearly three days il
the house, and Helen Bay is my eousil
too. My first glimpse of her after m.
return from seven years exile ha'
knocked some nonsense out of me,
thought.
"They're not engaged" remarks Hid
mot actually-but dare say he'll
bother her into it this evening"
We are now quite close to the rock
island for which we are bound, and t
our left lies the sharp, jagged reef call
ed the Pins. AS our keel grated upo
the shining wet shingle, viii jumpe
ashore and helped Hilda out. follow
and turn to assist Miss Caxton. Gu
consort is coming up slowly in our wake
We scatter along the shore in scare
of driftwood for our fire. Miss Caxto
and dawdle off together, not stoppin
to pick up many sticks.
"Let us rest for a little-it is SO av
fully hot" | suggest, and we seat ou
selves on a ferny knoll in the shadow
big brown rock.
allow nice it is here" says Miss Ca7
ton, in her babyish voice.
every nice," / agree, lazily pullin
some sea pinks which have the misfo
tune to grow within reach of my han
and tying them into bouquet with
blade of grass.
"Whom are you tying up those flo,
ers for?" she asks.
"For You, if you will have them"
She holds out her hand with ha
shy glance-only half shy-from und
her long eyelashes. I take the lit'
hand and hold it.
"What will you give me for them?"
"What would you like?" she inquire
saucily.
you know what l should like"
am. saying with my head very close
hers, when Helen and Mr.. Tancred col
round the rock. / do not see them
first, but 1 know, from Helen's prot
averted eyes, that she has seen US. S
is enjoying herselt-why should not
But somehow the enjoyment has pail
upon me, and when Helen and Mr.. T:
cred pass out of sight round the bend
the shore suggest that we go back a
see how the kettle gets on.
The Tea is made and everything
ready before Helen and Mr.. Tancl
come back. At last tea is over.
"Let's race the girls up to the top
JU.n L