The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-01-28
THE LOST SHIP "ADELAIDE."

Jasper Garfield closed his ledger wear
lily and left the Office for the night. Out
side the door he paused, with his hands
thrust into the pockets of his rough
coat; he would not hasten home, simply
because his inclinations drew him strong
ly thither, and he was a man accustomed
to curb his inclinations. This vanity of
selfcontrol might one day lead him into
pitfall. The evening was clear and
star-lit, black river rolled before him,
and the hills on the opposite shore we're
sharply outlined against the sky. Labor
had piled its debris along the bank
heaps of coal, lime and slag-while from
the low, long building adjacent, monot-
Onous sound hummed night and day,
like the beating of great heart.
Suddenly the building became trans
fixed. A cone of fire shot up from the
lofty chimney, tinging the black river
with the transient gold, and from a wide
oifice poured the motion lava food,
gliding like serpent into every crevice
and channel, phosphorescent white, yell
low and crimson as itspent its force and
was lost in the darkness of night.
Maragret Hope called the furnace a
dragons head, ejecting flame from
mouth and nostril. Jasper Garfield, junior
partner and devoted slave of the mon
ster, turned away and climed slowly
the village street.
The church clock tolled nine. He
would be late on this of all nights !!
Well, 80 much the better. The pretty
Gothic cottage of the superintendent,
where he lived, was made visible through
the leafess shrubbery by twinkling
lights, as different from the lurid glare
of the furnace just quilted as the glow
worms lamp is from the sun. Jasper
Garfield paused, hesitated, then impul-
sively turned away to climb steep
path above the cottage, and thereby
lengthen his term of absence. Who was
he Furnishing but himself? Nobody
would miss him He sat down on a
rock, and was both cold and miserable.
Out of the very loneliness of surround
ing nature voice was borne to him on
the wind.
"It is November again, Jasper Gar
field. Have you forgotten T
He could not endure the voice, but
hastily strobe down the hill again."
"1 am not likely to forget" he said,
turning fiercely, as if addressing an un-
seen presence.
Music and laughter came from the cot
tage. Jasper, feeling himself in his pres
ent mood an interloper, climbed i'm the
low French window of the dining-room,
in order to reach his chamber unob-
served. AS he entered the window a
girl passing from the room paused to
greet him. Jasper shaded his eyes with
his hand half mOckingly as he looked at
her.
"You are late" she said, in tone of
pique.
mademoiselle. How dazzling you are p'
She was dressed in yellow satin, with
rich lace gathered into a mantle; her
fair hair flowed over her shoulders, and
was bound about the brow with a topaz
chain. The same large golden stones
confined her slender waist in stomacher
and clasped her white throat.
am queen"
"Cela va sans Dire" he replied, gal
lantly.
You should not be late tonight"
she added, with just delicate shading
of tender reproach in her tone; cit Is
my birthday. See, this is the stone OF
my month-the topaz-which means f.
deity"
"I understand" he returned. SLOWLY.
gazing at her in that fantastic garb with
unwilling fascination.
"What do you understand % asked
Margaret Hope, saucily. "I do not un.
derstand why people should abuse dear
old brown November"
II hate November" said Jasper
shortly.
Because it is my month p inquired
Margaret, scarlet flush stealing into heI
cheek.
Because it is my month";" he added,
gloomily.
A bell tinkled, Margaret gathered up
her satin draperies, and extended her
gilded scepter toward her companion.
Come" she said, with her most allur.
ing smile.
Was 1t the voice or his own ill-temper
which made him answer abruptly, even
awkwardly. "Not tonight; I am
tired"
"Suit yourself"
The queen In the tableaux had tears oI
modification in her downcast eyes.
Once i'm his own chamber, Jasper
smoked his meerschaum savagely. lie
had done right, and was yet uncomfort.
able. He was not at all in love with
c~.- NJ. 80 - IIcwo o,I L. ,x,,..x I.~--