The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-19
The Resolve

SDu LIS IpOLt AeueAs AMY AA'>~
and were known to the neighbors that in
any way associated with them as the
Devals. But few of the rough people
hereabouts understood the twain, or, in
fact, cared to penetrate though the deep
mask of reserve that ever made them shy
of association with others. 1t may have
been that difference of social standing
had only the effect Of hiding whatever
tendencies, there were toward Welding
the feeling of respect, for they were
rude and unlettered, while the Devals
were refined, and evidently struggling
in station far beneath them.
Thus it was that when the handsome
prohigate, Jack Somes, came home from
sea, with his pocket full Of money, and
his head full Of soft nonsence, nobody
felt themselves obliged to notify the
Devals of that fact, or thought anything
about them, for that matter. Jack had
but few friends in the place; he had
come among them five years before, and,
by his natural easy manners and good
looks, succeeded in captivating the heart
of Polly Baker, fishers lass. They
were married, and he went to sea, but
no letters were ever received by her,
and strange stories were rife, the SUBJ
stance being that he deserted her for
some one fairer. The thought OF 1t
drove her into her grave at last, poor
thing and now he had come back. say,
laughing as of old, with stories Of cap
ture and escape in foreign lands, but no
display of affection for the memory of
her he had left.
ga downright lie, l do believe" said
Dorothy Gordon to one Of her late Gus
toners at the village store. "a base,
wicked lie! And if Polly Bakers ghost
don't haunt him for life, then he won't
get his just dues, that's all!'
81 don't believe in him much myself"
said the other, appearances are so de-
ceitful. l should think he would be
ashamed to come back after all these
years of neglect'!'
eyes, his own mother would hate him
for that. ''I'm sure would if he was q
son of mine, the awful villain"
"He is a base, bad man !"
With that emphatic remark the GUS
toner bade Dorothy goodnight, and
took herself across the paths to her cot
tage.
Ruth Deval had seen suffering. One
could see it in the subdued speech, the
slow calculating step, and shadowy,
drawn figures, hardly yet wrinkles,
which sometimes came over her brow;
evidently that suffering was caused by a
skeleton in the family.
Their cot stood beside the sea; the
seaweed rocks we're piled upon the beach
waterward, over which the sea washed
with awful fury. Ruth sat in lighted
room, away from this noise of the ele-
ments, beside sick cot, one night
The wan-faced patient reclining there
was her father. Feverish and restless
he tossed from side to side, moaning, al
the word, "Water" Sick nigh unto
death, he yet seemed to suffer more
mental grief than bodily ill.
"Dear father what can do for you p
murmured Ruth, at the end of {
paroxysm of pain.
'Ten me Of Caspar, darling-I-I-'
Ruth turned sadly away. All nigh
long he had cried for Casper, until i
seemed to her that she could not bea1
the cry again. She sat still, and triet
to comfort the patient by smiles ant
cooling draughts of lime water. HI
was easier after d while, and seemed t.
sleep.
Ruth went to the window looking on
upon the sea. Great fakes of foam
fecked It's surface now; the water
grated in upon the rocks In hard, crue
way that made her feel as it life to he
was as devoid of cheer.
The moon looked down, then quickl
hid behind the clouds that we're rushjn
seaward with raceherse speed. Far out
coaster was trying hard to claw off tn
inhospitable coast. that coast whic'
asked mercy Of none, neither gave
when the helpless vessel was cast with
in its grinding mouth. She was watch
Iig this, but her thoughts were far ava,
esrhaps vision of quieter havens, wit
green grass and flowers, were within ne
ken, for she moved her lips, and tn
word '::Caspar" was heard.