The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-09-24

ing is often most dangerous. Do You
see that white line ahead?''
eyes, sir; what is ite''
SIT is q sand bar which extends near
~ from shore to shore. There is mar
row channel between the bars, but it
takes adroit handling of q boat, even
SO small as this. to get safely through
it. Now, If we went drifting on be
yond yonder point of land. in q few
minutes we would find ourselves stuck
fast on the barr
'.But it does not seem as If there
was bit Of danger on q sand-bar;''
and Max laughed. but wondered at his
fathers grave looks and tone. ''But
then. you know the place, and we're
not likely to drift on it,
"Know the placer repeated Mr..
Carston. "Of course I know it, when
1 was born on the banks of this river.
That is the reason I preferred taking q
boat at c. and rowing down myself
to the old homestead, instead of riding
there. WANTED to see the old familiar
places, and show them to you"
"To think that I've never been here
before, father. nor seen grandpa, and
I'm seventeen years Oldr
"My father was getting very infirm
when saw him. three years ago, Max,
but he is anxious to see you. He under
stands how difficult it was for me to
bring the family from California out
here on visit. Mine have always been
of the briefest, for the associations con-
nected with the place are too painful.
You looked surprised, a few minutes
ago, when interrupted you so sharply.
Wait until we pass the bar, and / will
tell you why that careless remark of
yours about drifting affected me SO
strangely"
Max watched his father as, with set
lips, he rowed the skiff through the in
tricacies of the narrow channel. He
had never seen that look on his father
face before full of pain, sternly re-
pressed, as if he was battling with some
invisible foe.
"You know that had brother, q
twin brother, Max" he said, when the
bar was safely passed.
Yes. Max had heard from his mother
that his father had lost q beloved broth
er at the age of nineteen, but he had
also been cautioned never to speak of
his dead uncle, as it grieved his father
even to hear his name.
Il loved him very much, and I can
not think of him even now without the
old grief mastering me-"
"Was he like you, father?'
'.No, not in any respect. He was the
handsomest youth l have ever seen.
My mind was slow and Flooding. He
seemed to master his studies without
effort, and as if by intuition. He was
gay, witty, generous, and incapable of
a mean thought; but at times he was
mastered by strange incidence, and
never appeared to have any decided
and definite aim. He only seemed to
seek the enjoyment of the passing
hour.
Il can close my eyes and see Charles
as he sat beside me twenty-five years
ago on this very stream. We were drift
ing, and he Law back in the boat with his
eyes fixed on the clouds overhead, and
repeating, or Transporting, the lines from
Faust:
"'"To the passing hourI say,
So beautiful thou art, thy flight delay"
L wish we could, Harry! I would like
to drift forever on great broad sea
where there were no banks to bring up
against
Those words I remember, because
of the events which occurred that night.
They were the last playful words ever
exchanged between US, the last time I
saw the rapt, dreamy look in my broth
er's beautiful eyes.
"When we reached the landing in
front Of Glen Cove (your grandfather's
place) we found party of young mem
waiting on the bank for us. They were
wild fellows. all of them, except Will
lam Ormond, who was my brothers
most intimate friend.
"'Hallo. boys' they cried; why, you've
been forever in getting here. We've
waited hours and hours for you
whats up?' asked Charles, Jump
ing out of the boat.
"'Fun's up!' cried Will Estabrook,
the widest of the reckless band.
'We're in for a jolly time to night.
Maggie Dorsey, the tavern-keeper's
daughter, you know, is to be married
to ALI Grimes. They're going to have
a rousing ball. and old Dorsey says if
We grace the occasion with our aristo-
cratic presence, he'll give us special
oyster supper. Hurry up! We have q
good mile to walk, and it's late. You've
just time to dress. OF course old
Sober-sides Chat was my nickname)
couldn't be bribed TO such an ungodly
assemblage.'
"'I don't know about going myself
Charles answered, because my father
Is opposed to our going to Dorsey's at
any time. He thinks It's low hole,
and if 1 60 to ball there. he will find