Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-11-03
A NIGHTS CAR0USAL,

A NIGHTS CAR0USAL.
II can imagine nothing in the world
pleasanter than this" Max Carston sale
to his father. They had been rowing
down a pretty, picturesque little river
but had drawn in their oars and were
drifting with the current. Ono, moth
ing more delightful, more enchanting
than this" the boy dreamily repeated.
"Do you mean the glories of the sun.
set?' his father answered, smiling, as he
pointed to the west, where the clouds
had fashioned city with golden walls
and towers, and crimson banners floating
from them.
"Not exactly. It's the pleasant drift
ing down stream I meant. It's so rest.
full, and somehow, you don't seem to care
where you turn up. You feel like fold
ing your arms, and letting the tide take
you just where it will. I feel rs though
would like to drift through lfe."
Hush, you must not say that'' his
father cried, in such strange, stern tone
that Max raised himself from his reclin.
ing position, and gazed at him with as.
tonishment. because it is pleasant, y
continued his father, i" drifting is often
most dangerous. Do you see that white
line ahead?"
eyes, sir; what is it?"
" 1t is sand-bar which extends nearly
from shore to shore. There is narrow
channel between the bars, but it takes
adrOlt handling of boat, even so small
as this, to get safely through it. Now,
If we went drifting on beyond yonder
point of land, in few minutes we would
lind ourselves stuck fast on the BAR
" But it does not seem as if there was
bit of danger on 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 therlace!" repeated Mr.. Cars
ton ':Of course I know it, when was
born on the banks of this river. That is
the reason l preferred taking boat at
O. 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 have never been
here before, father, nor seen grandpa,
and I'm seventeen years old"
My father was getting very infrm
when I saw him three years ago, Max.
but he is anxious to seey you. He under
stands how difficult it is to bring the
family from California out here on a
visit. Nine have always been of the
briefest, for the associations connected
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 I 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
tylcacies Of the narrow. He had never
seen that look on his fathers face before
so full of pain sternly repressed, as if
he was battling with some invisible foe.
"You know that I had brother. a
twin brother, Max" he said, when the
bar was safely passed.
Yes, Max had heard from his mother
that his father had lost beloved brother
at the age of nineteen, but he had been
cautious never to speak Of his dead uncle,
as it grieved his father to hear his name.
VI loved him very much, and I can
not think Of him even now without the
cid grief mastering me-
"Was he like your father?"
NO, not in any respect. He was the
handsomest youth have ever seen. Nv
mind WAS slow and Flooding. He seemed
to master his studies without effort. and
as by intuition. He was gay, witty.
generous, and incapable Of mean
thought; but at times he was mastered
by strange Incidence, and never ap-
Peeard to have any decided and definite
aim. He only seemed to seek the en-
]oyment of the passing hour.
IL can close my eyes and see Charley
as ne s"t beside me twenty-five years ago
on this very stream. We were drifting.
and he lay back in the boat with his
eyes fixed on the clouds overhead. and
repeating, or transposing the lines from
Faust:
To the passing hour say,
So b. autiful thou art ths, aseAs decay"
az 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 wrapt, 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 men waiting
on the bank for us. They were Wild
fellows, all of them, except William Or
mond, who was my brothers most init
mate friend.
Halo, boysw they cried; "why
you've been forever in getting here.
We've waited hours and hours for you.
""What's up?' asked Charles jumping
out of the boat.
"'Fun's up!' cried Will Estabrook,
the widest Of hereckless band. sWere
in for a jolly time tonight. Maggie
Dorsey the tavern-keeper's daughter, YOU
know, is going to be married to All
Grimes. They're going to have a rous-
ing ball, and old Dorsey says if we grace
the occasion with our aristocratic pres
ence, he'll give us a special oyster sup
per. Hurry up. We have good mile
to walk, and it's late. You've Just time
to dress. Of course old Sober-sides
that was my nickname) couldn't be
bribed to such an ungodly assemblaee, ,
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 I
go to ball there, he will find it hard to
overlook it,
"Just listen to the good little boy!
Will went on. do as you're bid, SON
ny, and # papa says no, why, no it has
to be. I've always thought nineteen was
old enoughto.take care Of himself. The
governor tiled TO get the whip-handle on