The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-10-22
BEHIND A PANEL.
A Southern Story.


knotted with white aster; pansy-dark
eyes under curled black lashes. The love
ly woman's face, looking out of the oriel
windows, held Capt Gordon Somers cap
tive.
"Come, captain" called voice from
the water below.
He made no response to startle the
girl, for she had not seen him. The
cool oval face resting on the slender
hand, and she was looking dreamily over
the water
Il say, Cap, what keeps you?. What
have you found 81
He could have strangled Low, with his
impatient believing, for now the fail
face started and flushed, and turning
Adelaide Westerley saw the intruder in
the garden.
Capt, Somers stepped forth, but with.
out his usual grace and ease and lifted
his hat,
Il beg your pardon. Could we get
some water hereY'
door and my man will give you all you
want"
She seemed startled out of an habitual
serenity, yet her voice had a strange soft
ness and sweetness.
i've continued the captain, ''are
in search Of a strange boat which got
adrift from the yacht Mermaid last
night. We have been about here for
three hours. 1t must have got over the
bar and gone out to sea-"
Low, lifting himself to look over the
bank, saw how things were and settled
himself resignedly.
"a small boat called the Dolphin 90
asked Adelaide.
Eyes"
with book and spyglass in itgr
she continued.
"Yes," confessed Somers, ashamed OF
his seamanship, Il let it get away from
me. l have charge of the yacht. There
she is yonder," pointing to the offing.
you will find your boat fastened to a
post Just inside the breakwater NV
man Stephen picked it up last night.
His is in the garden. Stay, will call
him"
She came down TO the garden dOor--a
beautiful young creature all in white
and found Capt. Somers awaiting her,
cap in hand. They went together down
the overgrown paths, he holding the rose
vines aside to let her pass.
Il am giving you too much trouble"
said he.
mo. There is my man. Stephen !"
she called.
The old man came up with his spade
He began telling how he had found the
boat-fOr which the young gentleman
did not care two straws, casting desper
ately about in his mind to learn how he
was TO meet Adelaide again.
She had already Withdrawn to the ter
race, and stood awaiting his final bow
She little dreamed the truth-sweet lady
of Shaloti She was looking fixedly al
the fine, strong figure, the cool, sensitive
blonde face, the picturesque yachtsman's
dress; she had inhaled the faint fragrance
of touch as he put her dress aside from
the thorns, and feeling of pain she
could not express visited her pure hear
as she realized that in a minute ht
would be gone from her gaze.
And he went. With one backward
glance from the fine blue eyes, with {
gay and graceful salutation and a fina
call of thanks to the young lady, Capt
Somers turned bend of the rosepati
and disappeared. followed by old Ste
phen.
"a desperate venture he muttered
''but my only chancer'
If, while unmooring the boat, he DEITY
questioned the old servitor of the IVES
terleys, old Stephen never told. Blu
when he saw the two boats floating of
shore he chuckled over the bit of silvel
in his hand, and muttered, s'GoOd lucl
to you, sir"
The fair lady of Shalot went slowl,
back to her bower. Perhaps the PRETTY
chamber did not then look quite beauti
full. Perhaps she, too, murmured, "a
am half sick of shadows" 1t would no
be at all strange.
This girl of twenty lived strangely
isolated life. She was the last of hei
race, living on the estate bequeathed Il
her in infancy by her dying father. A
half sister of her mothers an aged wo
man called Aunt Resolve, was her only
companion. She had never entered so
ciety. She knew little of the world out
side the beautiful gardens and shores O.
the jumpers.
But for old Aunt Resolve, the girl
seemed 10 be wasting her sweetness OF
the desert air The devoted old woman
idOliZed her. From her babyhood She
had dressed, washed and tended her
Perhaps it was a mistaken fondness thai
relieved the heiress of all care of her es
tate, for it required some management Il
make it yield an income for the family
and Adelaide suffered from e1nsii. Per
haps little care would have been good
for her. But Aunt Resolve thought diff
ferentiy, and the girl knew nothing Of
the oyster beds and the crops that were
hers.
The girl stood in the rose-path AGAR
the following evening, her garden hat il
her hand, eyes unconsciously fixed upon
the yacht Mermaid in the offiing. She
was in an unusual by thoughtful mood
There had come to her tor the first time
the thought whittier her life was tending
To wear away the seasons from youth q
age in uneventful monotony, her SOU
unsatisfied, did not suit her. Probably
it would never be otherwise; and q sad
ness no words could express spread
through all her Consciousness.
A step upon the gravel. She turned
and encountered the CLEAN of two bIut
eyes. Capt. Somers bowed low.
Your pardon more missing proper
~, Miss Westeriey," lac stammeTed
"What is it now s. asked Adelaide, in
amazed tones
"a ring | dropped Yesterday. All
here it is,H stopping TO hide q guilty
blush, and Immediately, with strange
good fortune, discovering o diamond
ring st the edge of the grass plot
He showed it 60 her-a diamond quaint
| ~ set; his property for fifteen years, hl
said, the gift Of his dead mother.
The heiress Of the jumpers was q,
| guiIeIess as q child. She never fhouehi
Of fear; and what was there 70 suggest 4
in gentle words and couFtIy tones And
/ fortunately, Capt. Somers was an hoaes
man and honestly in love.
They chatted among the rose vines 70
a long hour. The young man mad,
practical use Of his time. With undu,