The Red Cloud chief., 1880-07-08
BOBBY SHAFTO.

know; but only a name given him by
Ada and me. His real name was Percy
Dana-named for our father. Percy's
father was Father Wizards deares;
friend; and when he died, Percy came
to i've with us in our dear old Glouces-
ter home by the sea.
The large stone house, with its vine-
covered walls, its wide, sunny windows
looking toward the ocean-how plainly
i can see il tonight, as / sit lonely,
listening to the dreary November rain.
A picture of home on such a night as
this comes TO me now. / see my father
sitting in his large easy-chair, drawn
close TO the hearth. There is an open
Bible on his knees, and he is reading in
a low voice TO mother. who sits at his
right hand, quietly knitting. There is
n pleasant fire in the ample fireplace
and the hickory logs burn and crackle
cheerfuliy. Percy is sitting with Ada
at the old round table, reading. l am
studying my "Virgil;" but / look up
occasionally at the bright young faces
that l love SO dearly. Percy is strong
and tall and comely. His face is not
handsome, but it is n fine face. The
mouth indicates gentleness and is a
pleasant mouth TO look at; butthe eyes,
under a broad white forehead, are Per-
cy's chief claim TO beauty. No one
could eve tell their color, for it was
ever changing-now from hazel TO gray,
and now from gray to black. / was al
ways glad when Percy laughed or
smiled; for when in repose his eyes
were the saddest l have ever seen in a
human countenance.
1t was on the evening of which l
have spoken that we first tried the
opera of 'Bobby Shafto." Ada and
Percy had finished their reading. and l
my lesson, when Ada proposed we
should look over some music which
Uncle Will had sent us from New York.
Among the collection we found this
pretty opera. Ada took it to the piano
and tried parts of it here and there; and
then, turning to Percy and me, said:
why can we not give it? Percy, you
shall be Bobby Shafto, and you, Helen,
shall be the heroine"
But | said, quickly: .'Oh! no, Ada, 1
am taller and older than Percy, and
have not half so sweet a voice as your
own" Ands so the matter was decided.
We gave it one November evening,
in the great oak parlors. Some of the
Gloucester boys and girls came up to
assist us; and we were listened to by a
large and delighted company of old and
young.
After the supper was over and neigh
bors and friends had all left us, we
gathered around the fire, TO talk over
the events of the night. Ada's cheeks
were ELL glowingaud herfair, sweeteyes
were bright, as she sat on a stool at our
feet, looking dreamily into the fire.
II was very proud of you tonight,
little Ada" said Percy; s'and in the
character of Bobby Shafto, 1 pitied
myself when l was obliged to 60 to sea
and leave YOU"
Ada looked up then, and her face was
very fair and girlish in the freight.
"Oh! but, Percy.I did really have to
cry when the tidings came: Bobby
Shafto's lost at sear 1t all seemed SO
real. And when they came with the
glad song Bobby Shafto's found at
sea- / was so glad l nearly forgot to
sing. We viii always call you Bobby
Shafto from this night, l think; but i
will never dare have you go on the wa
ter again, for fear you would never,
l never come back"
4 As l looked down at Ada, / saw that
her eyes were full of tears. Percy re-
garded her for a moment with a look
full of gentleneSs, and said:
''Ada, the good Father will watch
over us OF sea, as on land" and then.
as the hours waned, he kissed us good
nsnh.. hut hn Et-S,l Al, x 1900
ing tenderness, and let his hand rest a
moment caressingly upon her bowed
head.
A little later, and we stood, with our
aims around each other, looking out
into the night. The sea lay calm, a
ribbon of moonlight gliding its dark,
mysterious bosom; and we could hear
the quiet washing of the waves upon
the beach. All was still, serene; and
as we looked something of the peace of
the night stole into our hearts. and
then we went quietly to rest.
Tonight l cannot help thinking of the
past. The wind whistles through the
l~cafless trees outside, and the rain beats
persistently against the windOw-panes.
] draw my chair closer to the open CRATE,
and 1 think of another day-a day in
rose-wreathed June.
Bobby Shafto. as Ada and / had con.
sinued to call Percy, had been studying
: civil engineering, and he had accepted
a profitable engagement, which would
take him to afar-off city in South Amer
lea We all protested against a venture
which would separate us so widely;
| but, finally. father said, if it was for
\ Percy's best interest, he should be glad
for him, and for his sake submit resign
cdiy to his loss from our hearth and
home. He was to have gone on the
Very day of which / have spoken; but
the gentleman in whose employ he was
and who was to have accompanied
him WAS taken suddenly ill; and so we
rere all glad that the day of parting
as, at least, postponed. In the early
Horning of that day Percy and Ada
emit together once more down to the
ach. 1 stood and watched them as
lev walked away. A soft south wind
IS blowing. and it played gently with
as fleecy curls. The morning was
sw~eet-scented and sunlit. By the time
they had returned. however, clouds
had risen, full of threatening. But in
Bobby Shafto's eyes there was "a light
that never was on land or sea-" and il
seemed as if Ada's sweet face had stolen
some of the mornings rosy light.
The key to the secret was Bobby
Shafto's little gold ring on my sisters
fair. small hand.
had scarcely congratulated them
on their escape from the rain, which
now began to fall in heavy sheets. when
GU attention was arrested by the loud
ringing of the bell. In answering the
summons we found three sailors at the
door, who asked for the loan of our
boats. A pleasure-party had gone out
Of the harbor early that morning. and.
as some anxiety was felt by their
friends for their safety since the storm
had SO suddenly overtaken them, they
bad volunteered to 90 cut in quest Of
sl esvsaa was fully told