Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-01-04
BEHIND A PANEL.
A SOUTHERN STORY.

A wide, white forehead above, braid'
kno,,ed with a white aster; pansy-dark
eyes under curled black lashes. The
lovely woman's face looking out Of the
oriel windows held Captain Gordon
Somers captive.
Come, captain" called voice from
the water below.
He made no response to startle the girl,
for she had not seen him. The cool, ovaI
face rested on the slender hand, and she
was looking dreamily over the water.
II say, cap, wha, keeps yOu' What
have you found
He could have strangled Low, with
his impa,ien, believing, for now the fam
face started and flushed. and turning,
Adelaide Wes,erley saw the intruder In
the garden.
Captain Somers stepped forth, but
wi,hou, his usual grace and ease, and
lifted his hat.
Il beg your pardon. Could We get
some water. here
"Yes, certainly. Knock at the south
door, and my man will give you all you
want"
She seemed startled out of an habitual
serenity, vet her voice had strange soft
ness and sweetness.
1--we" continued the captain, "are
in search of strange boat which got
adrift from the yacht Mermaid last night.
We have been about here for three hours.
1t mus, have got over the bar and gone
out 10 sea.
Low. lifting himself to look over the
bank. saw how things were and settled
back resignedly. .
A small boat named the Dolphin
asked Adelaid.
YES"
with a book and spvglass in it,
she continued.
YES" confessed Somers, ashamed OF
his seamanship. Il lie, it get away from
me. have charge of the yacht. There
she is yonder," pointing to the offing.
you will find your boat fastened to
post Just inside the breakwater. My
man stephen picked it up last night.
He is in the garden. Stay, will call him.
She came down to the garden doors
beautiful young creature all In white
and found Captain Somers awaiting her
cap in hand. They went together dowr
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 th'
boat-for which the young gentleman
did not care two straws, casting des
perately about in his mind to learn how
he was to meet Adelaide again.
She had already withdrawn to th'
terrace and stood awaiting his final bow
She little dreamed the truth-sweet Lad,
of Shalot, She was looking fxedly a
the fine, strong figure, the cool, sensitive
blond face, the picturesque yachtman
dress: she had inhaled the faint fragrance
of touch as he put her dress aside from
the thorns, and a feeling of pain sh'
could not express visited her pure hear
as she realized that in minute be woult
be gone from her gaze.
And he went. With one backward
glance from the fine blue eyes, with
gay and graceful salutation and a hna
call of thanks to the young lady, Captain
Somers turned bend OF the path an,
disappeared, followed By old Stephen.
"A desperat' venture, he muttered
"but my only chance. '.
If, while unmooring the boat, he deftl
questioned the old servi,or OF the Wester
ley's, old Stephen never told. But whel
he saw the two boats floating off shor
ne chuckled over the bit of silver in hi
hand and muttered: Good luck to yo,
sir 7"
The Fair Lady of Sholot went slowl
back to her bower Perhaps the prett
chamber did not then look quite beautiful
Perhaps she, too, murmured, III am hal
sick OF shadows 1t would not be at al
strange.
This girl of twenty lived strangely iso
lated life. She was the last of her race
living on the estate bequeathed to her i
infancy by her dying father. A hal
sister of her mothers, an aged woma
called Aunt Resolve, was her only com
panion. She had never entered society
She knew little OF the world outside tn
beautiful gardens and shores of tn
jumpers.
But for old Aunt Resolve, the gil
seemed to be wasting her sweetness o
the desert air. The devoted old woma
idolized her. From her babyhood sh
had dressed. washed and tended hel
Perhaps it was mistaken fondness tina
relieved the heiress of all care of her es
tate, for it required some management
make it yield an income for the family
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