The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-01-05
E'rant.
hY KATE UPsON CLARK.

Thin logs rose from the sea. and, at first,
drIted hither and yon at the sport of
light wind. Then they grew thicker and
thicker, till the revolving lights at Brim-
meltoWn were almost lost to view, and
even the great Fresnel burner on the
htadland shOne dmly. A man ana a wo-
man Who were sitting on the edge of the
Cltt talking earnestly, began, at last, to
observe the threatening aspect of the sky
and Sea, and rose slowly and unWillingly
t0 depart
It's been like the old times, Frant."
said the man teudery.
"Ah, like the old times" responded
tht woman in a voice once sweet vet full
Of power Nov that we are fairly set
He'd IN the new cabin, Philly, We'll have
many an evening out here together
Its easier coming when we're SO
near" said Phillip Darrow atfectionately
"Io think we've spent the last day in the
old shanty, Frant But its happy time
we've had here, after all"
"ilappy ycnOugh, said Frances Darrow,
whose speech, Ike her husbands bore
the broad but not unpleasant accent Of
the cape Its five years since you mar
Iied me, philly wish wasn't SO much
older But you've been happy, haven't
yuu, Philly Z"
"What talk Frantic" said the Young
fellow, his handsome, sunburnt face dar-
keumg. lm twenty five, and growing
older every day. There isn't a girl on
the cape could Wean me away from YOU.
Haven't been true to you for five years.
Erant And why shouldn't il be so al
ways ?"
Il don't know" The woman's face
grew even graver. ''It's ten years since !
Was twenty-five, Philly, and seems like |
grow old faster but likely,' and her lips
parted in a smile which transformed her
plain face into actual beauty, "llkely it's
just because I'm tired that | feel So
we've worked so hard getting the new
house to rights"
And you like it, don't you?' asked
Phil Darrow for the hundredth time
"Ah, lad, brightly. "Maybe. in spite
Of my being so sad-like tonight, wen
have happy times here too. But look
how'll we ever get back to the cabin,
Philly for the storm had gathered
faster than they knew. She stood erect,
resumins the strong, quiet manner that
was habitual to her. "The storms right
near" As she spoke, she put out her
hand to him and swept the western hori-
zon with her keen, dark eyes. The pallor
OF her steady face, the pallor of an intense
Vitality and moi that of weakness, show
ed strlkingly under the angry light \
gust of wind and rain blew in their faces.
He took her hand and they hurried on
together, till, Just as they entered the
broad, low doorway of their new home,
the storm broke full over the headland.
AS they entered, Phillip Darrow laugh
Ell joyously; a man you would have said,
without am of the finer qualities, affec-
tionatc and playful, like a handsome
young Newfoundland, but coarser and
weaker than the woman who walked be-
side him. 1t was her more aspiring soul,
one could SEQ plainly, that bound and
held him to something higher than his
own ideals. Yet she was evidently not
cultured woman, though bearing the
marks of native refinement and of latent
force. Her print dress was coarse and
faded, but Spotlessly neat, and her rich,
rcd-brown hair, which matched her beau
tllul eyes, Was gathered smoothly back
into a knot behind. Her forehead was
low, broad and picturesque; but there her
beauty ended. Her nose was Irregular,
her mouth large, though kind and decid-
ed, and her check-bOnes high and prom
lnent. When she smiled, however, her
white teeth shone, and a new and charm
ing look Oyerspread her whole face But
she smiled seldom, and the harder and
deeper lines Of mddle-life had driven
away from the features the roundness of
youth. Yet she had an influence over
her docilc husband which the vulgar fish
wives of the Point wondered at and emu
lated, but could never attain: for, added
10 her strong and noble character, she
loved him with an abandonment of devo-
ton that only women of her stamp can
know, with strange blending of wife
love and mOther-love,- as all kind, warm
hearted, large Drained creatures love
whatever is young and clinging and
conely.
Their new home was, after all, only an
old and weather beaten cabin, which, by
careful saving and contriving, they had
at last succeeded in buying and fitting
up in a style far superior 10 anything
they had ever enjoyed before.
Frant stood in the doorway, looking
ont on the ocean, and watching the light
ming play over it, while Phil felt his way
inside, striking match now and then in
vain attempt to find candle. 81 sent
up box of candles in the load, Frant," "
he said at last douhttully, "but | can't
find them.
Frant laughed, and hurrying In, moved
here and there in her own, even, quiet
way, till soon a light cleaned brightly
from the little window, and the warmth
and pleasantness of home asserted them
selves N the humble building.
The storm ragged on, but Phil and Frant
had built a blazing fire, and heated wa
ter in the bright new tea kettle with a
view to a social cup Of tea before they
should go to bed
While they were drinking it, man
knOolp1 tho 6oor trTbapois ha "A