The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-09-12
MRS. TOM HARDING.
One Of the Seasons Nantucket 1dyls.

One OF InS seasons AanCuckeL luyISs
The out-bou steamer from New Bed
ford, stopping at Martha's Vineyard
and Nantucket, swept gayly out of the
harbor. Two young women in simple
travelling costume sat on the deck and
looked down on the many-shaded green
waters .below--Miss Morgan and Miss
Ford The latter was tall, dignifed
and blonde, and three years the senior
of the petite, dark-eyed friend at her
side. 1t was she who spoke, with just
a trifle of annoyance in her voice:
'Its too absurd, Amy You can
never carry out suoh plan; you will
getinto all kinds of scrapes and tell so
many fibs." w,,
Miss Morgan, coolly-"W What are fbs
in a good cause, my dear? You willsee
it will be tho simplest thing in the
world, and i do so want to see life from
a married Standpoint.
Miss Ford-''Then aOAy didn't you
marry? I'm sure there was Harry
Thorndyke ~ 81.
Miss Morgan, with fierceness- "Bel,
If You ever allude to that again"
II won't, DEAR" said her friend,
soothingIypfbut since you didn't mar
ny ] can see Why"
THAT'S just it," answered Miss
Morgan, eagerly; eff 1 had married l
should wish to appear single. Come,
Bel, III chaperone you beautifully. Let
me haYe9 my own way, won't yon,
Miss Ford, with signation-''When
do you not have your own way, AmyP
But you'll repent it, and / shan't have
one moments peace"
Repent itP Neverl Now for a
name, Mrs What is my hus-
bands name, Bel?"
Il decline all acquaintance with
myths"
Miss Morgan, after some thought
IL have it now Bel, dear, let me pre-
sent you to Mrs. Harding, Mrs. Tom
Harding, of Nashville. Nashville is a
good tar7of place, you know"
Miss Ford tried TO frown, but laughed
instead and bowed, ".Now, Mrs
Harding she said, "perhaps you
will tnd time to look at this charming
scenery,'' and they fell to talking Of
the beauty of the waves and the white
sailed vessels outlined against the dis
tant horizon.
They sat slightly apart from the
crowd of fellow-passengers, and, alb
sorbed in their talk, did not note sin
gle listener, who stole gniltily away as
the steamer neared the Vineyard. The
listener was q young man, tall and
comely, with laughing blue eyes and
fine, clear7cut features He wore a
suit of well-fitting gray, and carried in
his hand q travelling Satchel neatly let
tered ''T. H. ~ His face betokened
little perplexity and much amusement,
as he sauntered to another part of the
deck, and devoted himself to the pages
of a Nantucket guide. He glanced
now and then at the young women
who had so unwittingly bestowed upon
him their confidence, and, as he did so,
he smiled.
They talked on in desultory fashion
till the summer twilight fell, and the
picturesque old town of Nantucket
rose in sight. Miss Morgan sprang up
from her chair and, gathering her
wrap around her in careless though
not ungfaceful way, called her friend:
Come. Bel, I'm longing to begin my
new life," and they threaded their
way deftly through the crowd to the
landing place below. There they
quickly got into carriage and rolled
away through the cobbled- paved
streets, with the hoarse notes of the
town-crier ringing in their ears. They
looked about them eagerly, noting the
quaint old houses, and the charming
grass-grown streets.
'Oh, Bel,n cried Amy, I'm half
sorry we came"
"Why, dearp asked her friend.
"Beeause shall never want to 90
away again"
They breakfasted gayly the next
morning, bestowing but Slight attention
on their fellow boarders. They had a
map of the island spread out before
them, and occas onally invoked the aid
of the Nantucket waitress in making
their plans for the day.
There the old mill, the old house,
Surf-side and 'Sconset," said the young
woman, conScientiously checking off the
spots of interest on her fingers as she
spoke. "and Wauwinet, and"
"Oh, don't, please" interrupted
Amy, Hdont tell any more, [ am be-
wildered now. Bel, what do you saw to
walk along shore this morning, and
the old mill this afternoon?'
Her friend assented, and they rose
from the table and went out in the hall.
''How delightfully."- free | feel" said
Amy, as she stopped at the desk and
began to turn over the pages of the reg
lister. 81 told everybody not to write
to me, and shall write to no one.
She scanned age after page without
comment till her eyes rested on the one
where she had inscribed her friends
name and her own the night before.
BEL" she gasped, ''look herer' and
she turned to her friend a face of horri-
fled sur1hises& AA3't
There were the names she had regis
tered thereith previous evening:
Mrs. Tom Harding. Nashville, Tenn.
Miss lsabtlFord, New York.
But beneath them was another in bold
and manly hand:
Tom HARDING Nashville, Tenn.
How perfectly shocking! What
shall do?p lt4gsy
1t was quite late in the afternoon
when they climbed the stairs of the old
mill, and they found the miller alone.
He was an old sailor, brown and
weather. beaten, with kindly dark eyes
and queer little gold rings, sailor fash
ion, IN his ears. He was Portuguese,
he told them, was born in the Azores,
and had spent many years of his life
upon the sea.
ID YOU like American asked Bel.
Eyes, yes, / like it here, it's big
country, but | like better 60 home to
the Azo'. My woman, she have her
brother here, and so stay"
II hope You will 90 home some day,
cred Amy, impulsively, putting out
her hand.
"9h, yes, tink SO, write you name
in my book before you go?'' and he
proudly produced a register, the gift OF
some former visitor
'EYou write. AnE" said Bel. and the