The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-09-26
Mrs. Tom Harding.
lsprIngaeld Repuhlican.l

NcPInguelu hepuDucan.)
The outbound steamer from New Bed
ford, stopping at Martha's Vineyard and
Nantucket, swept gaily out of the harbor.
Two young women in simple travelling CO.'S
tune sat on the deck and looked down on
the many-shaded green waters below-Mss
Morgan and Miss Ford. The latter was
tall, digntfed and blonde, and three years
the senior of the petite, dsrk-eyed friend at
her side. 1t was she who spoke, with just
trife of annoyance in her voice:
"It's too absurd, Amy. You can never
carry out such aplan: you will get into all
kinds of scrapes, and tell so many fbs."
Miss Morgan, coolly-"What are fibs in a
good cause, my dear2 You see 1t will be
the simplest thing in the world, and do SO
want to see life from married standpoint"
Miss Ford-''Then why didn't you marry?
Pm sure there was Harry Thorndyke-"
Miss Morgan, with fierceness-"Bel, if you
ever allude TO that again"
81 won't, DEAR" said her friend soothing
ly, but since you didn't marry 1 can't see
why"
"That's just it," answered Miss Morgan
eagerly; "If had married, l should wish
10 appear single. Come Bel, I'll chaperone
you beautifully. Let me have my own way
won't you dearp'
Miss Ford, with resignation-"When do
you not haveyour own way, Amyl But you'll
repent it, and shan't have one moments
peace"
"Repent itP Neverl Now for name.
Mra-Mrs.-What is my husband name,
Bel?'
81 decline all acquaintance with myths"
Miss Morgan, after some thought have
It now. Bel, dear, let me present you to
Mrs. Harding, Mrs Tom Harding of Nash
VILE Nashville is good far-off place you
know"
Miss Ford tried to frown, but laughed in
stead and bowed. Now. Mrs. Harding"
she said, "perhaps yon will find time to look
at this charming scenery" aud they fell to
talking of the beauty of the waves and the
vhite-sailed vessel outlined against the dis
tant horizon.
They sat silently apart from the crowd of
fellow-passengers, and absorbed in their talk
did not note a single listener, who stole
guiltiy away as the steamer neared the
Vineyard. The listener was a young man,
tall and comedy, with laughing blue eyes and
fine, clear-cut features. He wore suit of
well-fitting gray. and carried in his hand
travelling satchel neatly lettered ''T. H."
His face betokened a 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 HnwittiDgly bestowed upon him their con-
ddence, and, as he did so, he smiled.
They talked on in desuitory fashion till
the summer twilight fell, and the pictur-
esque old town of Nantucket rose in sight.
? Miss Morgan sprang up from her chair, and
gathering her wrap about her in careless,
: though not ungraceful way, called to her
friend: "Come, Bel, Pm longing to begin
my new lite," and they threaded their way
deity through the crowd to the landing
place below. There they quickly got into
carriage and rolled away through the cobble-
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.
ooh, BEL" cried Amy, 'I'm half sorry
We came"
"Why, dear?" asked her friend.
because shall never want to go away
again.
They breakfasted early next morning, be-
slowing but slight attention on their fellow
boarders. They had map of the island
spread out before them, and occasionally in
voked the aid of the Nantucket waitress in
making their plans for the day.
''There's the old mill, the old house. Surf
side and 'Sconset," said the young woman,
conscienLiously checking off the spots of in
terest on her fingers as she spoke, "and Wau-
winet, and"
ooh, don't, please" interrupted Amy,
"don't tell any more. / am bewildered now.
Bel, what do you say to walk along shore
this morning, and the old mill this after
noou%'
Her friend assented, and they arose from
the table aud went out in the hall.
Chow delightfully."- free feel" said Amy,
as she stopped at the desk aud began to
turn over the leaves of the register, 81 told
everybody not to write TO me, and | shall
write to no one."
She scanned page after page without COM
ment till her eyes rested on the one where
she had inscribed her friends name and her
own the day before.
"Bel," she gasped, ''look herer' and she
turned to her friend a face of Mortified sur
prise.
There were the names as she had regis
tered them the previous evening"
Mrs. Tom Harding, Nashville, Tenn.
Miss Isabel Ford, New York.
But beneath them was another in a bold
and manly haud:-
Tom Harding, Nashville, Tenn.
GLOW perfectly shocking! What shall
do?"
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 fashion, In his ears. He was Portu-
guese, he told them, was born in the Azores,
and had spent many years of his life upon
the sea.
"Do you like American asked Bel.
"Yes, yes, 1 like it here, it's a big country,
but l like better go home TO the AGO. My
woman, she have her brother here, and SO
stay"
Amy, impulsivey putting out her hand.
"Oh, yes, I tink so. You write your name
in my book before you go?' and he proudly
produced register, the gift of some former
visitor.
"You write: Amy" said Bel, and the old
miller bent over her chair, as she entered
Mrs. Tom Harding.
Miss Isabel Ford
He looked at the names curiously mo-
ment and said: ''You husband here a little
while ago. You no meet him when you
come% and turning back to the page before,
pointed OUT
Tom Harding, Nashville, Tenn.
Amy crimsoned, but said nothing.
''1s 1t no you husband?" he persisted.
"Yes--no---I don't know" stammered
Amy. "Come, Bel, we must CO."
81 tink you catch him if you make haste"
said the miller placidly.
They were a little late at supper that even
Ing, and found the chair opposite their own
on whose emptiness they had congratulated
themselves in the morning, filled. The oc-
cupant was tall young man with genial
blue eyes and cear-cut features. Formali-
ties are blown away in sea-hreezes, and when
he had passed the butter and cold meat,
and Bel had responded with buffers of jelly,
they began TO converse quite as a matter of
course. He said that he had been at Surf
side In the morning and out rowing in the
harbor later in the day. It was Bel who
answered his remarks; Amy ate in silence,
occasionally flashing her dark eyes at the
stranger, as If wishing to wrest from him
his name and habitation.
"We were at the old mill this afternoon
she said, with little abruptness, as they
were rising from the table.
Indeed" he answered politely, sit is
called an interesting old place, believe"