The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-29


sumbsd 70 this LEST ohasmins audseity. He
broke Into noisy but genuine laugh. shook
Nrn. fuckers hand with effuslon. said. Now
that's regular Blue Grass and no mlstakoi" and
refreshed under cover Of his hilarity. In the
hall he made rallying stand to repeat conf
dsntially to tho servant who had overheard
them; "Blue Grass oil ovur you bet your llfc"
and. opening tho door. was apparently swal-
lowed up In the tempest.
1lra. Tuckers smile kept her lips until she
had returned to her room. and oven then Lam
Guidy shone in her eyes for some minutes
aftor. as she Gazed abstractedy from her win
dow on the storm tossed hay In the distance.
Perhaps some girlish vision OF the peaceful
Blue Grass plain momentarily usurped the
prospect; but Il 10 to bS doubted II there was
much romance in that retrospect. or that II
was moro interesting to her than the positive
and sharply cut outlines Of the practical life
sho now hold. Howbeit she soon forgot this
fancy In iazily watching . boat that. in
the teeth OF the gale. was benting round
Alcstraz Island. Although at times . mere
blank spcck on the gray waste OF foam.
closer scrutiny showed It to DO ono OF those
iatson.rigged italian fishing boats that SO often
necksd tho distant bay. Lost in the sudden
darksning Of rain. or reappearing beneath the
lifted curtain OF the squnll. she watched II
weather tho Island. and thon turn its laboring.
batporsistent course toward the open chan
nsL 4 rent In tho Indlan-inky sky. that showed
the narrowing portals OF tho Golden Gate be-
yond, revealed. as Unexpectedly tho destina-
ton Of the little craft-a tall ship that hitherto
lay hidden In tho mist OF the Sauoeito shore.
~ tho distance lessened between boat and
ship they were again lost In the downward
esoop Of another squat. When 1t lifted the
ehip WAS creeping under tho headland toward
tno open sea. but the boat was gone. MIRO.
Tucker In vain rubbed the pane with hor
handkerchief-it had vanished. Meanwhile
lie ship. as she neared the Gate. drew out from
the projecting headland. stood outlined for
momsnt with spars and canvas hoarssd In
s&1ask against the lurid rent in tho horizon. and
4 - seemed to sink slowly into the heaving
sSAs0urity beyond. sudden onset Of rain
!, &eatnst tho windows obliterated the remaining
pRespect; tho entrance Of o servant completed
he diversion.
-Oapt. Poindoxter. ma'aml'
~ Mn. Tucker lifted her pretty eyebrows inter-
y 9Atively. Capt. Polndexter was legal friend
NJ her husband. and had dlned there frequent
4 ~; nevertheless she asked. Did you tell him
$lge Tucker was not at homer"
I" Yes. m"
Did he ask for mep"
90 Yes. 'm.''
" Tell him I'll be down directly"
{ Ns. Tucker's quiet face did not betray the
\ bet that this second visitor was even less In
4 twsating than the first. In her heart she did
\ nj like Capt. Poindexter. With q clover wo-
I name Instinct sho had early detected the fact
: that he had q superior nature. stronger than
~ husbands; as loyal wife. she secretly re-
Dented the occasional unconscious exhibition
o. this fact on tho part OF his intimate friend
!: n their familiar Intercourse. Added to this
ellGht jealousy. there was a certain moral an
tagonism between herself and the Captain
. which none but themselves knew. They were
both philosophers. but Mrs. Tucker's serene
md lAnguid optimism would not tolerate the
compassionate and kind-hearted pesslmisms
Of the lawyer. Knowing what jack Poin-
dsxter does Of human nature" her hus-
band had once said. 81 it's mighty fine
You ought to like him better. Belle." And
qualify myself to DO forgiven" said the lady
pertly. Il don't see what you're driving at.
Belle; give It up." had responded tho puzzled
husband. Mrs. Tucker kissed his high but
foolish forehead tenderly. and said I'm glad
4 1pu don't DEAR"
Y Meanwhile her second visitor had. like the
4 0rst. Employed the interval In a critical survey
: Of the elories Of the new furniture but with
,ocpayently more compassion than resentment
II his manner. Once only had his expression
changed. Over the fireplace hung large pho
Sstaeraph OF Mr.. Spencer Tucker. It was re-
teuched. refined. and idealized In the highest
STYLE Of that polite and diplomatic art. As
( CApk Poindoxter looked upon the frinGed hazel
+ epss. the dropping raven moustache. the clus-
4 4arias rlngletr. and the Byronic full throat and
turned down collar OF his friend. a smile OF ex-
hsusted humorous tolerance and aiIectionate
impatisnce curved his lips. We'll. you are a
Did fool. aren't your" no apostrophized 1t.
hah audibly.
n He was standing before thepicture as she on
bered. Even In the trying contiguity OF that
\ paerless work he would have been called fino-
4 boxing man. As no advanced to greet her. 1t
ms evident that his military title was not one
! Of the nero fanciful sobriQuets Of the locality.
Y n his erect figure and the disciplined oompos-
use OF limb and attitude there were still traces
ofths refined academic rlgors OF West Point.
! 1hs plant adaptability Of Western civilization
& which enabled him. three years before. to leave
/ de army and transfer his executive ability to
1 the moro profitable profession Of the law. had
leessd sash and shoulder strap. but had not
sentirely removed the restraint Of the one or the
I Asaring Of the other.
Il Spencer Ia In Sacramento" began Mrs.
xueksrin languid explanation. aiter the first
y ayeetiags wore over.
II knew he was not here" replied Capt
sAMndexter gently. as he drew the proffered
n &knir toward her. but this is business that
eAoonoerns you BOTH" He stopped and glanced
\ epward OF the picture. Il suppose you know
sne1hine OF his business2 OF course not" he
u1Asd reassuringly. nothing. absolutely moth
49,, certainly" He said this SO kindly. and
4 - 20 positively-as II to promptly dispose Of
I; TIT question before going further-that she
j enasnecd mechanically. Well. then. he's
n tnksn some big risks In the way Of BUSH
E1nas snd-well-things have gone bad with
4 Nm. ron know. Very badi Really. they
Y 0aldn't be worse! OF course 1t was dread
4 MN rash ana all that" he went on ~ II
y eonmenting upon the amusing waywardness
50 = child: but the result Is the usual smash
:; updf eserythinR. money. credit. and ALI" He
laUghsd. and added. Yes. he's got cut Off
! Muies and baggage-regularly routed and dis
8 rnuundi I'm in earnestn He raiaed hia ave.