Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-29

minutes after, as she gaZed abstractedly
from her window on the storm-tossed bay
in the distance. Perhaps some girhsh
vision Of the peaceful Blue Grass plain
momentarlly usurped the prospect; but it
is to be doubted if there was much rO-
nance in that retrospect, or that il was
more interesting TO her than the positive
and sharply cut outlines of the practical
life she now held. Howbeit she soon for
got this fancy in lazily watching a boat
that, in the teeth of the gale, was beating
round AlcatEaz Island. Although at
times a mere blank speck on the gray
waste Of foam. closer scrutiny showed
it TO be one Of those lateen-rigged Italian
fishing boats that so often fiecked the dis
tant bay. Lost in the sudden darkening
Of rain, or reappearing beneath the lifted
curtain OF the squall. she watched it
weather the island, and then turn its la
boring, but persistent course toward the
open channel. A rent in the Indian-inky
sky, that showed the narrowing portals of
the Golden Gate beyond, revealed, as I'M
eXpectediy, the destination of the little
craft-a tall ship that hitherto lay hidden
in the mist Of the SaucelitO shore. AS the
distance lessened between boat and ship
they were again lost i'm the downward
swoOp Of another squall. When it lifted
the ship was creeping under the headland
toward the open sea, but the boat was
gone. Mrs. Tucker in vain rubbed the
pane with her handkeTchief-it had van
ished. Meanwhile the ship. as she neared
the Gate, drew out from the protecting
headland, stood outlined for a moment
with spars and canvas hearsed in black
against the lurid rent in the horizon, and
then seemed to sink slowly into the heav-
ing obscurity beyond. A sudden onset of
rain against the windows 0biiterated the
remaining prospect; the entrance of a
servant completed the diversion.
"Capt. PoindexteT, ma'aml"
Mrs. Tucker lifted her pretty eyebrows
interrOgatively. Capt. POindexter was a
legal friend of her husband. and had dined
there frequently; nevertheless she asked,
"Did you tell him Mr. Tucker was not at
hOmeYv
''Yes, m"
s'Did he ask for ne?''
fsYes. I'M"
''Tell him I'll be down directly"
Mrs. fuckers quiet face did not betray
the fact that this second visitor was even
less interesting than the first. In her
heart she did not like Capt. Poindexter.
With a clever wOman's instinct, she had
early detected the fact that be had SUI
periOr nature, stronger than her hus-
bands; as a loyal wife, she secretly re-
sented the occasional unconscious exhibit
ton of this fact on the part Of his init
Added to this slight jealousy. there was
a certain moral antagonism between her
self and the Captain which none but them
selves knew. They were both philoso-
pliers. but Mrs. fuckers serene and lam
guild optimism would not tolerate the
compassionate and Hud-hearted pessim-
isms Of the lawyer. 'KnOwing what Jack
POindexter does of human nature" her
husband had once said. SITS mighty fine
IN, Il 70 a If nd frrfr,
ought to like him better, Belle" "And
qualify myself to be forgiven" said the
lady pertly. 81 don't see what you're
driving at. Belle; give it up" had re-
spOnded the puzzled husband. Mrs.
Tucker kissed his high but foolish fore
head tenderly, and said PPM glad you
don't, dear"
Meanwhile her second visitor had, like
the first, employed the interval in a critl-
cal survey of the glOries of the new fur
niture, but with apparently more compass
sion than resentment in his manner. Once
only had his expression changed. Over
the fireplace hung a large photograph of
Spencer Tucker. 1t was retOuched. re-
fined, and idealized in the highest style of
that polite and diplomatic art. AS Capt.
Poindexter looked upon the fringed hazel
eyes, the dropping raven mOustache, the
clustering ringlets, and the Byronic full
throat and turned down collar of his
friend, a smile of exhausted humorous
tolerance and affectionate impotence
curved his lips. Well, you are a id
fool, aren't your" he apostrOphiZed it, half
audibly.
He was standing before the picture as
she entered. Even in the trying cOntigu-
ity of that peerless work he would have
been called a fine looking man. AS he
advanced TO greet her it was evident that
his military title was not one of the mere
fanciful sobriquets of the locality. In his
erect figure and the disciplined composure
of limb and attitude there were still traces
of the refined academic rigors of West
Point. The plant adaptability of West
ern civilization which enabled him. three
years before, to leave the army and trans
fer his executive ability to the more profit
able profession Of the law, had loosed sash
and shoulder strap, but had not entirely
removed the restraint of the one or the
bearing of the other.
ssSpencer is in Sacramento" began Mrs.
Tucker in larguid explanation, after the
first greeting was over.
81 knew he was not here" replied Capt.
PoindeXter gently, as he drew the prof
fered chair toward her, ''but this is busi-
ness that concerns you BOTH" He stopped
and glanced upward at the picture. 81
suppose you know nothing OF his busi-
ness? OF course not" he added Teas-
suringly. "nothing, absolutely nothing,
certainly?" He said this so kindly, and
vet so pOsitively-as if to promptly dispose
of that question before going further
that she assented mechanically. "Well,
then, he's taken some big risks in the way
of business and-well-things have gone
bad with him, you know. Very bad !
Really, they couldn't be worse! OF course
it was dreadfully rash and all that" he
went on as if commenting upon the
amusing waywardness of a child; ''but
the result is the usual smash-up of eyerV-
thing, money. credit and alll' He laughed,
and added, Eyes, he's got cut off-mules
and baggage-regularly routed and dis
persed! Pm in earnest" He raised his
/ eyebrows and frowned slightly, as if to
/ deprecate any corresponding hilarity on
the part of Mrs. Tucker, or any attempt
to make too light of the subject, and then
rising, placed his hands behind his back,
beamed half humorously upon her from
beneath her husbands picture, and re-
| peated, "That's So"
Mrs. Tucker instinctively knew that he
spoke the truth, and that it was impossi-
bic for him to convey it in any other than
his natural manner, but between the
| shock and the singular influence of that
manner she could at first only say, "You
don't mean iti' fully conscious of the
/ utter inanity of the remark, and that it
! 1SOAAS0 oSteANSAJ -N9S NSAeA-SAoCNASA bhNh MS
own.
Poindexter, still smiling, nodded.
She arose with an effort. She had re-
covered from the first shock, and pride
| lent her a determined calmness that more
than equaled PoindeXter's easy philoso-
| ply.
"Where is hep she asked.
cat sea, and hope by this time where
he cannot be founder followed
Was her momentary glimpse of the out
going ship a coincidence, or only vision !
She was confused and giddy, but, master
ing her weakness, she managed to co.,
tinue in a lower voice:
SYOu have no message for me from him
He told you nothing to tell me1'
'Nothing, absolutely nothing" replied
Poindexter. s'Itwas as much as he could
do, reckon, to get fairly away before the
crash came."
s'1hen you did not see him go?"
Well, no. said Poindexter. s'I'd
hardly have managed things in that way
He checked himself and added, with a
forgiving smile, "but he was the best
Judge of what he needed, OF course"
II suppose l viii hear from him." she
said, quietly, ''as soon as he is safe. He
must have mad enough else to think about,
poor fellow
She said this so naturally and quietly
that PoindeXter was deceived. He had
no idea that the collected woman before
him was thinking only of solitude and
darkness, of her own room, and madly