Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-11-28
fCemtssxed from last reek.l
GONE ASHORE
n 1o1x1r BUCHANAN.
CHAPTER XIII
WILLIAM JONES Is SERIOUS.

arroaE the sandhills toward his own home,
while Jones entered the door Of bis cabin
He would fain have found that cabin
empty. for the memory Of the last scene in the
cave was still upon him and made him as
nervous as . child But the old man was
there, and wide awake, and evidently pleased
at his sons return.
sswhere have you been, William, dearp
said he. The question was innocent enough
in itself, but it was full Of hidden meaning
for William Jones.
'swhere have beenf' he repeated, 'at
work. to be s,Ire?'
He looked up and saw to his arnazement that
William was as white as ghost and trenb-
ling violently.
aWhat's the matter, William dearr he
asked. eagerly. "Havs ye seen a wreck, my
SOM
"yo. ! anti" responded his son, violently;
"and look ye now, old 'un, you jest be quiet
and let me alone, that's allF'
The old man, knowing his sons temper, did
a. he was told, ard William continued to
hotter aimlessly about the room. He was
certainly trembling very much, and was al
most overcome with a nervousness for which
he himself could not account For he was no
coward Toget possession OF prize on the
high seas he would have faced n storm which
might well make brave men tre'nble, not to
mention that he knew that he had on more
than one occasion humanely hastened the end
of shipwrecked sailors, whom he had found
AMI pllaeed on the shore. After these acts
he had been able to Sleep the SLEEP Of virtue
without being haunted by dead mems eyes.
But now the case was different. He had not
tn deal wi h q victim without frie9Gs, man
whose BODY, described q, that of ship
wrecked mariner" could BE- buried and for
gotten without more ado In all probability
there would this time bs a hi:e ard cry, and
William Jones tremticd lest rs sAare in the
chastity business might ultimately be discov-
cred.
True he was not actually the culprit, and
o. even at the worst, le might escape the
pallows: but to a ran Of his sensitive and af-
fectionate nature TIE thought OF transporta~
ton was not pleasant 1t was this that made
him nervou---this that made MN starb ana
tremLle 1t eva. y sound.
Presen ~ n thought struck him.
"Wha~c's f.attf' he asked.
"Dont kno~, William dear; she amt been
here f, r hours and hours. Maybe she's on
the shore"
",.ayJe she is-I'll go and have look"
returned William
II mlgt not be supposed for moment that
William Jones had become afflicted with q
sudden and tender interest in Matt-he
merely wanted TO get quit Of the cabin, that
YVES az, an1 he saw in this a reasonable ex-
cuse for walking out alone He accordingly
made his escape, and went wandering off
along the shore.
II was ten O'Clock when he returned; he
was still rale, end drencled to the slim. The
old man was doing b side the fire, and alone.
"Where's Mattf' asked William again.
"Ain't YOU seen her, William deart Well,
she amt here"
William Jones did look little uneasy this
time, and it is but due TO him to confess that
his une asness WAS caused by MATHS prolonged
absence. Erratic as she was in her move
men,s she had not been accustomed to stay
iny out so late, especially on night when the
rain was pouring and not glimmer of star
or moon was to DO seen.
"Wonder what she's a-doin' Off said VIII
liam; suppose rdbest wat upf n her. Here,
old man, you go to bed, dye hear-you amt
wanted anyhow"
The old man accordingly went to bed, and
William sat up to await MATHS return. He
sat beside the hearth, looked into the smolder-
ing fire, end listened to the rain As it poured
down steadily upon the roof. Occasionally
he got up and went to the door, he could see
nothing but he heard tho patser of the falling
rain and the low, dreary moan of the troubled
sea.
Hour after hour passed, and Matt did not
come William Jones BEGAN to doze by the
fire--then he sank into heavy sleep.
He awoke with start, and found that ii
was broad daylight. The fire was out, the
rain had ceased To fall, and the morning sun
was creeping in at the windows. He looked
around, and saw that he was still alone. He
went into Mats room-it was empty. She
had not returned.
He was now filled with a vague uneasiness.
He made up n bit OF fire. and was about TO
issue forth again in search of the truant when
all further trouble was saved him-the door
opened and Matt herself appeared.
She seemed almost as much disturbed as
William Jones' himself. Her face was very
pale. her hair wild, Ter dress in great dis
order She started on seeing HIM; then, AS
summing a rather devil-may caro- look, she
lounged in.
"Yeu're up early, William Jones" she said.
eyes, am up early, he replied, gruiIly;
"cause whyl-'cause / ART been to bed.
And where have you been-jest you tell me
that"
"Why, I've been out, Of course" returned
the girl detiantly.
THAT won't do, Matt" returned William
Jones. "Come, you'll Jest tell me where
you've been. Youan't been out al night for
nothing"
The girl gave him look half of detiance,
half of curiosity: then she threw herself down,
rather than sat, upon chair.
am tired, am" she said, land hungry
and cold!"
"Willyou tell me where you've been, Mattr
cried William Jones, trembling with suspi-
cious alarm.
"'Course will, if you keep quiet" said
the Girl in answer ''There ai:l't much to
tell. neither. were away along to lencroes
when the heavy rain came on; then L lay
down behind haystack and fen asleep, and
when woke up it was daylight, and l come
home"
William Jones looked at her steadfastly and
long; then. as if satisfied, he turned away.
About an hour later he left the hut and
walked along the shore, straining his eyes
seaward. But instead of looking steadfastly
at one spot, As his custom was, h paused now
and again TO gaze uneasily about him. AT
very sound he started and turned pale. In
truth, he was becoming veritable coward
afraid almost of the sound of his own foot
steps ON the sands.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE CARAVAN DISAPPEARS.
Severed days passed away, during which
William Jones showed a strange and signifi-
can't Affection for his own tirtside He went