The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-31

he was unaware of the gulf which. in the dia-
| lect of s. romance, ''yawned' between themi
Most likely he saw II with some distinctness,
| but it makes good deal of difference which side
! of gulf You are standing on. Lon was so eager
| to cross this chasm that it did not seem very
wide Besides he had won his own position by
| hard work. and he considered it much closer to
! that of Mr.. Meadows than Mr.. Meadows would
have thought it. But then, as to Beenyi The
youth obviously possessed some puzzling un-
reasonable advantage over him. 1t seemed,
though, to arise only from his having more
money and being used to society-mere acct
dents, which had nothing to do with deep affec-
| ton.
The golden dayseof summers idleness were
melting away into recedng distances as the
Ripple bore homeward, and Lon felt that with
those days Evelyn, too, was slipping away from
him, 1t was here that he faced q practical diff
| fculty How to speak 20 her2 how see her
! a!onel When she talked with him on deck some
one else was sure to be not far of-one of the
other sailors, or stalwart Meadows with his
newly-bronzed cheeks and branching mustache,
or little Beony with his intrusive eyeglass. He
could not seek her out Discipline and social
law made him. instead of free to act like man,
as helpless as a woman waiting for lover to
offer himself.
An accident favored him. The night before
they made Whitestones, where Meadows and
his guests were finally to leave tho yacht he
had taken the wheel for the second watch.
Evelyn at late hour, when all the rest had
| gone to bed, finding herself wakeful, came up
from the cabin to get some air. The night was
clear and starry; the water rolled away from the
| yacht in low undulations that were lost In
noiseless vista, where they seemed to touch the
| shores of dreamland.
"Oh, it's you" said Evelyn. recognizing him
| in the faint light.
Yes, Miss Meadows" Lon was secretly re-
she had noticed him.
| She walked few moments along the deck,
then came back and seated herself on camp
chair near by. 'How fast we go!" she said,
| gazing at the whitish water that swelled and
fell away behind the stern. II shall be almost
! sorry when this is over
$50 shall l." Lon responded, as heartily as if
it was SAY. ay," to a command
why, LonF" Ut was the custom to use his
first name.) you can go on sailing and sailing
always, can't you9"
| mot on this boat, Miss Meadows"
'Why not9 Surely you-you haven't had any
trouble with my fatherg'
"Oh, no." He looked very steadily at the bin
nacle, whence the lamp flame glowing above the
compass streamed out, suffusing his face with
rosiness that might have been taken for sud
den blush. ''No but think rG like to get mar
| ried"
'Oh" said Evelyn, startled by so unexpected
a confidence, and, after pause ''Well, I'm
| glad it's only that Papa can engage you next
summer, just the same"
'No, I'll not come back My fathers pilot on
a ferry in East river. I'll &c and work with him.
guess Lon waited an instant before adding:
Maybe won't see any Of you again."
His voice betrayed his hidden grief, and
Evelyn was perplexed
That's a pity she said, slowly. II thought
you were always going to be on the Ripple"
She was greatly disappointed. Her ideal sail
or to be taken away from her. and she could
almost have cried. She understood now what
it was to lose him as toy" And. strangely
enough, this idea of his marrying instead of
pleasing her as a pretty romance, had most
depressing effect. Il do WISH" she declared,
girlishly, that people wouldn't always De mar
rying"
''Don't you think a sailor like me has right
to marrya" asked Lon. more roguishly. recover
ing spirit
4tOh, suppose so' she admitted, reluctantly,
IF he really loves some one enough"
land wouldn't you marry sailor if-if-well
| the samef'
Evelyn started up. what do you meant
Don't you know that you have no right to ask
nae such things? Please remember that you are
only one of papa's men,
Lon still at the wheel, stood more erect. II
am my own man." he said, firmly "And |
know have one right-to say what I feel Don't
take offense at my way, f'it amt the best. Miss
Meadows L" But here he stopped. However
slight the barriers ofciass and position might be,
he found that the barrier between man and
woman, when passion is to be aroused, remains
formidable. Still, he rallied his courage with a
great effort Its you want to marry, Miss
Meadows I love your
She withdrew hurriedly few steps, putting
her hands up to her face. ''Oh, this Is dread
full" she murmured.
Itoccurred to her that she ought to be severe;
but how was she to do itl Should she say: "Ill
tell my father7' Should she address Lon haugh-
ty as "Mr. Rustl" No; that would be absurd
| She might, then retire into the cabin without a
word, and ignore everything But while she
was considering her course. he spoke again:
You needn't be afraid" he said gently, bnt
with Some bitterness II can't come after you
My hands are tied. am bound to this wheel,
! here"
How true in another sense! He was bound
to it as to "a wheel of torture. Captain Bllys
son, like the Captain himself, knew his duty and
stuck to it.
This impressed Evelyn as erriOsity--a lover
who could not leave his post even to follow up
his suit Moreover. it was rather pathetic. She
felt sorry for him. Advancing some PAGES. she