The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-08

WHAT KAYE DEvINS DID!


youths ompanion.l
The girl had come from Quebec on thu
Government steamer; but she vas q Massa
chusetts girl, who had said she would stay
the remainder OF her vacation on the island
Of Anticosti, simply because every body tolt
her she could not possibly do it.
what is the reason / can't?' she asked
her mother. Uncle and aunt stay On thu
island ali the time. and so does Benny"
II advise you not to go" said her mother
'But why?"
because you will be lonely and home
lex
us that the only reason?'
eyes"
''Thep shall CO."
VERY well. If you do, you will be obliged
to stay two months
ooh, of course. / know that"
So il came about that Kate Dsvins step
ped from the Government light supply boa
70 the shore of Anticcsti Island one day in
early summer.
She was alone. She had her satchel in hel
hand, and as she walked along the shore hel
light, gray clad figure stood out strange and
solitary on the waste against the blue sk y
As the sound Of the oars of the sailors In the
departing boat grew fainter and fainter. q
sensation something like fear came over her
In o moment, however, she was herself
again. About her was silence and desola
ton, that harmonized well with the belief
the Acadians have that God gave up this
island TO gloom and despair aud bestowed
IL as q heritage upon Cain. Stretches OF
marsh land or ACRES OF rock lie barren be.
meath the summer sun and the wintry
clouds.
Seldom is there any communication with
the island from the mainland, which, for
hundreds of miles. is nearly as desolate as
the island ITSELF Once or twice in the sum.
mer sailing boat may call. No pleas uIe
seeker ever comes q sec 0nd time. The Ca
PRECIOUS currents, the fogs, the shoals, call
for lighthouses here and there on the coast.
and here many hero,c deeds are done which
are never sung or told; and here was done
one heroic deed about which will now tell
you.
A small white house on slight rise OF land
q dozen rods from the water, had at one
corner of il q tower running up many feet,
IN the top OF which was the light-chsmber.
or lantern, OF the lighthouse. There was no
other habitation in sight.
Kate, ashamed of her sudden feeling OF sor.
row and homesickness, now walked quickly
toward the little house. A door was thrown
open, and the stopped aud worn form of q
woman appeared in the opening She looked
ut the girl q moment or two with an ex
preston of wonder. Had some brilliant
bird OF the tropics lighted there, she would
have been less surprised.
Tho land sakel" she cried. Who be We?
Did ye come on the COMMENT steamer?"
Eyes, ma'am," said Kate. Don't you
know me?
The womaa's poor, faded face still had
something in it that reminded Kate of her
mother, and warmed her heart at the same
time that 1t made her ey es dim. She put out
her hand.
I'm your sister Msry's child" she said.
$50 you bel So you be- And Amt seen
you since you was fifteen months old. You'd
lest lost yer father then. Come in Now
amt this treat2 Bot you never can stand
1T here in this lonely place; never No NOR
tai can stand It'll Cone!
The woman kissed Kate on both cheeks
and drew her into the small room, which
was evidently kitchen. dining and sitting
room. She then busted about. putting on
the tsakettle and blowing up the fire in the
old stove.
'.Did you come from Quebecf Be ye goin'
back in the steamer
mo, I'm not going back in the steamer
answered Kate. The men will bring
my trunk here before dark. Mayn't /
stay?"
s:SrsyY' The woman stood an instant and
looked at her visitor.
az shall be wonderful glad to have ye, but
We never can sIand it. Sister Mary never
could. How is she7'
Mother is we'll She said couldn't Dos
sibly be contented here, and perhaps that is
ts,e reason determined / would"
"But you can't" earnestly.
"You do, aunt"
"It is my home, and must stay here.
You are dearly welcome, anyway"
Later, Kate watched the Government
steamer gliding away on what seemed sea
ri olass. Ii would be at least two months
before she would come again Kate vas
standing on the beach looking ut the vessel.
vhen a loud scresm SCUM led close behind
her- She Jumped, angry and startled, and
turnins. saw. q rod or two swav, o boy OF
eight or nine years. who was dressed in
Checked blue shirt, with trousers of the
same. held up by knottsd cord that was used
as . suspsnder. On his head was round
glazed cap. with no rim or VISOR.
He has shrewd gray ey ss and no front teeth
excsnt one that WAS just showing itself, and
looked ike an infant tusk. The two figures
GOOD and gazed at each other in silence.
At last Kate ssked, severely
"Why do you yell in sch hofrid way
a THAR
.,Cause wanted 20 see il you could
move. I've been watchin' OF ye for long
spell. Who be We, anyway
Kate Dsvins-"
"Oome on Gov ment steamer
"Yes. came on that steamer. Who are
your"
.Oh. I'm Benny Shafto."
"Not Bobby
He stared and did not anewer.
'Pm your cousin, come to make you
visit" She extended hand and received .
grimy hand in IL.
"You never en- stand Ii here. cousin Kate
Dsvins.s he said, and after looking ut her In
silence . moment. they started TO walk back
10 the house
Kate saw that he was shrewd and origns
bsvond his years But abe thought his father
end mother rather simple people. She lay