The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-05-09
+" GvmE ASHORE"
BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.
CHAPTIR VII.
MATT GROWS MATRIMONIAL.

N'S oHe ''s5 > w. ia'N VI Wv 49, -
had curious dreams ana throughout them a
moved, like a presiding fairy, Matt Of AbcI
glyn. Sometimes he was wandering o
stormy shores, watching the wrecks Of might
argosics; again, he was in mysterious cav
erns underneath the ground searching for am
finding buried treasurer still again, no wa
standing on the decks of storm-tosSed vessels
while the breakers Numbered close at han,
and the baletires burned on lonely hcadlands
But at all times and in all places Matt wa
his companion.
And, curiously enough, Matt in his dream
was very different to the Matt Of waking real
ity: taller and brighter-in fact as beautiful
as a vision can be; so that his spirit was full
Of a strange sensation Of love and pity, and
the touch Of the warm little hand disturbed
his spirit with mysterious joy. SO vivid did
this foolish dream become at last that be
found himself seated on sunny rock by the
sea, by Mats side; and he was talking to her
iiko lover, with his arm around her waist
and she turned to him, with her great eyes
fixed on his and kissed him over and over
again, 50 passionately-t he awokol
1t was blowing hard, and the rain was pelt-
ing furiously on tho roof of the caravan. He
tried TO go to sleep again, but tho face Of
muIU luS ITO iltIt ottH IL Ills GItNlIlD kODU
him for long time awake.
'Now, young man." no said to himself
''this is idiotic. In tho first place, Matt is Il
child not young woman, in the second
place, she il u vulgar little thing, not young
lady; in the third place, you ought TO be
ashamed Of yourself for thinking Of senti-
mcnt at all in such a connection. Is your
brain softening, youngster, or are you labor
ing under the malign influence OF William
Jones! The kiss you gave TO this unsophi5ti-
catod daughter of the desert was paternal, or
say, amicable; it was n very nice kiss, but it
has no right TO make you dream Of stuff and
NONSENSE"
But the influence Of the dream was over
him, and in that half-sleeping, half-waking
state, he felt like a boy in love- He found
himself calculating the age of his own friend
Let him socl it was fifteen years SINCE in her
own Ggurative expression, she come ashore"
and the question remained How old was sho
on that interesting occoaion' As far as no
could mako out from her appearance, she
copld not 10 more than sixteen For damsel
Of that are, her kiss was decidedly prococious.
At last 10 tumblcd Off again, and dreamed |
that Matt was a young lady OF beautiful |
attire and captivating manners, TO whom he
was engaged" and her speech, strange to
say, was quito poetical and refined; and they |
walked together, hand in hand, to a country
church oa q green hillside, and were Just |
going to cntcr, when who should appear upoi.
the threshold but Mr.. Monk, of Monltshurst.
But they passed him by and stood before tho |
altar, whore tho parson stood in his white |
robes, and when the paison asked aloud |
whether any enc saw any just reason or i'm
pedimont that tho pair should be joined in
holy matrinicn the same Monk stepped
forward, with II NaphiitCpheian snile and
cried, eyes, | Gol' On which the young
man awoEo an in agitation to find that it
was broad daylight and fine fresh summer
morning.
Whom should no find waiting for him when
he had dress himself and stepped from the
houge ON wh,- Is but Matt hers If. Yes, there
sh9 was, rs Wild and quantity attired "a ever,
quite unlike tho ethereal individual of his
dreams; but for all that her smilo was like
sunshine, and her eyes us roguish and friendly
us ever.
Conscious Of his dream he bushed while
greeting her with friendly nod.
'Wcll, Matt, hero again, chr he said;
adding to himself, ''lhis won't do at all, my
gentleman; If tho young person continues to
appear daily tho caravan will havo to move
on. '"
Matt had evidently something on hcrmind.
After looking ct Brinl;ley thoughtfully for
somo minutes, shc exclaimed abruptly:
william Jones don't like you mother No
more docs William Jones' father
pear ns!' said tho young man. "Tm very
'olry ior that"
no says-WilliaIn Jones
hero l"y,nG ondspying. IoyouP
ny Cca: MatI, replied tho youll, man
lGh'y, Il como here as humble rrtist,
'ec'.uG subjects for my surprising genius to
" o!" lpcll' II 1t Is prylng and spying to
lttelnp5 to penetrate into tho beauties Of M I
scenic, animal and human-I four =
must plead guilty; but othcrwise--" /
Sho interrupted him with en- inpatient ex- {
accompanied by hitch Of her
,rctty shoulders. '
Don't talk Ike TINT; for then know
'ou're chatting. Talk serious, and III tell
'ou something" |
All right. I'll te serious es n person. Go i
Lcad.' &
'Mr. MonL, OF Monl.slurgt, wants to marry l
Ne. Ho said SO to William Jonc;." b
The information was delivered with as T
1med carelessness; but after 1t was given
Lutt watched the effect Of Il upon the r.al, s
precocious interest. Grinklcy opened
us eyes in very natural ama2euont. e
Come, come, Ent5; you're joking" q
mo, ain't, It's true" o
"I}ut you're OH y child-avery nicc child, f
.Gdmit-but to talk Of holy matrimony Ia y
uch connection is-excuSo my frankncss- n
repoSterous. People Con smarry littloG girls" r
But Matt did not consent TO this proposition
It ell II
81 amt little girl, she affirmed, with a
decisive nod Of her head. "I'm sixteen, and
In Crowod up" n
Tho young man was amused, and could not s
elrain from laughing heartily. But tho
,irIs brow darkened as she watched him, and -
ler under lip fell as il sho would like 10 cry.
'lf You go on laughing" she said, an run
traiSL t back home, and never come here no q
norcn
"Well, III try TO keep my countenance;
'ut the idea is very funny. Really, now, a
lon't you SEQ it in that light yoursclff' h
Certainly Matt did not, TO judge from the
oppression Of her face. She turned her head b
way; and Brinkley saw, TO his surprise, that
! tear was rolling down her cheek.
Come, Matt, "he said, kindly; ''you mustn't