The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-02
TRIAL OF STRENGTH.

TRIAL OF STRENGTH.
A Story of Passion, Love and
Adventure.
BY JAMES It. Mckay.
A New England Tale, by the Author
of "a Story With a Hero" ''Sto-
ries by American Authors"
Adela Classen's uncle, Johnson Raymond,
was involved in the financial crash. Inc
brave girl turned at once to try and help
him, and after much thinking and contrlv-
ing went suddenly to her friend, Gala Vest
ward. and asked for her house on Curlew
Island, in which to take summer boarders.
| Gala laughed at the singular idea, but both
| consented and promised to come and help
| her. And in spite OF ridicule and opposition
| the plan was carried out with success.
One OF the boarders was a young news
paper man named Landon, temporarily OH
| work, who at first seemed to take a good
| deal OF quiet amusement at the novel firm,
but became quickly interested in CALAIS
! scholarly, but crippled father, and more re-
| spectacle toward the young ladies, Tor
| whom he was able to do little services on
| his runs into town. Coming originally Tor
| a week he stayed on and on, with Intervals
to the end.
The A~ppiegates were a wealthy and like
| able, free-spoken family, by no means
! scholarly, yet hearty and unaffected, nom
! est people, with Il single exception. After
| most OF them had been a week or two at
| Curlew Island, the Oldest son, Lane Apple
| gate. came into Airing Bay on board his
| yacht, the "Belle Brandon" Lane had been
a handsome fellow and was SO still till you
| came near enough to see the PLAIN marks
| left by dissipation and years OF idiencss;
| He had a bold, %jovial manner ana loud
| laugh, and did not conceal his intense
amusement ut the idea OF Two such young
| and handsome. well-bred girls setting up as
l%andladies. It was not long before he had
| said as much to Adela, with some added
| compliments to herself, which called up an
! indignant flush that heightened her beauty
and made him laugh all the more loudly.
| The friends were very glad when he and his
| comrades sailed away; but, to their sur
| prise and annoyance, when they looked out
| the third morning afterward they saw the
:'Belle Brandon" lying at anchor OIL the
| island. About noon the master OF the craft
! a~ppearedaon deck and was rowed ashore
| Adela was passing through the hall when
he appeared in the hallway. lie got no
| welcome from her, nor even an invitation
to enter, but he only made merry over his
cool reception.
didn't look for us pack quite SO soon,
Ell, Miss Classen? Unexpected pleasure and
that sort OF thing" he exclaimed with a
great show of mock g%allantry. Not pre-
pared to entertain me as you'd wish and
| 40 forthl Oh, | understand all that; l APP
preciate the distinguished consideration;
but don't put yourself about on my
account. l assure you l don't mind rough
ing it in the least. Had to come back to
the old parties, you know; 'pining for his
mothers knee you understand. BEST ii
| could keep away"
Adela could not help laughing at the fel-
low, but turned away abruptly. And
when she learned that he proposed to send
away the yacht and remain a week or two
she went to shut. g~ood-natured Mrs. APP
plegate and objected decidedly to taking
her son into the house; but the easy-gOing
lady only laughed at the ndiscretions OF
her scapegrace.
"Law, Miss Adela, she cried. "poor Lane
does not mean anything. He must have
his Joke and he is fond OF a pretty girl; but
he's the best-hearted fellow in the world,
and you must not mind him at ALL" And
she added, more seriously, II hope you'll
let him stay; l don't see very much of him
nowadays, and perhaps it would have been
better for him if he had been more at
home"
The result was that he stayed about
from week to week. The girls presently
discovered that his POPULARITY depended
very much upon stimulants, and that he
had serious intervals in which he was more
offensive than when in spirits in more
senses than one. He began speedily to
manifest Il very ardent admiration toward
Adela and to abstain from drink at the
island. enduring the deprivation as long us
he could and then going Off two or three
DAYS, to come pack red-eyed and excited,
only to relapse into pallid desperation in d
little while. Once or twice he frightened
Adela by his wild ways and words when
she met him alone. One morning, as she
and Gala were getting into the boat, which
regularly came from the lighthouse for
their service, APPLICABLE came tramping
down the bank and hailed:
"Hello, there, young light-house-hold
hard, now! Fine morning to you, ladies.
By your kind permission I'll take II lirt
across the gulf with your young Charon.'
Dan Cantrell, son OF the lightkceper,
looked to his ladies for orders, without
pausing in his nimble preparations to cast
off. Gala came near Kim and said in Il low
tone:
"Don't let anyone come into the boat"
Applegate stepped on the string-piece OF
the little dock. Dan sprang up close in
front of him and blocked his way.
'This boat is engaged-yOu can't come
aboard"
"You young sea-crab," the burly fellow
answered., sinking his voice and making a
menacing movement OF his clenched hand,
"get out OF my way, or lll-'
IF you put YOUR foot on this" Dan re-
turned, the blood showing through the
lark tan of his check as he bent u little
closer, drew the sheet home and damned
the tiller hard round with his foot-'if you
step on this boat I'll heave you over
board!"
The sail drew and the boatswung around
and headed away. Dan started her with a
' quick thrust against the piles, and the boat
bowed and went foaming away from the
furious yachtsman, helplessly vowing maj
edictions on Dams head. Not IA word
more about the matter passed between Dan
and the ladies. He went about his bust
ness and kept his respectful silence except
when addressed.
AppIsgate became more and more vexa-
OlOu6 W UHC ACAu SS CIIuC peioSCu, u IlS
mother pressed them to let him stay on the
score of his spasmodic attempt at reforma-
ton. One day in the last week OF Septem-
Der he intercepted Adela alone at the east
end OF h eisland, and SO thoroughly fright
ened her by his passionate declarations
and some vague threats that she pushed
past him suddenly. ran rapidly to the
house and went straight and out of breath
to Mrs. Applegate and refused to permit
him to enter the place again.
But he did not show himself at that time,
and some days afterward they heard that
he had rejoined his yacht with congenial
companions and had been on Il wild carouse
with them at North Shore.
On the morning of the 9th Of October the
last OF the boarders left except Landon,
who had arranged with Dan Cantrell to
take him and his baggage off in the after
noon, on purpose to be OF service to the
two friends in the last busy hours. Old
Mr.. APPLICABLE, however, was to return to-
ward evening and spend another night in
order to get off some furniture OF his not
yet removed. So Mr.. Westward was con-
veyed home by Dan and Gala in the morn
ing, they returning to the island about
MON ThoI1oh the servants had left for