Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-01-06
Gales aud Sketthes.
on THE ROCKS AT CAPE ANN.


or destiny or luck? Or was it simply
blind chance that carried US to that little
out of the way spot. where one of us at
least was 10 find such unforeseen expert
ences. We know of no special attractions
there other than pure sea air and COM
Portable lodging place. but we tired OF
Saratoga, Cape May and the Catskills.
LET us 90 to an questionable place, ="
said Kate. .'Let us find place, 'quoth l.,
'swhere we can wear shade hats, big
boots and no overskirts;" and so we forth
with engaged two rooms in Miss Lanes
boarding house at Annisquam. quaint,
queer, primitive, crooked little village,
which makes one of the rocky knobs along
the edge of Cape Ann.
| Of the journey from Philadelphia to
that distant "haven where we would be. -"
cannot even now say much. for the very
memory OF it awakens sickening thoughts.
Some OF our friends, either in ignorance
or malice, advised us to 90 by sea to Bos-
ton. We did So Kate liked it, and was
most aggravatingly well and lively all the
way, while lay prone and wretched reg
| istering vows at the rate of 60 per hour.tO
the effect that never would 60 anywhere
by sea.
| But it was over at last, and on the morn
| ing of the third day we were seated COM
fortably at an elegant breakfast in Boston
and all of my sea sickness passed away as
if by magic. A pleasant journey of two
hours by rail and digester in the guise
of four miles stage ride in crowded
and not too easy vehicle brought us to the
door of the pleasant old house which was
to be our home during the hot summer
months. Making hasty toilet, and cast
ing. meanwhile, chances of approval over
the surroundings of our tidy little rooms.
we descended to the parlor and went
through the ordeal of presentation to the
other boarders.
Well, we saw nothing remarkable
among them either first or last. You
need not conjure up vision of love at
first sight. nor of a sudden affinity" be-
tween one of US and any of the 20 people
with whom we were to pass the COM
ing weeks. 1t was ust an average
party, no more ; and Kate and | have al
ways been noted for preferring people
above the average. We found the usual
depressing majority of women-why are
there so many women wherever one goes?
Some were married and had no children;
for them the great excitement of life was
the arrival of Mr.. - by the evening
stage. Some had a culver full of little
innocents. whose daily baths, and maps
and toilets, gave full occupation to man.
mas hands and thoughts, And we had a
noble army of spinsters-excelent women
who did great deal of worsted work,
played little, sung little, talked not a
little, and made no impression whatever
upon us, either in the beginning or at the
end.
We came indoors to sleep and eat, and
sometimes when the evening was cool or
rainy, we made virtue of necessity, put
on our 'city gowns" and talked society
nonsense as if we liked it. But we felt
like prisoners during these hours. Besides
Jack Adams was not in the parlor with u.s.
He lived on board that beautiful little
yacht. the Butterfly which he had brought
down from Boston as if it were his petted
child.
How shall tell you about the part he
soon claimed, and that was given him in
our summer life? | say in "our" life,
because you see. he was, for time the
friend of us both.
One day there was no wind. the Butter
fly lay quiet at her mornings, her owner,
strolling over the rocks, came suddenly
upon Kate and myself trying to scale a
height we had never before attempted.
and as he was active, long-lmbed. and
possessed, moreover, of good stout staff
he offered his assistance. which we gladly
accepted. We fell into conversation
about the magnificent ocean view, the fine
surrounding scenery, and then the Yacht
pofal onA toI
new acquaintance casually mentioned the
names of her former owners, who proved
to be intimate friends of Kate, in Boston
And so-and so, we parted that day, only
to meet By accident the next. and after
wards. many another day-whether by
accident or intention. who shall say?
We liked him, and he liked us; we soon
| found him to be a thorough gentleman,
and as Kate and | were ALWAYS together,
and Mrs. Grundy had not made her ap-
pearance at Annisquam. we finally spent
most of our time, a blissful trio, sailing
over the blue waters on the wings of a
beautiful Butterfly, making long pedestrian
expeditions to the various points of inter-
est along the coast, and dreaming away
the lovely moonlight evenings on our be
loved rocks.
Jack Adams" as everybody called
him. was universal favorite, it seemed.
and welcome guest in every house. but
by degrees he gave up nearly all other So
ciety for ours. and it came to be an accept
ed thing for US three to be always togeth-
er. cannot describe the great charm
there was about him. We used to say "he
was so jolly" and so he was. full of good
nature and merriment, and wonderful con-
versational powers and quick wit, but
underneath the gay exterior lay depth
of feeling and habit of sober thought not
observable to general observation. He
seldom referred to his home life or occu.
patton, and tor some reason or other, we
never cared to inquire into either, until
within short time of our departure from
Annisquam. We were content to have
made SO pleasant friendship. and it never
crossed my mind that we could be any,
thing but friends. | sincerely liked and
admired him, and believed that was all.
Don't you think" said Kate one even
as she sat in my room for little chat, be-
fore we said good night. THAT Jack
Adams will be sorry when the time comes
for us oil to leave Cape Ann and go back
to our work at home p'
"Yes, suppose he will" answered.
not understanding strange. sad feeling
that shot through my heart as she spoke !;