The Washington critic., 1886-09-04
CHATTER THE THIRD.

CHATTER THE THIRD.
Ten years from the time when Alice
left DraytOn. on Sea, and the sun shone
no longer down on little fishing viii
lage, but on growing place of fash
ionable resort. The houses which
dotted the hills were closer together,
and at their feet there stretched ter
races and streets, and on the once
lonely shore were the marks of many
footsteps on the sand, and rows of
boats for hire, and sailors hanging
about, seeking for idlcrs who would
sail beneath the summer sun or listen
to their yarns.
"a glorious day, ma'am," Tom
Hardy said to an old lady who, feeble
and tired, sat down on one of the
few seats scattered about. "Ah
glorious day, ma'am. Would the
young lady like a sail? I've a neat
little craft yonder."
"No, thank YOU" she answered
quietly. May, dear, give me my knit.
ting" and the old woman and the
young girl sat down, shaded from the
fierce rays of the setting sun by the
life-boat which was drawn up on the
sand behind them.
"Is the paint wet ?" the old lady
asked
mo, ma am, 'taint wet" the sailor
said; otis the one behind I've been
touching up. 1t isn't long we've had
her, you see. They say it was Mr..
Greathead who invented her, but it's
great heart that gives 1t, think. A
lady gave that TO Drayton, on Sea just
year ago this August. It's saved
good number of lives already, too"
There was no reply from the old lady,
but the bright face of May Trevor
looked up at him, for it was she and
her grandmother, Mrs. Brandleth.
They had come to see and
stay month at the place
in which Alice's married life had been
spent, and had left her now at the
lodgings, too tired to come out; be-
sides, the sea was always dreary book
with terrible past history to herr.
"Ges miss" he went on, encouraged
by the look, 81 owe my life to life-
boat--not this one, but to life-boat
many year ago-that Is, nine this last
spring We were took up by one, me
and two others, just rs we had given
upall hope and were clinging to almost
the last bit of spar left. She was the
boat of an American that took us up,
and belonged to ship that was bound
outwards. There were only us three
saved from the wreck, and one Of us
died"
"And did the other live?" May asked.
"les, miss, but he kept IL secret.
He was poor, you see, and his wifc's
H. III L.
him and his wife and children almost
starve, though she had plenty. So
when he'd made enough to come back,
without a penny in his pocket, and
came here and found that he was
counted dead, and that his wife had
gone to her mother with the little
ones, he thought it no use to
take them back to starve again,
so he determined not TO let her know
he was alive till he d money enough to
keep them. So he went back to Amer
lea. He wanted me to go with him,
but says, NO, sir, tisn't money
want, but just the sea faring life I've
been used to, to make me happy
However, he went, and he's made a
lot of money; twas he sent me the
money to get yonder little craft with,
now that ! felt inclined to settle down
q bit; he wished me to come here, be-
cause 1t was where he lived before he
set sail
Mrs. Brandlcth looked up at him
with startled eyes, and lips that would
scarcely move.
Where is he now ?" she asked,
while the color died from Mays face,
and her hands neryously clasped them
selves together.
Hes gone to seek his wife, and tell
her he's not dead. She'd have her
sorrow over mourning for him, when
he first got back, you see, so he never
let her know. He'll be over there by
tomorrow or next day, | expect"
Mrs, Brandleth rose, piteously clasp
ing the sailors hands. Tell me his
name" she said, feebly,
"Mr. Trevor, a'Nm; he's a doc.
tor" She heard no more, but sank
fainting at Mays feet,
II always felt that Alice laid his
death at my door," she said, whca w.
opened her eyes; she'll forgive mo
now, and he will too, for have taken
care of you both for him.
A telegram was sent off that after
noon to tell Hugh Trevor that he would
find his wife and child where years be.
fore he had left them. And then
they waited with an impatience
and happiness that seemed almost
too much to bear, till that happy
day should come when the train,
which years before had seemed
to little Frank to come from some un-
known world, should bring the lost one
back again
"If had only known it all these
years." Alice said 1T would have
been better to have told me-"
1T was my fault, dear" Mrs, Brand.
leth said" lie thought you would
have refused my help, perhaps, If he
lived, and he could not do much for
you. Tom Hardy says he has been
working all these years to endow you
with his earnings ut last, And thus
the one umkind thought vanished,
81 think | will 90 and meet him A"