The Iola register., 1886-11-12

him in Maine; she had been promised
to him since they were boy and CIR
and she was to come to him when hs
was ready. He had built little sort o.
cabin on the banks Of the canal up here,
not far from one of the dry docks
where he often worked-and when she
came, we went to tho church in Troy
and saw them married She was 8
real Irish beauty then, with her blue
eyes and dark brown hair and her pink
and white skin. They were the hap.
piest people l ever saw, and sometimes
they'd make me 60 to tea with them
well. I'm free to say 1 enjoyed it
had . queer fancy-sometimes, that
Mary had lived to marry me, that
Michael was her son and that the baby
they were expecting would be her
grandchild. That summer Michael was
on the boat most of the time, for we were
short of hands. and he got q woman to
stay with Kathleen. Friday evening he
was to leave us at his home. Thursday
night he was on watch, and talked
with him on deck till past ten, then
turned in. went on deck at twelve
again. and he wasn't there. Well. we
found him next morning in five foot Of
water. just as peaceful as if he was
asleep. He had a big bruise on his head.
and the doctor said he must have been
careless about bridge, struck it, and.
half stunned, was Knocked into the
water.
chad to 60 and tell Kathleen, expect
ing him home to stay. She didn't take
on much, but the poor little child was
born that night-without a father and
almost without mother. too. for she
never could take to it, try her best I've
tried to think it out many time, and
all can make of it is that she would 60
to Michael if she didn't feel she must
look after the child, and she almost
hates it for keeping them apart. As
soon as she could move l sold the cabin
for her and brought them here to live
and since that baby was three weeks old
she's never spent night off the Jen-
ME and Susie 1 never let Kathleen
work except for the child. and such little
odd things as amuse her. You see how
tidy she keeps Hedeyetta. and just that
way she has always done her square
duty by the child-except the poor baby
doesn't know the feel of a mothers
love-"
''You have never let her miss it, cap
tain." the young man says, laying his
slender brown fingers on the hard,
knotty hand resting on the table; ''very
few children have such love and ten
derness as you give the little maid
there are not many in the world like
you. 1 am very glad 1 have you for
friend. What supports them?"
Captain jenkins sallow skin turns
salmon color. he moves uneasily in his
chair. Withdrawing his fingers from the
caressing touch he would return if he
knew how. Often and often he will thrill
with pleasure at the memory of it-of
the cordial tones that said more than
words. At present they make him in
tensely uncomfortable. "Well." he
says. 81 sold the house for them"
"Captain!" CThe salmon deepens.)
WELL" he says, with desperation,
'Tve bit saved up and"
'Look here, captain, I'm rich man.
a very rich one-I haven't chick or a
child belonging to me-little Hedeyetta
is almost as fond of me as am of her.
l am going to put some money in your
bank for her, subject to your order, and
l want you to promise me besides that
if ever the little lassie needs home or
a friend you will let me know"
'That won't be while 1 live," the
captain answered sturdily, "but like
you, Mr.. Viele, and ii any thing should
ever be likely to happen to me, I'll take
you at your word-and you'll keep it,
too. if l know any thing of men," he
adds inaud.bly. rising and walking
away. Left to himself Viele proceeds
to gathering up his sketches, his mind
back. as always when touched
or softened, to his one Withheld happi-
ness. one unfulfilled hope. His mind
turns back three years, and he stands
once more in the ante-r ON of the Salon
at Paris. He is but one of many in the
room. but not many Wear his decora-
ton of honor-the few who share his
are surrounded by admiring
and oongratulating friends-he listens
to the babble of voices as he stands
alone. Suddenly sweet young voice
falls upon his car.
MAY l congratulate you upon your
successe-1 am so.glad it was appreci-
ated."
He looks down into face sweet and
fresh as the voice, into grave, soft brown
eyes.
Thanks. you like my picture?" "Ah.
more than like-it is so very. very beau
tiful!" ''Semany!" horror-stricken
voice half whispers, and at the same
instant the crowd surges, and he turns
to murmur a word of apology to the
people he has been pushed against. As
he does SO he hears:
''Semany, how could you! you didn't
know him, what were you saying?"
''Only congratulating that poor stran- /!
ger artist, the only one who hasn't q !
friend to speak to him."
"Poor! Why that's Egbert Viele-l
the rich young American-he knows
every body-he's howling swell and
all the girls are Just crazy about him;
oh. Semany. you! of all girls!'
Egbert's hand is violently seized by a |
stout compatriot, and yet in the midst |
of storm of words he manages to see |
3 distressed young face, crimsoned with |
voice say: Il did not know, never
would have" Then her companions
''Oh. well. never mind. funny as it is. I |
believe you. but nobody else would"
Fresh voices assail him, and when he
can look again. the face is gone-gone
orevermore-vanished ont of his life! |
For three years he has sought it far and
wide. has quietly pestered his friends
for information of-what? q fair girl
facep But so many girl faces are fair
the sweetest voice in the world? to his
ears. perhaps-"Semany?" his one real
clue. but, remembering the shrinking
distress in the young face. he can not
lse it. And dreaming now, he is vio-