Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-06-10
COME ASHORE"
By ROBERT BUCHANAN.
CHAPTER XIII.
WILLIAM JONES Is SERIOUS.

WILLIAM JONES IS SERIOUS.
The two men walked together through the
darkness as far as the door of William Jones'
hut; then they parted. Mr.. Monk struck
across the sandhills toward his own home.
while Jones entered the door of his cabin.
He would fain have found that cabin
empty, for the memory of the last scene in the
cave was still upon him and made him as
nervous as a child. But the old man was
there, and wide awake, and evidently pleased
az his sons return.
"Where have you been, William, dear"
said he. The question was innocent enough
in itself, but it was full of hidden meaning
for William Jones'
''Where have l beenT' he repeated, Eat
work, to be surer'
The tone Of his reply startled the old man.
He looked up and saw to his amazement that
William was as white as a ghost and tremb-
ling violently.
'sWhats the matter, William deargn no
asked, eagerly. "Have ye seen q wreck, my
sonT'
s'No ain't!n responded his son, violently;
Sand look ye now, old 'un, you jest be quiet
and let me clone, that's alll'
The old man, knowing his sons temper, did
as he was told, and William continued to
potter aimlessly about the room. He was
certainly trembling very much, and was al
most overcome with nervousness for which
he himself could not account. For he was no
coward. To get possession Of prize on the
high seas he would have faced a storm which
might well make brave men tremble, not to
mention that he knew that he had on more
than one occasion humanely hastened the end
of shipwrecked sailors, whom he had found
and pillaged on the shore. After these acts
he had been able TO sleep the sleep of virtue
without being haunted by dead mems eyes.
But now the case was different. He had not
to deal with O victim without friends, n man
whose body, described as that of a ''ship-
wrecked mariner" could be buried and for
gotten without more ado. In all probability
there would this time be hue and cry, and
William Jones trenbled lest his share in the
CHASTITY business might ultimately be discov-
cred.
True, he was not actually the culprit, and
80, even at the worst, he might escape the
gallows; but to a man of his sensitive and af-
fectionate nature the thought of transporta-
ton was not pleasant. 1t was this that made
him nervous-this that made him start and
tremble at every sound.
Presently q thought struck him.
'eWhere's MattF' he asked.
stDon't know, William dear; she amt been
here for hours and hours. Maybe she's on
the shore"
"Maybe she is-Ill go and have look,h
returned William.
1t must not be supposed for "a moment that
William Jones had become afflicted with q
sudden and tender interest in Matt-he
merely wanted to get quit of the cabin, that
was all, and he saw in this a reasonable ex-
cuse for walking out alone. He accordingly
made his escape, and went wandering off
along the shore.
1t was ten o'clock when he returned; he
was still pale, and drenched to the skin. The
old man was doing beside the fire, and alone.
''Where's Mattp asked William again.
eAin't you seen her, William dearf Well,
she amt here"
William Jones did look little uneasy this
time, and it is but due to him to confess that
his uneasiness was caused by Mats prolonged
absence. Erratic as she was in her move
ments, she had not been accustomed to stay
ing out so late, especially on night when the
rain was pouring and not glimmer of star
or moon was to be seen.
''Wonder what she's a-doin' OFF, said VIII
liam; suppose I'd best wait up for her. Here,
old man, you go to bed, dye hear-you amt
wanted anyhow"
The old man accordingly went to bed, and
William sat up to await MATHS return. He
sat beside the hearth, looked into the smolder-
ing fire, and listened to the rain as it poured
down steadily upon the roof. Occasionally
he got up and went to the door; he could see
nothing, but he heard the patter of the falling
rain and the low, dreary moan of the troubled
sea.
Hour after hour passed, and Matt did not
come. William Jones began to doze by the
fire-then he sank into heavy sleep
4lak
was broad daylight. The fire was out, the
rain had ceased to fall, and the morning sun
was creeping in at the windows. He looked
around, and saw that he was still alone. He
went into MATHS room-it was empty. She
had not returned.
He was now filled with vague uneasiness.
He made up a bit Of fire, and was about to
issue forth again in search of the truant when
all further trouble was saved him-the door
opened, and Matt herself appeared.
She seemed almost as much disturbed as
William Jones himself. Her face was very
pale. her hair wild, her dress in great dis
order She started on seeing him; then, as
summing a rather devil-may care look, she
lounged in.
you're up early, William Jones" she said.
''Yes, / am up early, he replied, gruffly;
"cause whyl-'cause i amt been to bed.
And where have you been-jest you tell me
that"
''Why, I've been out, of course' returned
the girl, defantly.
''That won't do, Matt" returned William
Jones' "Come, you'll jest tell me where
you've been. Youain't been out all night for
nothing"
The girl gave him a look half of defiance,
half of curiosity; thenshe threw herself down,
rather than sat. upOn chair.
Pm tired, am, she said, land hungry
and coldr'
"Willyou cline where you've been, MattYn
cried William Jones, trembling with suspi-
cious alarm.
"Course l will, If you keep quiet" said
the girl in answer. There amt much to
tell, neither. / were away along to Pencroes
when the heavy rain came on; then lay
down behind q haystack and fell asleep, and
when woke up it was daylight, and come
home"
William Jones looked at her steadfastly and
long; then, as if satisfied, he turned away.
About an hour later he left the hut and
walked along the shore, straining his eyes
seaward. But instead of looking steadfastly
at one spot, as his custom was, he paused now
and again to gaze uneasily about him. At
every sound he started and turned pale. In
truth, he was becoming a veritable coward
afraid almost of the sound of his own foot
steps ON the sands.