Thomas County cat., 1886-08-12

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stranger who spoke to him with the
quiet familiarity of . lifelong acquaint-
ance? After Kathleen left the room
his mother told him all they knew Of
her.
It was Robert who first induced her
to step into q boat She seemed
ashamed of her fears, but her face was
very pale as they took the first sail
down the river together. As the time
went on she grew accustomed to the
water and came to enjoy it. Many
were the sails the two took during the
long summer afternoons. On one of
these, as they rowed slowly along
toward a cove bordering the farther
side of the island, Rober, said, looking
OFF to the wooded island beyond, with
their green branches reflected in the
Shepscot's clear waters: ''How still it
is! we might fancy ourselves the only
people anywhere about.
He let the oars rest, and the boat
drifted slowly; the tapping of the
waves was the only sound.
"Yes," Kathleen returned, Il was
foolish not to like the water"
3. '.You like it now?'.
'When am with YOU" The words
came quietly, and she did not look up.
but sat as before, with one hand over
the boats side, just touching the
water.
The young man leaned suddenly
toward her. Kathleen" he said '.stay
with me always. Come with me over
the water where I am going. I want
you-need you--can't you love me
enough?'
The girl looked up at him with the
wondering look of child. '.Love
you?" she said, '.of course; are you
not my brother?'
:No. don't want sisters love. ]
want wife's."
The bright color that had been in
the girls face until now died suddenly
out; startled look came into the
brown eyes looking up at him. "Oh,
Robert, l can't, l can'tr'
He started more at her voice than
her words. and asked, quickly: why
can't you?''
For q moment she seemed struggling
with herself, then, with a despairing
face, she cried: 81 don't know; /
can't remember"
A few weeks later they were max
ing call on some friends OF Roberts
on a neighboring island. An open
piano stood near where Kathleen was
seated, and as they were to go, she
went to it and str'lck few notes.
The others turned IN surprise; they
did not know she played; but, without
needing them, she seated herself, and,
after a few uncertain touches, her
fingers flew lightly over the keys,
bringing out such melody as its owner
had never known how to awaken.
Robert and his friends stood amazed
rs one after another the selections fol-
lowed each other in rapid succession.
Suddenly the girl paused, bowed her
head on her hands and sobbed aloud.
After few moments Robert went
up TO her. "Come, Kathleen" he
said, gently, "let us go home, now"
She looked up at him as though she
had never seen him before. "Ho1ae?'
she said, "who are you?" then the
strange look went out of her face. she
put out her hand, with light laugh:
'' Yes, Robert. I'm ready" she said.
Something like a week after this a
stranger came across the big rock and
made his way to the side door of the
old NARROW House. A young man
with clear-cut features and an unmis-
takably well-bred air. there was an
eager look in the steel-blue eyes, and
a suppressed excitement in his man.
ner when he asked the gray-haired
woman at the door if she was Mrs.
NARROW. He introduced himself by a
card on which was the name Everett
Moulton. Then he entered and made
known his call.
Kathleen came into the next room
while he was speaking. She heard the
voice and paused, troubled look
coming into her face, then she went
nearer and stood in the doorway. The
young man turned and saw her as she
started toward him with a new light
breaking into her face. Everett"
she said, softly, "have you come for
me?"
Eyes, Kathleen
And Mrs. NARROW, with tears in her
eyes, went out and left them alone.
Ere long the story became known.
A little more than year back Kath-
leen Bray, the daughter of a man of
wealth. found herself upon
his death left penniless and alone. She
cepted for the summer the position of
pianist at popular hotel, where she
met Everett Mou,ton. The acquaint-
ance grew into something more than
but the Moultons were a
proud family and would not hear to
the only sons marrying poor girl
like Kathleen. Sac was treated coldly,
by them, till her sensitive
nature was stung almost beyond en-
durance, and late one afternoon, hard
" thinking or caring where she went,
she entered boat moored near the
shore and rowed it aimlessly up the
river; the storm came ON, and weary,
bewildered, ill, she found her way at
length to the old NARROW homestead
The boat was found down the river
with a light wrap in it rec
ognized rs hers. The Moultons thought
she had taken herself discreetly away.
and Everett mourned her as lost, until
a friend wrote to him OF hearing music
strangely like what Kathleen has
played on one of the Boothbay Islands
He had made inquiries which resulted