The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-28
BY THE GATE OF THE SEA-
5y David Christie Murray,
AUTHOR OF "a MODEL FATHER, "A LIFse
AroNEMEaT," ETC.
CHAPTER X.-CoNTINUED.

Don't cry, Phil" said Tregarthen'
with his hand wandering absently IN
the cbild's curls. "You shall be taken
care of. Fake him to Gorbay Ito the
housekecpcr) and get fitting clothing
for him. YOU may call on Penruth, the
solicitor, and ask him to come over
here at the earliest convenience. Good
byc, Phil. You will come and see me
again this evening, won't you! There's
n brave little fellow Goodbye
The housekeeper, fastening to put
Tregarthen's orders into execution, set
out for Gorbay that afternoon and hao
the ocean waif measured for new gar
ments, and bought undertaking
boots and collars for him. She con-
strued her masters wishes literally,
and when the change was finally made
she saw that he was pleased byit. But
some days before Pills outfit came
home Mr.. Penruth, eager to secure Ire
carthen as a client, had paid visit to
the island, and had been invited into
the invalid's room.
~ want you to write to the owners
of the Isle of Elba, lately wrecked
here" said Tregarthen, land to ask
for information respecting the identity
of the child who has been saved. so
Tar as I can learn no inquiries nave
beer made about him.
Eyes, sir" responded Mr.. Penruth'
producing a pocket-book and softenlng
the point of pencil with his lips 1.-The
childs name, Mr. Tregarthen"
ale calls himself Phil said Trcgar-
then. "His mother and nurse were
aboard. it will be easy for the owners
to identify him."
Mr.. Penruth took respectful leave
of his new client, and went below to
have look at Phil. Phil was produced,
but did not take kindly to MIR. Penruth,
and, being somewhat badgered in the
LEGAL manner by that gentleman, cut
the knot of difficulty by protesting that
he was Phil pure and simple, and had
no other name.
The solicitor put himself in CORE
spondcncc with the owners OF the i'll
fated ship, and learned from them that
- Mrs. Maurice, with child and a ma
tive nurse, had sailed from Bombay
aboard the Isle of Elba, but no lnqulr
les had been made concerning then
since the news of the wreck had reached
London. Before this scanty news ar
rived Tregarthen was once more at no
erty, and he and the child were begin
pino to feel at home with each other
Phil was at the Sea-gate gathering
shells within thirty yards Of the gaun
bones of the wreck when his rescue
walked feebly out in search OF him
bearing the solicitors letter in hi
hand. He sat upon boulder, ard tn
boy came running mp to him.
''Phil Maurice" said Tregarthen
putting his hands round the little fel
lows neck; care you Phil Maurice?'
Eyes" said Phil, with so little trac
OF doubt or hesitation, that the problem
was held to be finally solved.
Tregarthen had for second tim
made up his mind that he had no NOR
faith or affection to bcstow upon an
member of the human race, and noN
for the second time he found his ow
belief in himself put to confusion. re
one thing, he had risked his life, an
had very nearly lost it, to save tn
. child; and though he honestly though
life a possession which was of muc
more weight than value, the risk Ell
y deared the boy to him. For anotht
thing, the boy himself was delightf'
little fellow, full of fearless and afte
Tomato ways, and in spite of disa]
pointment and heart-break Tregarthe
was still young, and the current in n
veins ran warm.
1t turned out that Pills educatic
had been totally neglected He w
not merely unable to read and writ
but he had not even been informed
the existence of those accomplishment
But there was not trace of vulgari
or faulty breeding about him. and on
an odd habit of Selling on word
Hindoostanec when he CHANGED to fC
get it's English equivalent betrayed t
curious isolation in which he had be-
bred. Tregarthen taught him his |,
tiers, and the old housekeeper super
tended his pothooks and hangers wi
great diligence. When the rescuer a
the rescued came to be on famill
terms Phil was easily persuaded to
forth his own simple annals. For
most part they related to his Ayah,
sycc, called Jeb, and apony called BE
He had picked up one or two things
as children willard he knew tt
mamma was a widow, and that
commissioner wanted to marry h
and that she did not like the co
missioner But all their talks togetf
revealed no trustworthy clue, and til
went by, and nobody asked for Phil
Mrs. Maurice at the London agen
offices. Mr.. Penruth's advertisemel
remained unanswered. and Phil v
unidentified.
The people of Gorbay and its neis
borhood were not to be Modified
respect to Tregarthen, either by
courage he had displayed or the XII
ness of heart which prompted him
give his ocean waif a permanent refu!
A man $ wife is his own flesh and blot
pud charity begins at home. Thu
were ladies and gentlemen who knew
by second sight, perhaps-every ST
OF the road Tregarthen and his wife h
travelled before his wickedness drC
her from him, and these gifted peo
were able to rccite, and did recite to
teresled audiences, long conversatic
between the ill-assorted pair. On
whole. Trcgarthen's desire to be Ion
began to win such practical acceptal
that the island was almost anotl
Juan Fernandez to him, and Phil
came his boy Friday.
The boy in little while began
know that there were hours when