Evening star., 1886-11-13

| sunshine with newborn strength and hope.
He did not stop to count the years that had
passed, or reckon the chances that, discouraged
by long waiting or stung by the belief that he
had deliberately fbrsaken her, his wife might
have formed new ties. Indeed, man much
slower OF decision and more deliberate OF
Judgment would have found it difficult 10 assO-
elate The idea of change or Inconsistency with
Kate Aisteyne. From falsehOOd or treachery
she might have turned unrelentiDgly away, but
never from the man who, whatever his faults,
had truly loved her.
When Kate Asieyne returned to San Fran
cisco she found herself a rich widow, for Jacks
last rash speculation had turned out well. There
were not wanting those who said that, from a
monetary point of view, Jack demise occurred
at a very fortunate moment, for had he lived ne
would have been sure, with his customary reck-
lessness, to have sold out too soon or else TO
have sacrificed his gains in some new and fool
hardy venture. Indeed, it was the prevailing
onviction that Mrs. Alsteyne ought to consider
herself fortunate woman, and when a proper
space OF time had elapsed society made con-
certed effort To draw her forth from her self
sought seciuSion into its whirling maelstrom OF
gayety aud frivoiity.
Society might AS we'll have spared its ammu-
milton. To use a far-fetched simile Kate
Aisteyne effaced herself from the world in
mourning for her husband, faithfully as any
eastern widow ever inundated herself upon the
funeral pile of her dead lord. Finally society,
with "a sigh that carried more regret tor the loss
OF her fortune and the possibilities or hOSplt-
able entertainment thus Tuthlessly withheld
than for the deprivation of her individual
presence, learned to let her alone. She led q
quiet, uneventful Life, watching over her child
visits 10 a grass-grown grave at Lone Mountain,
and passing her summers at some Out-Oi-the-
way. secluded place, where no he intruded upon
her solitude, and where she held herself sadly
aloof from the local interests o. the community.
1t was somewhat remarkable coincidence
that at the very moment Jack AlSteyne set out
in hot haste from his cabin, to precipitate him
self again upon the world, Mrs. Jack Alsteyne
should nave started out from the little seaside
hotel, mile down the beach, anXiouSly search
ing ior her little daughter, whose baby feet had
strayed lar down the beach. However, events
OF this sort have way of pairing oil In real lie,
so that the acute observer ceases to wonder at
their recurrence. But it was certainly no coin
cldence, but rather some parental instinct,
dlvlneIy implanted in the human breast, which
caused Jack Astyne snatcliny the little crea-
ture from the teeth OF the incoming tide, to
press the child To his heart with unaccountable
ferVOr, and TO cover its small face with Kisses.
The child, having no corresponding hiial in
stinct developed at that early age, but seeing
only a large, rough man, whose touch was none
too gentle, and whose beard grazed ner delicate
skin, cried out in alright; wnereupon the quon-
dam acolyte, conscious oil u new-iound Iund OF
gitNety and good humOr, went down upon MS
Knees before her, and cut number OF absurd
an Tics Tor her diversion.
1t was in this attitude that Mrs. Jack Alsteyne
came upon them. II Eas already been intimated
that this lady took no share i'll the prevailing
local interest regarding the character OF the
strange being who had taken up his residence
beside them, but she followed The tiny tracks
over the wet sand, and realized that they were
nearing the hermits cot, for the first time her
mind was filled with uneasy speculations re-
garding lis occupant. 1t did not relieve her APP
prehensions when sudden bend i'll the shore
Drought her within sig int OF the singular tabieau
upon the sand, ana she observed the grOtesque
performances OF the tall, gaunt figure, and
heard the baby's cries oI admiration aud de-
light The mother quickened her steps, but so
lightly did her foot press the yielding sand, and
absorbed was the recIuSe III his wOnLed
her black garment broke, like somber cord,
against the warm yellOws and browns of the
beach and towering cliffs, that he reused,
shame-faced and breathleoS to the knowledge
that he had a second spectator.
lie dotted his hat on the instant, with some
thing of his old grace of manner, and would
have stanImered an apology, but his eye
arrested ana his tongue paisied al sight OF the
slight young figure, di>figured by its cl.nsing
weeds, with lace so pltifuily alterated, and
wislful eyes fixed On the chilu as if that small
form were the measure anu span of all her
earthly interests. Fur the first time in his life
ne Was not In u hurry. lie wanted time to
think out the meaning of her strange attire.
He dimly realized that in some unaccOunIabIe
manner she had ins, ned him lost her, and
he would have given worlds TO have slipped
quietly away and prepared her for their meet
ing, tor there was THAT in her face which told
him that any sudden shock might have a dis
astrous effect upon her. In his conster-
nation at what he S w and his complete loss as
10 VIVA; TO do or say, he did perhaps the best
and wiSeSt thing lie could have done. He stood
still and looked down upon her and left
the II ST TO Fate. He often said in after years
tnaJ those tive minutes of seli-restraiuL and of
inactiOn constituted the most valuable lesson
MS Lie. His wife and Child Were before MIN
and within arms length OF him, miracuously
y
stretched out no hand to touch them, spoke no
word To break upon their silent embrace OF
affection which excluded him, flinging nim out
like u stranger and AN Outcast, but Stood silent
and grave before them humbly awaiting his
time.
1t came a way he had not expected. She
raised her eyes timidly TO HIM, and Us he per-
ceiyed their utter lack OF recognition, he sud-
denly realized that since their last parting, he
had aged and turned gray, had his heavy beard
and rough Costume not proved an effectual
disguise, and he thanked God for it, because il
would give her time for doubt and reflection
and reconsideration, rather than the quick flash
OF conviction which sometimes proves fatal TO
brain or body In d sensitive organization.
II thank you, sir, tOr the care you have given
my little girl, she said, and then stopped short,
arrested by something she saw in his face, and
looked at him pteousiy, as If entreating him to
Spe.,k, to tree her from tine palniui illusion
which was taking possession OF her.
he saw Il grea. sofioW Uare Itself in her face
and lOnged To lake her to his heart and COM
fort her, but still he did not speak or move, but
waited tor slow knowledge of the truth to
dawn upon her.
The little girl broke the tense strain of the
moment, raising up her arms to him and beg
ging him TO toss her high up again. Some
happy Intuition taught him what do. He
lifted her in his arms with his old merry laugh,
and holding her close to him. said with a voice
that broke little in spite OF its effort TO be
strong and gay:
Little daughter, tell mamma that papa has
indeed come back"
But before the child could do her bidding his
wife was sobbing in his arms.