Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-03

with the over confidence of his nature,
had ventured out too far for his strength,
and succumbed in the absence of assistance,
his lifeless body being at that moment sus-
pended in the transparent mid depths of the
bay. His clothes. however, had merely been
gently lifted by the rising tide, and foated
into nook hard by, where they lay out of
sight of the passers-by till day or two after.
".
In ten minutes they were steaming out of
the harbor for their voyage of four or five
hours, at whose ending she would have to tell
her strange story.
As Penzance and all its environing scenes
disappeared behind Mousehole and st. Glenn
ent's Isle, Baptistas ephemeral, meteor like
husband impressed her vet more as fantasy.
She was still in such trance like state that
she had been an hour on the little packed
boat before she became aware of the agitat-
ing fact that Mr.. Heddegan was on board
with her.
"Hee-heel Well, the truth is, wouldn't
interrupt We L reckon she don't see me, or
won't see me- I said, and what's the hurry.
She'll see enough o. me soonr hope We be
well, NEE deerf
He was a hale, well conditioned man of
about five-and fifty, of the complexion COM
mon TO those whose lives are passed on the
bluffs and beaches of an ocean isle. He ex-
tended the four quarters of his face in
genial smile and his hand for grasp OF the
same magnitude She gave her own in sur
prised docility, and he continued:
II couldn't help coming across to meet We.
What an unfortunate thing you missing the
boat and not coming Saturday They meant
to have warned We that TIE time was changed,
but forgot it at the last moment. The truth
is that should have informed We myself, but
was that busy finishing up job last week,
so as to have this week free, that trusted TO
your father for attending to these little
things. However, so plain and quiet as 1t is
all TO be- il really do not matter so much as ii
might otherwise have done, and | hope ye
haven't been greatly put out Now, if you'd
sooner that shouldn't be seen talking TO We
If We feel shy at all before strangers-just
say nj leave We to yourself till we get
home
"Thank you much | am indeed little
tired Mr. Heddegan"
He nodded urbane acquiescence, strolled
away Immediately and infinitely inspected
the surface of the funnel, till some female
passengers of Hugh Town Uttered at what
they must have thought a rebuff, for the ap-
preaching wedding was known to many on
st Mary's Island, though to nobody else
where. Baptista colored at their satire and
called him back and forced herself 70 COM
mune with him in at least mechanically
friendly manner.
The opening event had been thus different
from her expectation, and she had adum-
brated no act TO meet it, Thus taken aback,
she passively allowed circumstances to pilot
her along. and 50 the voyage was made
1t was near dusk when they touched the
pier of Hugh Town. where several friends
and neighbors stood awaiting them. Her
father had a lantern in his hand. Her
mother, too, was there, reproachfully glad
that the delay hal at last ended so simply.
Mrs. Trewthen and her daughter went to-
| gether along the Hugh, or promenade, to the
house, rather in advance Of her husband and
| Mr. Heddegan. who talked in loud tones
which reached the women over their shout
ders
| Some would have called Mrs Trewtheu 6
good mother; hut though well meaning she
was maladroit, and her intentions missed
their mark This might have been partly at
tributable to the slight deafness from which
she suffered Now, as usual, the chief utter
ances came from her lips.
"Ah, YES, I'm so glad, my child, that you'v,
| got over safe. 1t is all ready, and every
thing so well arranged, that nothing bu
misfortune could hinder you settling as, with
Gods grace, becomes We. Close to you
mothers door, almost, twill be great bless
ing, Pm sure: and l was very glad to fint
from your letters that you'd held your wort
sacred That's right-make your word you
bond always. Mrs. WAGE seems to be sen
sible woman. | hope the Lord will do TO
her as he's doing for you no long tim
hence. And how did We get over the terri
BILE journey from Exeter to Penzance' One
you'd done with the railway, of course, yo
seemed quite at home Well, Baptista, cor
duct yourself seemly and all will be we'll"
Thus admonished, Baptista entered tn
house her father and Mr.. Heddegan imus
diatelv at her back Her mother had be
20 didactic that she had felt herself abst
lutely unable to breach the subject in th
center of her mind
| The familiar room. with the dark ceiling
the well spread table, the old chairs ha
never before spoken so eloquentiy of th
times ere she knew or had heard of Charlie
Stow She went upstairs to take off he
things, her mother remaining below to con
plete the disposition of the supper and a
tend to the preparation of to-morrows mea
altogether composing such an array of pies
from pies Of fish to pies of tnrnips-as WI
never heard of outside the Cornish Ouch,
Baptista, once alone, sat down and did notl
ing, and was called before she had taken o
her bonnet.
"rm coming" she cried, jumping up an
speedily disappearing herself, brushed h
! hair with a few touches and went down.
Two OF three of Mr.. Heddegan's and h,
fathers friends dropped in, and expresse
their sympathy for the delay she had bee
subjected to- The meal was a most merr
one, except to Baptista. She desired privac
and there was none, and to break the new
/ was already greater difficulty than it ha
been at first. Everything around her. an
mate and inanimate, great and small, i
sisted that she had come home TO bemarrie
Q and she could not get chance TO say nay.
!. One or two people sang songs, as overtur
o to the melody of the morrow, till at leng
n bedtime came, and they all Withdrew, b
t mother having retired little earlier. VIII,
I, Baptista found herself alone in her bedroo
+ the case stood as before; she had come hon
with much to say and she had said nothin
r 1t was now growing clear, even to herse
IS that Charles being dead she had not dete
It mination sufficient within her to break ii
p lngs which, had he been alive, would ha
n 1mperatively announced themselves Al
ID thus, with the stroke of midnight, came t
turning of the scale; her story should rema
s, untold 1t was not that upon the whole 8
e. thought it best not to attempt to tell it, b
&c that she could not undertake so explosive
t. matter. To stop the wedding now wou
st cause CONFUSION in Hugh Town little she
be OF volcanic. Weakened tired and terrifi
rs as she had been by the days adventures. s
y, could not make herself the author of such
'ss catastrophe. But how refuse Heddeo
On without tellingl 1t really seemed to her
Is, If her marriage with Mr.. Heddepan VIZ
ad about to take place as if nothing had int
IN | vened.
Is, Morning came The events of the prevj,
ng days were cut off from her present exister
en- Dy scene and sentiment more eomplet
Csc IMAM ever Charles Stow had grown to h
'un special being of whom, owing to his char
naa ter, she entertained rather fearful thar !
VI ng memory. Baptista could hear wben
10, oAe mat her parents were already NOV
!. % ow .ts But she did not rise tin
~. ners rather rough voice raso,nd.d
iage evening Oh tne proceed