The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-12
PART

PART.
On the Maine coast, nine miles out to sea, il
Seal island, so called because on the sun-warmed
seaweed. when the tide il down, hundreds of
glossy seals roll, flop and bark in jolly compan-
ionship. unmolestsd by the hand of man. Once
the solitude of the island was broken only by
the cawirg Of noisy crows, or the shining fight
Of shrieking sea gulls, flying to the pine woods
to deyour sea urchins aud other shell fsh. In
the early fall a thick growth of blue-berry and
huekleberry bushes covered the barren soil.
Ten years ago. however, the tide of fashion
set towards - ese Maine islands; plsasure-seek-
ers bought westher-worn huts. transforming
them into dainty cottages. and picturesque dwell
ings dotted all the rugged shores Dissolution
came now only in the winter time, when the
summer butterflies were gone and great storms
rolled in from the sea-
Ten years ago Eric Stockdale, q wealthy re-
tired ship-broker of New YORK, purchased Seal
island. He had q stately homo in the city. .
country residence on the Hudson, but his heart
turned to the scenes OF his boyhood, for he was
born In q bleak coast town; so he built q costly
stone cottage on the island. His daughter.
Marguerite. loved the sea. Surely no palace COM
manded a inner view than the great expanss Of
rolling blue waves. the spectral sails in the mists
OF distance, or, nearer. graceful barks and fish,
ing schoouers plungiDg by with creaky cordaee
and white wings outspread. No money could
buy-or still-the mighty breakers that fretted
out brief lives and giant strength against the
rocks on Seal island.
Stockdale hired John Reed and his wife, Ann,
10 take care OF the cottage and attend to the
household duties when ne and his daughter were
there. Tw ice a week q boat came from the
mainland with supplies aud the mail. Margue-
Yifa zQs tharOuOhlv hanru in fha pax Efa Sho
gossipped with Ann In the kitchen. went sailing
with her father or fishing with the "Cap'en.'
Every man who has ever fshed for cod along
the coast, by age and gpZzly hair wins this title,
and besides being an expert angler,
Cap'en Reed had an inexbaustible fund of sea
stories. bristlIng with storms and 'disarsters."
be was IS brown as q nut. with ~twinkliug,
deep-set blue eyes, the only animated part Of
his face. though once IN . great while he moved
bis ponderous jaws into a discreet grin. He had
a fringe of bushy hair under his chin, was short
and squatty. walking with a rolling, nautical
gait. He wore overalls every day but Sunday.
and . tarpaulin well forward on his bald
head. His wife was thin and stern-featursd,
but kind and faithful. II grim and smileless. She
was afraid OF the Sea and helpless in q boat. for
John allus sed winner hadn't no place in
boats no how" She maryeled at Margnerites
proves with the oar and sail, but manifested no
outward admiration.
Late in the eighth summs Of his ~sojourn at
the island. Eric Stockdale fell i'll. and the doctor.
Wrought IrOm the mdlnlanu. knew from the urSL
there was no hope. Marguerite would have
given half her fortune for the old New York
physician, though her heart told her il was too
late. One afternoon she and Ann sat in the
chamber of the dying man, who would only
rouse from his stupor when some breaker,
mighter than its fellows. crashed over the rocks.
''Tain't right. Miss Margreet." said Ann soft
ly, for ye to take on thet way over what carn't
be helped. Your pa has bean a goin' all sum-
mer. i see death in his face when he come no
city doctor could o helped him. 1t was writ he
should 60. faint my business. praps, an Pm
over forerd. but IL do seem as your pa he'd suth-
In on his mind worritin' him, that carn't be
cured BY medicine. an that's keepin' him from
parsin' away peaceful"
He has no trouble said Marguerite proudly:
he 10 loved and honored by everyone. He 10 .
deacon In the church at home, foremost in every
charity, the best fa.her"-with q sob-"the
kindest father in the world"
II didn't mean continued Ann, nsrvously.
Ito make You feel bad, but femme tell you what
i know or heart-sickness, for some saws there
nin't no such thing as dysn' Of a broken heart
Nine year this November John Rudder-that's
husbands middle name, boat-like TO suit his
father. who was well-to-do over to the bay-
well. Ruddsr and my only son, Levi. put all
their money together aud fitted up q boat, q
two-marstsd schooner. along with some of our
psighbors; the Solitude il Was named
End they al vent on = voyage to
-.an~IxI -