Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-10-26
"Her mother and aunt-n

Be this as it may, she would and did serve
to enroll Mr.. Talcott Lorne among the &C
quaintances of this charming Savannah girl.
l borrow my adjective from Mr.. Lorne HIM
self, who maintained that she was more than
charming. He claimed to be fascinated from
the first, and certainly made every effort to
fascinate. The time soon came when Miss
Rosamond was hardly safe from his polite in
trusion outside of her own private apart
ments. The ugly Mrs. Potts (who, l under
stand, was of Knickerbocker extraction) took
a lively interest in these proceedings, ex-
horting her niece to be less shy, and warning
her to be more careful by turns. He was "a
dreadful flrt," she declared, but then he was
an extraordinary 'catch," and it would not
do to be swayed by mere personal feelings in
such case.
''If you know what you are about, you'll
use every effort" she said impressively.
To which Miss Rosamond only made re-
joinder by looking sternly through the win
dow and remarking, "Aunt Agatha, am
shocked"
| Mrs. Frail was afraid, but as Mrs. Potts
decidedly favored it, and she herself was
pleased at the thought of such an adventure.
Miss Rosamond week or two later accepted
| the urgent invitation of her persistent adj
| mirer to sail out with him to the lghtship,
| anchored on the shoals fifteen miles out to
sea from Eastport. The acceptance of such
| an unusual proposal, while it confirmed
Lorne in the belief that the two elder women
were throwing the younger at his head, and
that the younger was already won, to Lees
mind, probably meant simply that Mrs. Frail
was weak, Mrs Potts obstinate and Miss
Rosamond unfathomable-and, yes-a little
reckless
They were to have started in the morning,
| but unforeseen accidents, with the exact
| nature Of which l am unacquainted delayed
| their departure until 2 o'clock in the after
| noon This would involve returning after
nightfall, as everybody knew, and Mrs
| Frail took occasion to renew her objections;
| but Miss Rosamond was loath to be cheated
| out of an adventure merely because of unfore-
seen accidents, and trusting to Mr.. Lorne's
assurance that they could easily return by 8
| O'Clock, she decided to go, with her aunts, if
not her mothers full approval.
So when all was ready they walked boldly
down to the beach and took their seats in the
little boat, calmly trusting themselves in the
! hands of a single gloomy, wooden faced
! sailor. During the first half hour Miss
! Rosamond's attention was divided between
| the porpoises and this grim boatman, whose
| green, eXpressionless eyes concerned them
selves with the sails or industriously scanned
| the sea, but never rested on her even for a
moment, which struck her as quite extraor-
| binary. Her companion, who talked con-
stantly, addressing her in low suggestive,
| lover like tones, must have been a little
| daunted, meanwhile; but later she entered
more into what he was saying, and the trivial,
| low toned conversation flowed on delight
| fully. Lorne told himself that he had passed
| few more pleasant afternoons, and the light
| ship doomed up big and close at hand all too
| soon for him, though it was later by two
hours than he had anticipated.
1t was now seen that to return to shore by
o'clock, or even by 8, would be i'm
possible, but Miss Rosamond was not afraid,
| being occupied by her surroundings, which
| were of a nature to interest her greatly.
The sun had quite set and the ocean was
wrapped in dusky haze when they were as
sisted on board the weather worn old ship;
| whose great beacon light aloft, burning its
steady signal to the mariner far out at sea,
seemed to quicken and intensity the surround
| ing gloom.
They were politely received by the keeper
| or captain of the lightship, who ordered
| meal served to them in the cabin, which,
was well worthy of their attention. The
| wine proved to be so good, in fact, that Lorne
was moved to propose a toast to the health
| of their host, to which Miss Rosamond re-
| sponded with much enthusiasm. They also
/ drank to their safe return to shore before 10
o'clock, and were very merry dallying over
| the table longer than they knew. Finally
Miss Rosamond asked if they ought not to be
| going, and Lorne then rose and went on deck
| in search of the captain, whom he found at
the traffrail, looking intently through his
| glass toward the south.
| every sorry" he began, before the young
| man had time to speak, 'but id if l amt
afraid you'll have to bunk with us tonight.
| Squat comm up-strike us in less N an hour"
| He raised his arm and again looked through
the glass. eyes, sir-ee," he added, you'll
| have to lay over till mornin."
| Talcott Lorne was thunderstruck. "Why,
| it's impossible!" he exclaimed. "Where's our
| boatman? We must get off at once"
Hes gone below-fx'n' to stay over
night"
1.-THE rascal!-to leave us in the lurch like
! that!"
"You couldn't git him in that boat to-
night" declared the captain, a hint Of laugh
ter in his tone.
"But we must go ashore" persisted Lorne
earnestly. ''That young lady-you see your
! self
eyes, hits a pity, specially as there amt
no women folks on board; my wife amt
h'yer tonight, ner the other one, hair one
But eff you try to go ashore in that boat to-
night, you're goin' to the bottom-I tell we
right up and down."
Lorne was in despair, but he made one
more effort; could he not have another boat,
q larger one, with men to man it; he would
do or pay anything in turn. Quite impos
sible, the old captain declared, decisively;
the only boat strong enough to make the
trial was already on shore. "rm sorry for
you, sir" he added, with genuine sympathy.
''It's pity you didn't make the trip in the
morning."
Lorne returned to the presence of Miss
Rosamond with such disturbed countenance
that she at once inquired in alarm: "Why,
what is the matter?'
ga storm is coming up, and they say we
can't leave the ship before tomorrow"
eOh why-why, what will they think?
Mamma will be distracted. Oh, we should
never have comeI'
''No. we shouldn't. I was reckless, I'M
thinking beast to have led you into it."
IL was uOU JOul ldulO, Sue Sftlu, Seuei-
ously, as soon as the first shock of horror had
passed and left her more calm. 81 consented
to GOMEZ wanted to come"
They were still talking about it when the
squat struck them, and the tough old ship
began to heave and strain ut her anchor.
This increased their uneasiness, and Lorne
soon excused himself in order to have an adj
ditional word with the captain. Partly
as result of this conference, the
captain came below as soon as he found it
possible to do SO, and, with many smiles and
pleasant words, and great show of polite
ness, conducted the anxious young lady to
the apartments which she was to occupy for
the night.
'But, wheres-where's your Miss
Rosamond looked around expectantly
"My wife?-oh, she's Sick" said the old
fellow, looking very blank. ''I'm mighty
sorry She'd be h'yer right now, but she
amt able to git out'n her BERTH"
"Indeeds hope it is not seriousa'
"Putty bad off-putty bad" was the ready
response, with a rueful shake of the head.
~ went to her jes' now to see eff she couldn't
jes' speak word to you to make you well
come for know mighty well there's nothin'
like hayin' women folks around to make