Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-03
A MERENTERLUDD
b. THOMAS HARDY.
III

SA&.s
An enterpriseof such pith required, indeed.
less talking than consideration. The first
thing they did in carrying it out was to re-
ITO the railway station, where Baptista
sIjher luggage small trunk of i'm
- gaecessaries which she would in any
XXve required after missing the boat.
e@tsame afternoon they travelled up the lins
e Truro.
Charles Stow (as his name wasl despite his
disdainful indifference to things, was very
careful of appearances, and made the journey
independently of her, though in the same I
train. He told her where she could get board |
and lodgings in the city, and with merely
distant nod to her of provisional kind, went
off to his own quarters and to see about the
license
On Sunday she saw him in the morning |
across the nave of the pro-cathedral. In the
afternoon they walked together in the fields,
where he told her that the license would be |
ready next day, and would be available the
day after. when the ceremony could be per-
formed as early after o'clock as they should
choose
His courtship, thus renewed after an inter
val of two years, was as impetuous, violent
even, as it was short. The next day came
and passed. and the fina. arrangements were
made. Their agreement was to get the cere-
mony over as soon as thy possibly could the
next morning, So ss>to go on to Penzance
at once, and reach that place in time for the
boats departurfe' The same day. 1t was in
obedience to B1ptista's earnest request that
Stow cons2rited tins to make the whole jour
ney to SgSlly by laud and water at one heat,
aild rs'Sto break it ii Penzance; she seemed
Ne oppressed with n dread of lingering
,ywbere, this first act of disobedience to her
Parents once ACCOMPLISHED, with the weight
on her mind that her home had TO be con-
y,llsed by thrslis,lasur of it. To face her
difficulties YER the water Immediately she
had created them waS, however, course
more desired by BaptiSta than by her lover,
though for once he gave way.
Tbs zext morning was bright and warm
as those which had preceded it. By 6 O'Clock
it seemed nearly noon as is often the case in
that part of England in the summer season.
By Q they were husband and wife. They
packed up and departel by the earliest train
after the service. and on the way discussed
at length what she should say on meeting her
parents, Charley debating the turn of each
phrase. In her anxiety they had Travelled so
early that when they reached Penzance they
found tbera were nearly two hours on their
hands before the steamers time for sailing.
Baptista was extremely reluctant to be
seen promenadins the streets Of the watering
place with her husband til, as above stated,
the hou, hold at Hugh Town should know
the unexpected course Of events from her
own lips, and it was just possible, if not
likely. that some Srillonian might be prowl-
ing about there or even have come across
the sea to look for her. To meet any one to
whom she was known, and to have to reply
to awkward questions about the strange
Young man at her side before her well
framed announcement had been delivered at
proper time and place was a thing she could
not contemplate with equanimity. So, In
stead of looking at the shops and harbor,
they went along the coast q little way
The heat Of the morning was by this time
intense They clambered up on some cliffs,
and, while sitting there looking around at
+ Michaels mount and other objects,
= aries said to her that he thought he would
IN down 10 the beach at their feet and take
Zone plunge into the sea.
1sBaptista did not much like the idea of
FSeing left alone; it was gloomy, she said; but
assured her he would not be gone more
,ian quarter Of an hour at the outside, and
she passively aSsenred
Down be went, disappeared, appeared
again and hooked back Then he again pro-
eecded and vanished nil as small waxen
object she saw him emerge from the nook
that had screened him cross the white fringe
OF foam and walk into the undulating mass
~ blue. Once in the water he seemed less
inclined to hurry than before; he remained
long time; and, unable either TO appreciate
his skill or criticise his want of it ar that dis
lance, she withdrew her ewes from the SPOT
and gazed at the still outline of st. Michael's
now beautifully toned in gray
Her anxiety for the hour of departure, and
to cope at once with the approaching Incl
dents that she would have to manipulate as
best she could, sent her into reverie It
was now Tuesdav: she would reach home in
the evening very late time. thew would
say; but, as the delay was q pure accident.
they would deem her marriage tomorrow 70
Mr. Heddesan still practicable Then Charles
would have to he produced from the back
ground u was Il terrible undertaking to
think Of. and she almost regretted her temer
itv in ,reddin- % ba.t.I - 70 en- NJ,
rage Of her father .,,,rt ~ p7
ranroarhes of her n,.+r -, h;.ta.. - sIe
hans Charles v,f,l,t -. - - - 20
hans causa aStr,r.-s,,,s,,+ an - NJ
had obviously been no alarm obo,,+ 49,. =.
st. Marv's, or somebody womb beve slid
across to INQUIRE for her She had in a lot
ter written at the BEGINNING of the uvsaty
snoLen of +he hour at ,rbiol e., i,..,.,.5 :.
leave her country school bans... nd So, 80
her friends had nrob,lI,- o,.oai,-oi
such timing she womb mn a risl, If 80,
the SATURDAY boat Saa had ,,issad II "a
As a consequence sat here on the shore az
Mrs Charles Stow. -
This brought her to the present and she
turned from the outlines OF st. Micbaers
mount to look up for her husbands firm
He was, so far as she could discover M
longer in the sea. Then he was dressing Rv
moving few steps sb. conld coo wbere h;s
clothes lay But Charles was not bes;do
them.
Baptista looked back arain at the 1vatar in
bewilderment, as if her senses vera the VIC
tim Of some sleight of hand Not a snaci, ar
spot resembling a mans head or faca shoyye,
anywhere BIZ this time she was alarmed
and her alarm intensified when she nerceivad
a little beyond the SCENE of bar h,shan5,s
bathing a small area of ,,,a+a- 49,, -. =
whose surface differed from that ~ tha g..
rounding Axpanse az tho coarse ,-,o.o+..io,, =.
some foul patch in r,oad I;eosa 80 az, u
fine green of tn. ron,.;...,.- t,,-'-I - ~, !.
looked aAxuous bsre - -. ' n1,e =
and Iunnv and bar rei