Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-28
PART II.

PARI II.
A long, low strip of yellow land to the
right; that Was Martha S vineyard; tiny
speck ahead, that was Nantucket. Grant
Roberts stood on the deck and stared alb
sently into the blue water He had chang
ed In the three years since we saw him in
Germany. He Is broader and more man.
ly IN figure, but he looks weary and de-
pressed. Heavy cares for those young
shoulders have weighed upon them. His
mother letter recalled him just in time
to receive from his father lips a confused
statement of an involved business, before
the older man, crushed by impending dan
ger, sank into an insensibility which deep
ened into death.
Grant was left at the helm of what seem
ed a sinking ship, and he, an inexperienced
boy Of twenty-five, whose business edu-
cation had been confined to the knowledge
how to cash cheque, But clear head
and an intense determination to save his
| father a good name at last made him
master of the situation; and now, in his
frst vacation, he could look back ON three
years whose experience had been almost
invaluable; In a business, smaller indeed
| tx an lis fathers hut firmly established,
ana with bright prospects.
Truly. he had earned a summers rest,
and as he stood looking at the dimpling
water unconsciously his burdens stepped
into its depths.
The steamer was rounding the point at
Nantucket harbor as he shook off his rev.
erie and looked about him.
To his right stood tall red lighthouse;
on either hand hundreds of small saiIboats
rising on a low hill with its back to the
sinking sun, lay the village.
On the wharf were crowds o. people ex-
cited over the sensation of the day-the
arrival of the steamer.
They touched the pier; shout, and a
reply from the captain, and away ran the
town criers, relic of bygone days, his brass
trumpet tucked under his arm, his wide
hat tapping in the wind, as he called in
his cracked and stammering tones. 1.-Two
hundred an and fifty on the boat tonight!
Two h-hun-dred and fifty"
Nantucket indeed! 1t was all his fancy
had pictured it. How peaceful it all
was! Day followed day, and Roberts did
not weary of the monotony. He bathed on
the sunny beach. and idled up to the odd
little post office fer the letters he did not
care to read; and he thought. He had
hardly had time to think before, in the
hurry of the past, and now his thoughts
went back to Germany and Lisa.
Did she remember him? Had she
waited for him? Did he wish that she
had? He loved her still, but-should he
ever go to claim her?
Woman had no place in his life of late;
his thoughts of the past were tender, re-
gretful. but he had scarcely had looked
foru7,15 70 bo,oo P,1t 11orT- ,,,,,
ent and in the quite Low the past came
back"
Munich with its wide, paved streets:
the early walks from the market, when he
CARED the heavy basket for Lisa, and
laughed over the hard names of the cab
bage and potatoes what she tried to teach
him. He laughed again at the remem-
berance of his teasing stupidity, and at the
sound a stranger looked at him with a
kindly. inquiring glance. He was sitting
one hand to the other. There seemed
nothing to smile at. The elderly lady
drew little nearer: she had watched this
goCd-looking. silent, distracted Young man
for days, and his loneliness determined
her.
She raised her umbrella little higher,
and turned toward him with question
about the tide.
Roberts looked up with a dazzed ex-
preston of one whose thoughts are far
away. Il beg your pardon?' He said
lifting his hat. She repeated her question.
with a smile.
The tide? l believe it is still coming
in. 1t is amusing to watch the bathers.
Ny thoughts were far away just now. but
often look at those boys diving from the
pier; there is even one young lady, who
takes a header every day
He spoke with a cordial smile. Mrs.
Craigie was becoming interested in this
odd young man, who confessed to his
pleasure in watching pretty girl dive,
and sought no nearer acquaintance.
:'It is amusing. said Mrs. Craigie. but
look at the water. My husband was
sea captain in the days of the India trade.
and have sailed with him over nearly all
the waters of the globe. 1t all comes back
as | sit here. But have seen you before
she went on more briskly. For the last
three days | have sat at the same table
with you. Are you not tired of blueber-
ries %
Robert laughed. well. yes, but pre-
fer them to dried apple sauce, and there
seems no alternative! 1t reminds me of
the days of my boyhood, when | used to
visit on my grandfather farm I've not
had any since.
Il never touch IT. said Mrs. Graigie.
with shudder. did you ever notice
that when several of us refuse it. we al
ways have it in pie the next dav? It's
tbo old cfor1- ro,,oafod tho bo1, ~,