The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1891-04-30

} All wor!: is with sucl dash;nE done
We've I'll Ii; 50 things; but then, alrs,
We seem 20 haTo 10 Washington
-2obcrt }. BurGette.
SHADOW LAKE. - ~
GOOD morning. sir-a lovely dayr"
] st2r,cd rather guilty from the stoop-
ing POSITION in wl.:ch Tie vo;ce OF my
unknown colioquiss had acco,tcl ne.
waJ engaged in examining the pad
locked moorings OF graceful little
boat and lneditatiny to myself how
very agreeable II row across the crystal
lake you'd be.
Good morning." l responded. turn-
ing to meet the iaqulfing gaze Of tall.
ge2tlemanly-looAing parsonage. ao-
pG,ent!y about tlirty-fre years of age,
who stood leaning against1 Il little gaia.
Il beg your pardon, SIR" l SIAM
mered, rather confused; 'I-I hopo 1
am not trespassing on private
grounds?"
WHY, sir, You are undeniably on
private grounds" returned tho stranger
smilin :, but think we won't call it
by any such harsh name as tress2ass-
ing. You are staying in tho neighbor-
hood?"
u am staying at the Lake house for
the summer" ] explained. 10 tell
the truth, sir, l was just thinking how
cool and pleasant q short row would
be- In fac;. If tho boat had not been
fastered should most assureily have
. braved all consequences and boldly
advcnturea the experiment.
'It,iinl1 We can overcome that OBJ
jeotion," said ;ho stranger quietly turn
ing TO an old ruined tree, whose gnarled
trank ore-hung the transparent tide.
and drawing key from its hollow
depths. Suppose we geS up an appe-
/ tito fo2 breakfast together?"
Really. SIX. this is an unexpected
treat. scarcely know how to thank
you sufficiently for your courtesy" step-
ping into the fairy-iilse she'll and tas-
ing an oar. - x
Then do not attempt said the
gentleman inc,iaing bis head with o
digpifed, higa-bred politeness which
Impressed me moro ard more In his
favor Il asscrd you tho qualification
is entirely mutual Pull to the right q
li.tio: VIC shall got entangled in yonder
floating sheet OF water lilies if we are
not carefal. Upon my word this is a
most perfect morning for the water"
al wish l were an artist!'' broke al.
most involuntarily from my lips.
My companion smiled.
Need man be an artist to enjoy
the beauties of such scene as thisp"
he asked. "a little more toward yon-
Ger point. II you please, sir. Now we
are out in the channel and you can
pull as hard or as easy es you choose.
The boat will almost move of herself,
In fact"
He threw down his oars and leaned
hack in the Stem, adjusting his straw
hat so rs to shield his eyes from the
too vivid glare of the morning sun
shine.
''One scarcely thinks of civilization
in such secluded spot as this" he
murmured lazily, Il suppose there
isn't living soul within q mile of us,
always excepting birds and fishes"
IL suppose not. assented.
''But. nevertheless, the forms and
ceremonies of society can not entirely
be cast aside. May l know whom I
have had the pleasure of helping to an
hours pleasure?"
drew my card from my waist-coat
pocket and handed it across, with
smile.
Vernon Chevelcy. eh? A very
pretty name sir. | congratulate my
self on making your acquaintance.
VIII you allow me to reciprocate your
frankness?"
He bowed low as he presented me
with a crumpled bit OF brown paper
that he extracted from an old cigar
case. Upon it was inscribed, in star
ing letters of red ink, the one word.
albert"
"Albert-whoP" Iinvoluntarily ques-
toned. - =
albert, SIR" returned my compan-
ion, starting to sitting posture, and
regarding me with stern dignity. |
Prince Albert. sir! Albert of Eng
land, Scotland and Wales!"
l stared at him, aghast. Was the |
man mad or dreamingp
TO your knees, sir!" he said, with |
asharp. sudden imperiousness. Have
you no reverence for royalty?"
/ obeyed his quick sign almost he
fore / know what was doing He
smiled complacently. at the same time |
drawing gaudy tinsel star from his
pocket and gravely affixing it to the
left breast of his coat.
''Yes, my friend" he went on i'm
pressively, "you are now in the pres
ence of the prince consort of Great
Britain! Men have amused themselves
by disseminating the idle talc that l
was dead; that's all they know about
it. / am no- dead, and what is more,
/ never shall die. l am privileged
with the gift of everlasting existence.
As long as | wear this !eweled star, !
death can never come near mel"
l felt the cold perspiration oozing
from every pore in my body. l could
almost feel lnyself grow pale as I be-
came fully convinced that I was out
upon the solitary lake alone with a
madman! l had heard whom first ]
came to this mountain retreat that
there was :. large asylum somewhere in
the vicinity, bub had never given tho
affair a second tho .ght. Now I was
reaping the consequences of my owp
folly and recklessness.
His dark, piercing eyes rovca rest
lessly from object TO object. Suddenly
I.ey rested on nay appalled, counten-
gnce.
you don't believe what l an say
care! Where are you
going?"
had thought TO tal1o advantage OF
The new path into which his troubled
inicd he'd wandered 20 divert our course
a little more shoreward, but his cum
ming. rowing. eye was upon me in an
instant
lit is getting very hot here"
Il thought, perhaps, we
loud inG ii cooler on shore"
''Al-h-h!' he Kissed, putting his
face 80 c'n=e 10 miro AS TO ,rl.re, ,i,rht |