The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-08-07
rLondon world.l


donmedt of pleasure with his Old play
mate the sea, lashing the brave white
horses to swifter gallon, urging on the
ters till they leapt high upon the
,cks and dashed in mad glee against
the steady, rugged old cliffs.
-r~NoisvN clustering, rollickng north
wind. i, spite Of all your rough ways.
there was one who had come forth to
meet your embrace, who loved Won for
your strength, for your grandeur. And
the north wind met her, to kiss her
laughing lips with the salt sea spray,
strengthen her heart with her stirring
song, touch the dark hair with his fin
gers, challenge the sparkling, smiling
eyes, which resisted, outwitted, defied
him, till he loved her in his own whole
hearted fashion, and swept onward tell
ing her name to sea and sky and shore
Marina, Child of the Ocean.
Sir Denis Beauchamp, making his way
up the steep cliff, stood up for o. moment
gazing in silent wonder at the frail look
ing little figure, which not only with
stood the tempestuous blast, but seemed
actually to enjoy it. A smile parted his
fine cut lips as he took in first the whole
picture, and then the particular beauty
of the sweet howerlike face turned sea-
ward.
Suddenly Marina turned and saw the
stranger. He Immediately accosted her,
and she noticed that his smile Lit up
somewhat plain face.
Lady Katharine has sent me to bring
you home" he said.
'Then you are Sir Denis. But how
did you know me?"
'Ifancied there could be but one young
lady DESTROYS of making friends with
such a very rough customer as this north
wind"
I'VE are great friends. 1t is delight
full up here. Look at that tossing sea;
isn't it beautifulr'
"Beautifulp he replied. But he was
not looking at the sea.
Lady Katharine Dyson watched the
pair approach as they came up from the
beach into her well kept grounds.
''All goes WELL" she murmured and
smiled
Lady Katharine, desiring a companion
for the winter at Thirltown, had remem-
bered her cousin Eleanor's orphan child,
and Marina, being only seventeen and
alone in the world, had been very thank
full to make her home with Lady Kath-
arine. All had gone well till the return
of the bachelor squire of Heathcote Hall,
who some weeks later startled Lady
Katharine by a sudden remark on Mari
mas beauty.
Lady Katharine answered lightly:
Don't loose your heart too quickly. She
does not quite carry her character in her
pretty face"
Was there covert sting in the words?
Heathcote put away the fancy as absurd.
''Too late with your advice, Lady Kath-
arine. If ever marry shall marry that
girl"
Perfectly unconscious was he of the
effect of this speech upon his listener.
Possessed himself of no more than a
friendly regard for her, and being by
nature somewhat unobservant, it had
never dawned upon him that she could
regard him as more than friend. In
deed, it would have rather offended his
unworthy and quixotic sense of honor
had he known that married woman, and
she the wife of his old chum, George Dy-
son (who was then dispensing justice in
Indian law courts), had conceived for
him Feelings nothing short of infatua-
ton, all the fercer for being kept so rig
orously under restraint. So he spoke in
all good faith, and Marina, standing afar
in the sunlight, knew not that fate was
weaving into her web of life the love of
an honest man and the hate of a jealous
woman.
The long night hours brought no sleep
to Katharine Dyson, but Marina found
her next morning calm as ever, and, if
anything, shade kinder than usual;
while all there was to show as the result
of that night watching was little note
addressed to Sir Denis Beauchamp, which
found him at his club, and brought
q smile to his lips. The contents were
brief: "Come down for a week or So
Attractions-savi Of course, my So
niety-best described by round 0. but
for one thing, and that fair thing. AS
you love me, come, and promise you
shall not be bored"
Three days later he came, and Lady
Katharine, watching him approach, the
eyes bent upon the sweet face which the
north wind had kissed into more than
wonted beauty, murmured, "All goes
well"
At any rate, Marina thought all was
well. She asked no questions respecting
him, and, indeed, there was always lit
tie air Of reticence about her which Sir
Denis found delightful. Accustomed to
the ways of women, and smiled upon by
almost every type of them,- he was
amused to find that this darkeyed little
sea maiden had wit enough to hold her
own against his attack. 1t made the con-
test rather more interesting. Had she
bent that dainty head of hers to his first
touch, he would have left her and gone
back to his old familiar haunts without
giving her another thought. But she
was hardy little flower, and, seeing the
bravery of her bearing, he waited on
from day to day, from week to week.
The season in town was dull one; he
had been little bored before leaving,
and this child was worth studying.
But Arthur Heathcote failed to under
stand the gradual change in her and
wooed her still in his somewhat heavy
fashion. He took courage to remark to
Lady Katharine: 81 declare believe she
likes me best. Isn't she bit shy with
Beauchamp? Just little afraid of him,
it strikes me-"
Was she afraid of Sir Denis? Her
words failed her now and then; her
merry speech had trick of dropping
into silence when his hand touched hers
ever so lightly. The sea murmured
strange things as they wandered together
in unfrequented ways.
you love it," he said, as she staid
her steps beside it.
sit is my world. I Twas born at sea.
Its music was my slumbering song in in
fancy, my joy song in childhood, my
dream song always
"And shall be now?"-
Only something in the voice, the
look; only bent head and lips which,
stay; they did not brush the fairy dust
from the pretty butterfy's wing. Not
yet, not quite yet.
Happy Marinar' he said; "happy
child My sea sings rougher song. 1t
is the sea of the world"
'You love itY she questioned demure-
ly, echoing his phrase and beating back
the riotous thoughts.
at loves me; is not that enough"
She laughed softly. "Quite enough.
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