New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-14
KATHARINE NORTH.
XVIII.
OFF THE COAST OF MAINE.
conyion,, 1882: By The Tribune Assoetatton.


rJandan. though he had an appearance Of
franknesss was often very secretve. Az this
,ns,ant he was in his most secretive mood.
lie was still smarting from the Illumination
consequent upon that interview with Miss Wyck-
s.m lIc was not likely to mention that, and the
;r,nulsc that had driven him TO this bit of Maine
,oast was also an impulse not TO be put into words
Tho vonnc man stood beside the woman who had
irs, .cld him that a moment ago he had looked
DANGEROUSLY happy. Iust now he seemed re-
uorkahly well able to take care Of himself. and
"a achieve what he sought
- don't want YOU to distrust me-" he said,
and AS for being happy, surely you ought 10 be
rad NJ that Haven't l learned from you that
b.nn;ncss is great object in life? But you need
NO, he anxious lest ] enjoy too much. We atoms
., humanity are not in any danger of quaffing
400 much bliss Now my dear stepmamma,"
here the young man put his arm over Mrs Liam
da0's shoulders, what evil do you suspect me
NJ contemplating? Haven't ! been fairly re-
spcctabe boy since you knew me?'
The woman smiled as she moved still nearer
her companion.
Perfectly respectable" she answered. But
Won must allow me to think that it's odd you left
Nan.askct. since Miss Wyckham is still there"
LANDAU laughed But he did not entirely con-
ceal his consciousness that he was now under the
scrutiny of very keen eyes, and Of eyes that knew
him very we'll. Still he felt that he was develop
ing new phase. and even our most intimate en-
enemy cannot Immediately recognize and classify a
new phase.
lie assumed little dignity as he said.
Trust me- somewhat, Mrs. Llandaf. l am
still aware OF a sense of honor operating somewhere
within me-"
oh, very wcll,' rejoned Mrs. LANDAU, "if
Of in hot
kind of a tone have nothing more to say. Are
you going back tomorrow"
No"
You're not going to stay hereP"
I'm going to stay here"
"Owen."
Mrs LANDAU"
You'll spoil everything
Il slant spoil anything. I shall lessen the dis
comforts ana increase the joys o. existence here.
Try me and see"
LANDAU took of his hat that the sun and air
mi.ht reach his forehead. He gazed about him
with rndssused jOyousness, and Mrs LANDAU
looked at HIM She too wise to say anything
more And sic already began TO be glad he was
with her again. She was used to him, and deeply
attached TO him.
Nsntasket really was distrcssingly common
place il was no wonder he tired of it; and
Why should she continue to he anxious about she
knew not what? And it was so wearing. dis
agreeable to he anxious And Owen was absolutely
honorable
Mrs Landa made slight motion with her left
hand and with that movement she flung away the
indefinite feeling which bad come to her at sight of
her stcpson.
Tee young man Immediately began to demon
strate his devotion TO dcepsea fishing. lie rose at
unearthly hours In the morning and was invisible
until noon wien he and Capn Marble would APP
pear ~ .hc dinner table ia Il ravenous state.
At tbs meal tho two nscn talked continually OF
the hauls they had made, and of the peculiar man.
ncr in which this OF that fish had taken the bait;
how he had been puIed in and his weight
After dinner Lsndaff disappeared in his room
a. ncghboring cottage, and was supposed to sleep
until late afternoon.
But even then lie did not remain shore, but
went Of in little sailboat he had hired. His
sail could he seen moving this way and that as
the two women sat on the bluT or walked on the
beach
lie was burned brown and red, and he lived in
flannel shirt, blue overalls ard rubber boots.
Mrs LANDAU, completely restored TO serenity,
wondered that she had ever been disturbed. She
said that Owen smcllcd Of fish from every thread
of those dreadful clothes, but since he rarely came
This continued for several days. Then one
morning the young man appeared at the breakfast
table in a white suit and russell shoes. having the
look of never having smelled Of fish in his life.
On being questioned about his former amusement
he said that everything in this world palled, even
deep-sca fishing, and he was going to devote him.
self 10 his scpmothcr and her nece
Until We also pail upon your hghncss, re-
marked Mrs. LANDAU.
Certainly But it is the duty Of a woman to
see TO it that she does not pail
Here he looked at Katharine, who answered:
I'VE will do our best"
Then the two laughed after the manner Of two
children.
it was at this meal that Mrs. LANDAU took oc-
casion TO ask:
answered:
she is very well, thank you," looking frankly
1t Ter as he replied.
But for all his frank look there was a we'll
defined resentment in the mans mind. Could he
not take care of his own affairs lie never felt
90 able 10 take care of them as at the present mo-
ment. He was free But he did not know that he
need 70 proclaim his freedom directly. That was
not necessary. There was time enough for that
The sense Of that freedom grew more and more
exquisite to him.
lie fingered near Mrs. Llandaff's hammock after
breakfast. He announced that he even felt him
self capable of reading poetry aloud.
You shall not read it to us, was that ladys
immediate response go back 10 Nantasket if
You wish to read poetry aloud 1 am beyond that
sse when can listen, and as for Kate, here she
has not set reached the age"
Am the only one who has come to the requisite
stage Of existence? Are you sure you wouldn't
like short recitation from Byron?'
LANDAU sat down on the ground and leaned
against one Of the hammock posts And he de-
L diff