People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-12-08

Didn't hurt me a bit. Did me
good"
Eyes, perhaps it did; but it's most
unpleasant thing to remember"
mot at all 1 had a jolly time IN
the First Church organ organ-loft, and
was as hearty young fellow as you
could find in my class"
"Well, at least, dear, do not talk of
it now. It's not good style in your
present position. 1t humiliates me
every time you speak of it"
"Tll not mention it down here.
Court has adjourned, and we are at the
beach in search of-pleasure. Ready
for dinner?"
"Why, no. can't 60 till the trunks
come. I've nothing to wear. You 90,
and I'll join you as soon as possible. l
wish you'd see why the trunks do not
come"
"All right will take a little walk
on the beach and meet you at the ho-
tel"
Judge Gearing left the fantastic cot
tage and crossed the level white sand
towards the beach. There was no
need to concern himself about the
trunks, for wagon was already I'M
loading baggage at the hotel door.
Like many men who have risen
through youth of labor to a position
of dignity and comparative ease, he
seldom complained of those whom any
way labored for his profit or convent
ence The porters would do their
duty. He did it when he
labOred with his hands: why
not they? Besides, every work
had its hjnderances. The trunks would
arrive just as quickly by waiting for
them as by needessly hurrying those
who were already, no doubt, doing
their duty. The world was very pleas
ant to Judge Gearing. His life had been
fortunate in that, as far as he could
decide, at this its late afternoon it had
left all T. probable sorrows behind.
There was no longer that frightful
struggle for an education that had
marked his youth He had won con-
siderable amount of wealth. He had
married handsome and fashionable
woman who did the honors of
his house with grace and
dignity. His work was comparatively
easy, and it was interesting If there
was any thorn in his side, it had only
just begun to smart in petty, irritat-
ing way that might be only temper
airy. His wife's son had come to his
home for the first time. During the
first five years of his married life the
judge had hardly recognized Royal
Yardstickie's existence, except as an
added expense, and it was only re-
Gently that the young man had re-
turned from his supposed studies in
Paris, an idler and semi-invalid at
the very age when in the Judges youth
he had worked the hardest and re-
Jolced in the most vigorous health.
He was awakened from these rever-
les oy the cry of a sea-bird wheeling
between blue sky and blue water. In
stinctively he paused and looked about
Before him lay the sea,-calm, smooth,
beautiful. There were gentle waves
tapping the beach in tinkling mono
tone. He stood with hands folded be-
hind him, gazing thoughtfully at the
water. There was faint sound of
+ childish laughter on the air, and he
looked along the beach and saw some
q children playing on the sand. He
turned away and walked slowly
towards the hotel.
. 1t had come back. For years he
:, had kept away from the sea. He had
purposely avoided hearing or seeing
. it. Every summer he had gone to the
: mountains-never to the sea-shore.
S His wife had often complained and
T said that everybody went to the
beach" Her son, she said, needed
q sea-air, and had been sent to Wilson's
t Holl for rest-cure, and then, at hei
= earnest solicitation, they had come
v also.
d 1t had come back-the memory o.
e that one short year of youthful happi
e ness The sun of his early manhood.
a life and love had sunk in the sea. H,
had thought that time had cured tn,
1t wound. This first hour in solitude by
" the sea had brought back the one ter
y rible grief of his life. That gray birC
with its plaintive cry had opened sh,
20 closed chamber of his heart. 1t coulC
d not be treason to his present wife if h,
" thought once more of the dead wife o
l his youth as he walked beside he
J. mighty grave, the everlasting sea
if Some day it might give up its dead
|. He would wait the dayof her comm,
re on some more heavenly shore. II,
wondered vaguely if heaven had an,
~ more beautiful scene than this margii
S. OF the sea. He took a melanchol
Id pleasure in looking at it,-for he
|? sake. He had thought the sight nigh
lg be distressing, as the sight of a grave
d. but ne forgot the soothing fingers Q
is time and nature that can make grave
beautiful. She was not forgotten
a. He thought of her now with only
lie sweet and tender longing for the da
at when the sea would really give up il
In dead She would come, but not here
ye not now, not now.
n An hour later Mrs. Judge Gearin
e. foun her husband seated on the hott
xt piazza, gazing absently at the Sc,