People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-01-19


silence, he returned to the boat, only
to find a note calling him back to the 7
city. BY 3 o'clock he was in his en-
plOyer's Office on Pearl street.
Fact is Johnson, business is boom
ing. Must lay the yacht off for the
present"
1t was all arranged in a few mo-
ments, checks drawn to pay off the crew
and wind up the season afOat. Every
thing was done on a generous scale,
wages paid for q month ahead, and
tickets provided to take the men to
their homes. Skipper johnson was the
last to leave, and it took two days to
wind up all accounts and turn the boat
and her stores over to a keeper. Every
hour seemed a day; and only when he
was, at last, on the New London boat
bound east did he feel at case. At
least he was going home; that was
something.
Recognizing that the delay in reach
ing New York would not be long, and
that it had been kindly meant for her
own pleasure, Mai Johnson put away
all fears and gave herself up to the en-
jOyment of the hour. 1t was new
experience to have everything made so
smooth and pleasant. All trouble was
saved, it seemed to her. She did not
have to think what should be prepared
for breakfast, or even to look out of
the window to see if it would be a good
day for the wash to dry. The hOmely
routine of her life seemed far betin1
her. Then, too, it was new expert
ence to receive such kindly attention
at every step from one so much older
and wiser than herself. She began to
take great pleasure in the Judges So
ciety. His learning and wide expert
ence stimulated her naturally active
mind, and she found herself talking
with him with freedom and conf
dence that surprised herself Every
where they went they met people of
distinction, to many of whom she was
presented by the Judge much as
father might present daughter
With new pleasures offered to her
every hour, and constant change of
scene, the days flew quickly, and
week had passed almost before she
noted it. Still they were among the
mountains, and another week passed
before they reached Saratoga. Mrs.
Gearing was an industrious letter
writer, and had every day one or more
letters which she intrusted to
her son to put in the mails.
So it happened that, without
attracting uthe slightest attention,
young Mr.. Yardstickie mailed MATS
letters also. She wrote frequently,
directing all to Wilson's Holl, know
ing that, if Sam had not yet returned,
her father would send them to him.
By the third week she began to be i'm
patient TO get to New York. There
must be many letters waiting there for
her, and yet she did not like to ask to
be taken there The Judge seemed to
be enjoying the trip greatly, and she
was unwilling to ask him to shorten it
on her account.
At last the day came for the trip
down the Hudson. 1t was beautiful
day, and the voyage was wonder and
delight, and yet she envied Mr.. Yard
Sickle, who went on in advance in one
OF the trains that few along the shore.
At last the boat reached town, and in
half an hour the family were at home.
Not letter there.
Skipper johnson was changed m-n.
Every one in the village had remarked
on his silence, his indifference to the
ordinary interests of the sea and
shore, since he had come home. The
old light-keeper was also changed. He
sat long in gloomy silence in his big
chair by the door, and the clock called
in vain to duty. He even forgot to
light the lantern one night till ten
minutes past the appointed time.
Far out on the horizon lay a light-ship.
On this ship the light-keeper observed
the delay at Hedgefence, and made
note of it in his leg-book. Twice
every day young Sam Johnson went to
the little postoffice for letters, and
there were none. Day by day his spirit
was bent with grief and indignation.
At last it broke-broke under four
lines in a newspaper.
The newspaper had come by mail
directed in a strange hand He had
opened it carelessly. 1t was one of
those journals whose Typography is
mosaic of little paragraphs. He had
never seen paper Of its kind, and
hardly knew what to make Oft. Read.
Ing a lew OF the paragraphs, he found
they were all personal in their char
acter, describing the movements or
doings of this or that more or less I'M.
known person. While no single para
graph was marked to attract attention.
he guessed that in some way it might
give him a hint of Mails absence and
silence. He began to read it through
Systematically, reading every para
graph, beginning at the top Of the first
column on the first page On the
second page he found something:
Judge Gearing and wife, with Miss
johnson, who is travelling with them,
are at the Profile House. Miss John
son is protege of Judge Gearing, and
is very greatly admired. Mr.. ROYAL
Yardstickie is also of the party, and