The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-25

~ tpds NTH a purpose TO get array some
IcIIcrc and think IL all OUcr.
to drift. Above the stars were brilliant
and sent paths Of light across the sea.
Grosvenor closed his eyes and listened
TO the water splashing against the sides.
The noise from the bowling alley came
plainly to his ears across the water, and
somewhere on shore a dog was barking.
Far out at sea steamer whistled--a
long, hoarse note-and nearer at hand
some one was hauling down the sails of
boat and allowing the gait TO fall on
the deck with thump.
And now that Grosvenor cooliy went
over their interview be blamed himself
for getting angry and saw that the
way she had put il was very kind aud
very much in the right. 1t was true
that he had known-ser bat very short
time, and ms for promising SO much to
him and saying yes TO what he asked it
was quite out OF the question.
The boat was drifting, drifting. OF a
sudden it grounded, and Grosvenor
found himself longing for another look
at her face, and SO he roused himself
and pulled back until he was at the
mouth Of the canal where the waters of
the bay found an outlet TO the sea.
Throu .Ee open windows of the bowl
ing ali. / could see the people moving
about and could hear the sound of the
falling pins. lie held his oars in the
water to keep the boat stationary, for
the tide was coming in and was nearly
flood. f-.
Grosvenor shivered slightly, for there
was contrast in his position and that
OF those people he had left not long be-
fore. Inside the lamps shed glow on
the clean white walls of the room,
glanced on the rolling balls aud the pol
ished surface OF the alley. Outside there
was haze over the sea, and the dark
ness was only relieved by the twinkling
lights of the cottages about the bay and
the revolving beacon on Monomoy point
far away. Grosvenor held his boat there
fully five minutes, eagerly looking for
her. And when at times be saw her
near the window he could not help
thinking that her face was very white,
and that there was sadness in her
smile.
The tide had turned and was carrying
him through the canal now. The water
washed against the sides of the passage
and rolled small pebbles on the sand as
ii receded. To Grosvenor there was
something impressive in that quiet on
rush of the tide and something mysteri-
ous, as If it were impelled by an unseen
power. The air was very salt, and a
damp breeze came from the ocean. At
last, when the boat rocked in the long
roll of the sea, Grosvenor pulled away
desperately. He had no definite idea of
where he was going, but the exercise of
rowing gave him sense of power and
for the time being removed his thoughts
from himself. Every time be dipped
the oars in the water the phosphorus
clung to tho blades and dropped back
like liquid iire, leaving glistening path
behind. The light at Chatham was
abreast of him presently. and far away
toward midocesn be could SEQ the one
on Monomoy point flashing or the white
sails Of a ship in the ofhng. Down the
coast the long skeleton Of a half finished
pier running far out into the water
could be easily distinguished. Gros-
venor had no idea of how long he rowed,
and when he stopped for Il moment he
found himself exhausted. Then he bent
his head to listen, for he thought he
beard bells that sounded like silvery
chimes. 1t was cnly the village clock
at Chatham striking the hour of mid
night, but with the waves dashing
against the boat, the wind blowing in
gusts offshore, the bells rang out i'm
musical cadence, now soft and low,
then clear and loud. They sounded TO
him like something he had heard long
,go, he could hardly tell when or whore.
like a melody half forgotten, the lingcr-
Ing sweetness of a song once heard, but
half lost. And in some way IL brought
back to him the expressive face of the
girl ho had left back there, and he felt
that there was nothing to do but to leave
her and never sec hor again. II would
be very easy for him to 20 back, and get
away in the morning before sse came
down stairs. That, he reflected. was
what he really ought to do, and it would
Do best for both Of them, lie leaned
back in the boat and clasped his hands