The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-09

to paw her a visit in her seaside boIue.
Il have no pretty girls with which TO
lure YOU, but if you can endure the mo-
notony of driving and sailing with an
old woman. this same old woman will
be more than pleased to welcome you.
| hope that eccentric partner (Stone,
do YOU call him?) will not interrupt
this visit" So ran portion of her
letters.
On the evening of his arrival he and
Mrs. Iverson sat on the ocean front
piazza and talked of Mrs. Catherwood.
'sTheV are in Florence now, but viii
soon be leaving for the north. Millicent
is absurdly happy. And do you know,
] think she has entirely reformed Fred.
She is an innocent girl, and | don't be-
lieve she ever guessed what a scamp
Fred used to be. One of her letters
naiveIv announced that Fred wanted
to play a little at Monte Carlo out of
curiosity. The child-like! wanting to
play out of curiosity Isn't it deli
cious? But She forbade him and he
meekly obeyed. Yes, she has reformed
him. The world is growing quite stup-
idly righteous. For a wicked old wo-
man like me there is nothing left but
to die. All, my dear Anderson, | wish
YOU could find a wife like Millicent."
There is none such left" said Mr..
Bolton with a sigh. Then he laughed,
trying to conceal his sigh.
Yes, he was quite sure he had been
fool.
He was sent to sleep in that same
northeast room. How his memory was
quickened! What a flood of bitter
IN IN hi &
thirsty soul! But from beyond the par
tition there issued now no gentle voice
and musical laugh. No, even the snor-
ing was silent.
His sorrow was too old to keep him
long awake, and the sleep that shortly
fell upon him lasted until morning.
When he awoke he lay quiet, thinking
Of the lost past.
But what was that! He raised his
head and listened. 1t was not magma
ton; clear, measured, sonorous, the
same sound. When he had recovered
his wits sufficiently to dress himself
he got out of bed. Again the air was
chilly just as it had been nearly year
ago. He closed the window, and the
sound ceased. Was he dreaming? Or
had all the past year been a horrid
dream, and was that priceless treasure
still to be had for the asking? Some
thing prompted him to open the win
dow. The noise began again. He lean
ed far out. 1t was more distinct. 1t
was not in the house at all.
He dressed and went out doors. On
the front piazza he heard nothing, but
when he turned the corner of the house
it began again. Walking in the direc-
ton of the sound he was led to the
sea-rocks; with every step it grew
clearer and gradually lost its resem-
blance to snoring. He met an old fish
erman going to his boat.
Friend, what is that noise?" asked
Mr.. Bolton.
That's the whistlin'- buoy, sir"
THE what?"
"Whislin'-buoy. Warning craft off
the rocks"
at is a strange sound"
Eyes, kinder lonesome"
"How is it that we don't hear it all
the time?"
"Well. it's a right smart way off,
and it don't blow only when the sea
is rough. It's made to blow by the
waves arockin' of it. Then you only
near IL NutH YOU dIc 10 WIltu dIu u il
When the winds off shore YOU can't
hear it," He paused, and squirting his
eye sea-ward presently said slowly,
Sounds kinder like an old COW low
ing, don't it?''
$50 it does,' said Mr.. Bolton
thoughtfully. but 1 never thought of
likening it to that before" In his
heart he added, "would that I had!"
The fisherman babe him good morn
ing and went his way. Mr.. Bolton stood
staring Quito sea. Florence lay in this
same latitude. He was now looking
toward Florence and all that it con-
tanned. But gulf wider than all the
seas separated him from that dearest
thing which Florence contained.
II wonder if she cared for Fred at
first, thought Mr.. Anderson Bolton.
HOODS PILLS cure Liver Ills, Bill