The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-08-25

pale and dellcately dark, with luStrous
eyes and half-parted lips, scarlet as
coral. The brow was broad and low
the hair heavy and black; the figure
graceful and slender rs willow.
With one sweep of the oars the
beautiful rover sent her boat bound
ing to Captain Jacks very feet. He
heard 1T Craze against the sands, he
saw two bewildering black eyes sur
veying him with II look of cool aston
1shment, and then he beat down VIC.
lent desire to take to his heels and run
away, and sand:
''is that boat bound up the cove?"
She lifted her delicate brows, but
The splendid eyes beneath had Turk
ing laughter in them.
Eyes"
'I'm in want of passage that way
myself" said Captain Jack "can you
take me aboard?"
She scanned HIM from head to foot.
At glance she took In the stalwurd
h8urc, tue grave, middle-aged face,
with lis honest dark eyes and iron
gray hair, aud then she answered:
'Who are you?"
| brown forehead.
"My name is jack Brainard, and l
hail from the East Who are you?"
1t was a delightfully."- straightfor.
ward reply. Her dark eyes opeuel
wide.
Come into the boat" she said
quickly.
He leapod in and sat down opposite
her. She gave him the oars with the
utmost nonchalnnce.
''You can take them now-I am
tired OF rowing. | knew it was you,
Captain Jack, Mr.. Gaylord told me
You would return home this autumn"
She leaned forward then and laid on
poor, bewildered Captain Jacks skoul-
der the smallest aud whitest hand he
had ever seen. The saucy black eyes,
full of mingled laughter and tears,
looked full in his face.
Don't you know me, guardy?
am Rachel"
His waif of thecoast-his little cast
away that bright, bewilderin2 beau
ty Captain Jack sat silent-his grave
face was as unreadlb!e as marble but
he drew the little hand from his shout
der and held it for n moment in his
broad brown palm.
'Chiid, how old are you'll"
Eighteen, guardy, and a graduate
of Madame do Vilcnue's boarding
school [ have passed winter in
New York and n season ut Saratoga and
you do not knew how blase [ have be.
come"
Not blNse-the face was too delicate,
too passionate, too proud for that.
81 have been with Mrs. Lane
week, she went on, trailing her white
fingers in the water. "rhe Gaylords
are IN town, guariy. Haven't you
been gone long, long time?'
Fifteen years" SAID Captain Jack,
| pulling vigorously at the oars.
The oars OF the dory rose and fell
like living things in his strong hands;
she shot across the water like a sea-
| gull out of the channel and into the
coye-there were tho fshcrmen's cot
tages and the old inn close before them.
The row was over.
tall, handsome man Law on the
| cove, smoking cigar and watching
the approaching dorY intently. As
| Captain Jack and his protcge reached
the shore he started up and .sauntered
down to meet them with n sort Of in
| dOleut, easy grace. Miss Rachel rose
up, her splendid eyes opened in calm
surprise, aud she leaped lightly ashore.
''Mr. Gaylord this is very unex.
| pccted--l thought yor were in town"
He bit his lip.
''No, / am tired Of town i came in
search of you.
'Iudeed! You ere t0okind. Allow
me to present you to Captain Brain.
ard"
Mr.. Hurvey Gaylord bowed careless.
/ " 90 Captain Br1ulri. Captain
Bruuard looked no Mr. Gaylord from
head 60 foot, but tho young Gotham
tie was obllyiOus-ha toyCd with his
rattan and looked nt Rachel
Only mother sends her kindest re-
gnrds,' he said. "aud society has
babe me bring back its lost star be.
promised Am ! rash?'
She drew mp the folds Of her sweep
ing dress from tho damp grass Tho
black eyes were Gust down.
every.
''But, kaChoI..'
The proud head was thrown back Z;
the brilliant eyes warned him to stop
she spraug upon the threshold OF
tho inn
u bad been raining all day. The
poplars before tho inn were dripping
still, and tho clouds rolled dark and
sullcn toward the west. Rachel stood
in the porch and watched tho night
fall down on the rocky shore, singing
softly TO herself the words OF an old
song
$50 Douglas, o Douglas. tondefanitruc. "
Rachel" called Mrs. Lane from
the doorway, "come into the house.
child you'll get consumption out
there in the wet, and Captain Jack
and Mr.. Gaylord are asking to see
lyou."