The leader., 1897-09-01

tney get used 10 them, but Is ID worth
while acquiring the habit?" said Cas-
per Burns, with a shade of sarcasm in
his voice.
Aiick was about to respond at ven
ture, but at that moment Mrs. White.
without the formality of knocking, put
in hef head to say that dinner was
ready, and to add that in her opinion
they "was purity nigh starved"
There was roast duck, two or three
kinds of fish, potatoes like snowballs,
hot biscuit and yellow butter, and pot
OF steaming coffee, all served on clean
crash tablecloth.
Sam White asked long, old-fashioned
blessing, to the great amazement of the
young men, who expected to find him
prcfane old sea dog, and then he said:
You must make long arm, bows,
and help yourselves"
"Well," said Casper, as they strolled
down to the beach after dinner, II must
confess haven't enjoyed a meal so
much for years. was hungry, and it
went to the right spot"
"Oh, this is just the place for an
appetite. You can find one here sooner
than i'll any other part of the country"
said Alick, handing Casper n cigar, and
feeling that there was something to re-
deem the place in the eyes of his friend.
AS they stood on the shore the sun
was setting, and the blue expanse took
on crimson tinge. They sat down on
the white sand, and they could see away
up the shore and across the inlet two
figures-females. One of them had a
white scarf about her head and the 9TH
er scarlet one, but beyond this the
young men could not make them out.
"Ah! it is comfort to know we are
not wholly shut out from the world"
said Casper, blowing a Whit of smoke
in the direction of the figures.
Il am willing to oworshipat It distance" !"
replied Alck. I'm glad the inlet sepa-
rates us, but I've no doubt they are the
wives or daughters of some of the fish
ermen up the beach,"
"Them?" said Sam White, when one of
the young men asked him who his fair
neighbors were, "them's some folks
from the city as have taken the ole Ben
Der place for the summer. It's more
lCnelier over there than it is here, but
when ole Cap'n Benner he was alvin
there was no end of company over there,
but that's years and years ago."
II suppose there's no danger of any
of the strangers coming over herc?'
asked Alick Freeman, with the slight
hope that the old fisherman would say
there was great deal of danger.
Not the least bit," replied Sam
White, but as there's two young ladies
over there and two young men over
here, why, the chances is that some
how they'll get together afore long"
That's human nature" said Mrs
White, looking up from the potatoes
she was peeling; "the boys'll seek out
the gals just as ducks goes barefooted
TO the water"
Alick hinted that he was an excep
ton, and that while he did not positive
" hate the other sex, their presence
was essential to his misery, and much
more to the same effect, all of which
Mrs. White heard with strange twin
kle in her gray eyes that plainly told
she had her doubts, not of the young
mans sincerity, but of his reasoning.
The friends slept in the cabin that
night, as they had not slept for years
Through the little windows the cool sea
breeze poured in, laden with healtl
and the balmy odor that brings sleep.
When they awoke the sun was flash
ING on the sea and transforming into
snow bank the bar about two miles
out, where a great, black buoy rose ane
fell on the waves.
They had dip in the ocean tha
sbarpened their appetites, and after
breakfast they started off with San
White to fish outside the bar over {
spot known to the fishermen of tha
coast as the wreck" though there wa
nothing on the surface to indicate tina
ever wreck had taken place there.
The fishing was all that it had beer
presented-indeed, the fish bit so fas
as to change the sport into hard worl
and rob it of much of its pleasure. On
their return they caught glimpse o
the two female figures beyond the inle
and far up the beach, and Casper Burns
waved his hat to them and the tw,
white haudkerchiefs were waved bacl
in reply.
The friends soon grew to like this
strange life, and they began to feel tha
the earth had lots much less desirable
than that of fisherman-but so fal
they had only played with the ocean il
it's sleep.
They frequently saw the ladies up th'
beach, and they made an effort to learr
who they were, but Sam White eithel
could not or would not crafty them.
Three days before the expiration o
their leave of absence Sam White pro
nosed to take them up the shore to {
noint from which they could get goot
view of the New York yacht regatta
which was to have race.
Alick Freeman, still declaring HI
: WANTED to see nothing that might re
mind him of the world he had left un
til he returned to it, decided to remain
back.
Alick did not long enjoy the part o
hermit which he volunteered to play
He strolled along the shore with hi
: fishing pole on his shoulder and cas-
MANY an anxious glance in the direc
, tion where he had often seen the youns
ladies, but they did not gladden. hi
sight. No doubt they had gone on t.
look at the regatta.
| About three o'clock in the afternoon
| Alick Freeman put on his bathing dress
: and went down TO the beach. He was
Good swimmer, though until this sum
/ mer all his practice had been in tide
less. fresh-water lakes or streams.
He boldly plunged through the rim o.
, surf and swan out for hundred yards
/, rising and falling on the swells tha
/ rolled in and broke on the white shingie
"I'll lie on my back and let the waves