Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-10-14
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| Sam White, a weather-beaten man OF
80, came out of the cabin to welcome
mis- guests. and help them in with their
traps" as he called the goodly array OF
baggage they had brought with them
Mrs. White looked enough like her
husband to be twin, but she was
clean, wholesome. hearty woman. as
unconventional as the most ardent adj
mirer of nature could wish.
The young men were given room
there were only four apartments in the
house-in the annex made of the section
| Of the wrecked ELIZA Jane" The win
dows had once admitted light TO the cap
iain's cabin, and il required 30 stretch
IF the Imagination to picture themselves
on shipboard. The very decorations Of
the chamber had a strongly marine as
pect, from the highly colored print Of
naval battle to the shell that answered
for a soap cup.
The young men were hungry and
dusty and in no good humor; so that
while washing and changing theirtrav-
cling dress for natty sailor costumes
they did not exchange many words.
though Alick ventured 70 say:
I'm sure. old fellow, wen like it
hugely after we get used TO it,"
People lilse whisky and opium after
they get used 10 them. but is il wortl
while acquiring the habit2" said Cas-
per Burns. with shade 81 sarcasm in
Bis voice
Iick was about TO respond az ven
ture, but III that moment Mrs White,
without the formality Of knocking put
in her 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 a pot
Of steaming coffee. all served on a clean
crash tablecloth.
Sam White asked a long, old-fashioned
blessing. to the great amazement of the
young men. who expected to find him
profane old sea dog, and then he said:
"You must make a long arm. boys,
and help yourselves"
well" said Casper, as they strolled
down TO the beach after dinner, Il must
confess / haven't enjoyed meal so
much for years. ! was hungry, and it
went to the right spot"
"0h, this is just the place for an
appetite You can find one here sooner
than in any other part Of the country"
raid Alick, handing Casper 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 eNpanse took
on a crimson tinge. They sat down on
the white sand, and they could see away
up the shore and across the inlet two
fgures-females One Of them had
white scarf about her head and the 9TH
er a scarlet one, but beyond this the
young men could not make them out.
'.Ah! it is comfort 10 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 toworshipatadistnne
replied Alick I'm glad the inlet sepa-
rates us, but I've no doubt they are the
wives or daughters Of some of the fish
e1men up the beach"
Them ?" said sam White. when one of
The young men asked him who his fair
reighbors were. "them's some folks
from the city as have taken the ole BEN
rer place for the summer. It's more
ionelier over there than il is here. but
when ole Cap'n Bonner he was alvin,
there was no end of company over there.
but that's years and years ago"
~ suppose there's no danger of any
of the strangers coming over here
asked Alick Freeman, with the slight
hope that the old fisherman would say
there was a great deal of danger
mot the least Oit." replied Sam
White, but rs 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 limited that he was an eNcep-
ton. and that while he did not positive /
IL hate the other sex. their presence
was essential 10 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. rs they had not slept for years.
the little windows the cool sea |
breeze poured in, laden with health /
aud the balmy odor that brings sleep.
When they awoke the sun was fash
ing on the sea and Transforming into
STOW bank the bar about two miles
out. where a great, black buoy rose and
fell on the waves.
They had dip in the ocean that
sharpeneG their appetites. and after
breakfast they started of with Sam
White TO fish outside the bar over n
spot known to the fishermen of that
coast as the wreck" though there was
unfhiuu ON the surface TO indicate that \