The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-11

| so, when Capt. Sam, who had lowered
| her trunk to the floor, took off his oil-skin
/ hat and said we don't think we've done
! just right by you, Miss Lapham."
| "No, we don't" echoed his sister.
| ''Why?" asked the young lady, turning
| her eyes wonderingly from one 20 the
/ other.
why" said the captain. slightly dis
! turbed by the intentness of her gaze; you
| see, you're comm here for the sake of the
| local color"
Yes" Miss Lapham assented.
''Well," continued the Captain, hesitat-
| ingly, you know in the letter that Nancy
| sent we mentioned that the light was to
| be painted-we threw it out as a sort of
| inducement."
Involvement" repeated the boarder,
! stopping in the process Of taking off her
| hat.
Yes, it was one of the colors, the local
colors," corrected the Captain. For some
reason the painters didn't come, and here
| 1t is, washed and beaten by the gales of
| the last five years. But if you stay awhile
| they'll be sure to come, and then the col
| ors will be accordin' to the letter."
And if they amt, we'll reduce the
| board added Nancy, glancing at the
Captain, who nodded.
The young lady looked so puzzled that
Captain Sam interpreted it as an express
sion of disappointment, and he hurried
on.
But I've touched up thing the best I
could" ne said. Il happened to have a
little paint, and you can see the bot right
through the window there. Yes, the dory,
/ gave her a coat of yellow outside and
blue in; then l put a coat of government
red, regular buoy paint, on the front door;
when the settin' sun strikes it, as it does
every night, it's regular picture"
Seeing that his listener was about to
speak, the Captain fastened to add, IF
you would like some of the boulders on
the ledge touched up, I'll do it,
The Captain looked preternaturally So
Der as he finished, but the new boarder
recovering from her establishment, ut
tered a ripping laugh that cheered his
dropping spirits.
81 am delighted" she said; 81 assure you
both, and frankly, there is more local
color here than 1 had any idea of. and
| If you will only keep me- 1 shall be more
than glad to remain. But do you know,
Captain" she continued, there is some
thing awfully tempting about your idea
! Of painting the boulders; suppose we just
entertain the idea; we need not carry it
out Immediately, but think it over and
plan how we would do it. What colors
would you choose?" turning her bright
face towards Nancy.
well, they'd have TO be all red replied
Capt. Sam, Just like the door; it's the
only paint left
Red boulders! Think of it! Do you
know l have been almost everywhere in
this country and to many places in Eu-
rope, and have seen almost everything,
but 1 never before have even thought of
the possibilities in red boulders, never"
nd -,
ed herself in the good graces of the Cap
tain and his sister, followed the latter in
to the little room she was to occupy.
Loon Island light was the tallest and
most isolated in that portion of New En-
gland coast; slender, graceful shaft,
that from distance seemed to rise di-
rectly from the sea. Indeed the island it.
self was little more than a submerged
ledge, which the waves swept during gales
and upon which were numbers of huge
boulders, seemingly holding it down,
which held their position as they were
buffeted from all sides and gathered about
a common centre. Ten miles from land,
rising directly from deep water, over
grown with masses of kelp that hung
about its base, Loon Island was not
cheerful place, and the coming of the new
boarder was like q ray of sunshine TO
Miss Nancy.
Il can't see what you can find TO paint
here" she said, a Few moments after her
arrival. Il suppose you are a painter?'
interrOgatively.
Il can paint little" replied Miss La
pham, hesitatingly; and you, you find
the life lonely?"
It's awful" said Nancy, in a burst of
confidence, revealing in the opportunity
to talk. Sometimes I feel as though I
should just go crazy; nothin' but the
moanin' of the sea, the splash Of the wa
ter and the howlin' OF the wind. day in
and day out. If il wasn't for Sam. I'd
leave tomorrow; but Sam, he's queer, il
he is my brother. and We don't agree on
the ledge. He has a sort of second sight:
Ieastways, he sees beauties where they
don't exist, accordin' to my notion. He
thinks the rocks the finest. the sea the
bluest. the clouds the brightest: and 1 be-
lieve if he was alone he'd talk TO the wind
and waves and enjoy himself"
Perhaps he understands them" sug-
gested Miss Lapham.
He certainly does when he's in bot.
You've never heard OF him lOsin' his yes
sci? Why Sam was at the helm with
all his oil-skins on when she captized and
went down with all on board. and he
found himself out of sight OF land and
alone. Most men would have given UP;
but Sam pulled of his oil-skins in the
water and struck out for land. and was
picked Up after he'd swan ten miles to-
wards shore. I tell him he must have
been saved for purpose"
who saved hin?"
That's the curious part OF it." said
Nancy. The schooner Curlew. Cant Sol.
ellis. a particular friend OF Sans, hap
pened 10 he bound north az that very
time. and sam sighun' her on the tors
OF the waves. headed her of and managed
70 swim close enough TO han her. Sol WIS
az the helm. when he heard some one sing
out 'Curlew. ahoy" He looked al around
but couldn't see soul; then he sings out.
Who hailede sam JoceIyn.' cried sam
and by that time he was right under the
stern. the schooner .havin' come Up IN the
wind Capt Sol" added Nancy. lis one
of those matter-o'-fact folks. 50 he didn't
let on that he was surprised at al. ard
leaned over the rail and said. Good
raornin'. sam; which way now On
saws sam right NJ with him. I'm Jus,
takin' d leetle exercise Won't you come
aboard says Sol Wen says sam. Just
as y he was uncertain; dunno but !
VIII and with that he grabbed a rope.
and they hauled HIM IL. That made them /
closer frlen-ls than ever concluded /
Nancy.
I should think it might replied her
listener. sd0ing, Capt Sol must be q /
character.
Yes. he is replied Nancy. slipping a
stitch q. her steel needles aid flushing /
slightly.