The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-02
SIMON DALE.
BY HOPE.
CHAPTER XVIII.
SOME MIGHTY SILLY BUSINESS,

osophy, 1 turned my back on my companion,
and. having Walked to where tho battered ras'
ty lay beside the empty jug, sat down in high
dudgeon. Barbara's eyes were set on the spot
whore the guinea had beon swallowed by tho
waves, and abe took no heed Of my remarks or
Of my going.
Say that my pleasantly was misplaced, say
that she was weary and strained beyond her
power. say what you will in excuse, I allow It
all. Yet It was not reason to fling my last
guinea into the sea. A flash of petulance Is
we'll enough and may become beauty as sum-.
NOR lightning decks the sky, but fury Ia for ter.
magants, and nnught but fury could fling my
last guinea to the waves. The offence, II Of
fence there were. was too small for 30 mon
utrous an outburst. Well, IL she would quar-.
rel, I was ready. I had no patience with such
tricks. they weary q man of sense; women
serve their turn Ill by using them. Also I had
done her some small service; l would die sooner
than call It to her mind. but 1t would have been
o grace In her to remember IL.
The afternoon came, grew to its height, and
waned as 1 lay there, back to sea and face to
cliff, thinking now of all that had passed, now
of what was before inc. sparlng a moments fiftul
sorrow for the poor wretch who lay dead there
by the cottage door. but returning always in re-
sentful mood to my lost guinea and Barbara's sore
lack Of courtesy. If she needed me. l was
there, but heaven forbid that I should face
fresh rebuffs by seeking her. I would do my
duty to her and redeem my pledge, more could
not now be looked for. nay, by no possibility
could be welcome, to keep away from her was
to please her best; 1t was well. for in that her
mind jumped with mine. In two hours now
we could set out for Dover.
"Simon, I'm hungry"
The voice came from behind my shoulder, q
yard or two away. a voice very meek and pite.
Gus, eloquent of an exhaustion and a weakness
30 great that, had they been real. she must
have fallen by me. not stood upright on her
feet. Against such stratagems l would be iron.
1paid no heed, but lay like a log.
"Simon. I'm very thirsty, too"
Slowly 1 gathered myself up and standing,
bowed.
There's a fragment of the pasty," said 1,
sbut the jug Is empty"
] did not look In her face, and / knew she did
not look in mine.
81 can't eat without drinking she muir.
INJURED.
81 have nothing with which to buy liquor"
But water, Simonf All, but I mus mt trou.
Bile you."
'Il go to the college and seek some"
"But that's dangerous"
"You shall come..to mo hurt"
"But your
'Indeed, I need q draught for myself. I should
have gone after one in any case"
There was q pause. Then Barbara said:
Il don't want 1t. My thirst has passed
away"
"Wil you take the,pastyi"
mo. my hunger Is gone Also"
! bowed again. We stood in silence for a
moment.
"IW walk q little" said Barbara.
your pleasure" said ]. But pray don't
60 far. There may DO danger"
She turned away and retra ced her stepa IN the
beach. The instant she was gone I sprang up,
seized the jug. and ran at the best Of my speed
to the cottage. Jonah Wall lay still across the
entrance. no living creature was in sight. l
darted in and looked around for water. a pitcher
stood on the table, and 1 filed the jug. hastily.
Then with q smile OF sour triumph l hurried
back by the way had come. She should have no
cause to complain of me. I had been wronged
and was minded to hug my grievance and keep
the merit or the difference all on my side. That
motive, too, commonly underlies q seeming pa
thence OF wrong. ] would not for the world en-.
rich her with a just quarrel, therefore ! brought
her water, aye, although she feigned not to de-
Sire It. There 1t was for her, let her take 1t If
she would, or leave 1t II she would, and.I set the
jug down by the pasty. She should not say
that had refused to fetch her what abe asked,
although she had, for her own good reasons,
flung my guinea into the sea. She would come
soon, then would be my hour. Yet I would
spare her; IA gentleman should show no exulta-
lion. silence would serve to point the moral.
But where was shei To say truth, 1 was i'm
patient for the play to begin. and anticipation
grew nat with waiting. i looked down to the
Bhorc, but could not see her. rose and walked
forward till the beach lay open before ne.
Where was Barbaral
A sudden fear ran through me. Had any
madness seized the girl, some uncontrolled
within made her fly from met She could not be
30 foolish. But where was shot On the mo-
ment Of the question a cry Of surprise rang
from my lips. There, ahead of me. not on the
shore, but on the sea, was Barbara. The boat
was twelve or fifteen yards from the beach.
Barbara's face was toward me, and she was
rowing out to sea. Forgetting pasty and jug,
bounded down. What new folly was this2
TO show herself in the boat was to court can.