Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-17
CHAPTER XVIII,
The Isle of the Winds.


ed pride in my father, even when he was
accounted the greatest reprobate and VIII
lain in the country. People were so pro-
dgiously afraid of him, and his fame and
name We're SO constantly upon the common
lip.
But now, when I saw him every day in
a position of command of so we,l-found a
ship and gallant crew, that admiration
was greatly increased, and verify believe
that II he had shown me the least civility
l should have offered to join with him. But
this he never did. Indeed, l cannot say
that he took any interest in me at ALL He
did not bid me good morning when came
into the cabin, nor yet goodnight when /
went off unwillingly to my bunk. He looked
over my head as he walked the deck, and
for al my work and unweariedness in
serving him, he noticed me less than any
of the ships boys who carried the panni-
kins and emptied the slops.
But to my mother he was unweariedly
kind and unfailingly courteous. Yet by no
means in an eager way, if he desired to
atone for aught to to seek any of her ia
VorS, but rather courteous captain
to noble passenger or royal captive, whose
misfortunes entite her to be treated with
the greater dignity.
All this while we had been steadily head
ing south and west as even 1 could make
out, and nearly every day little Anna Mark
brought me news of the ships crew. For
being the only girl on board. she could
make friends with the men much more
quickly than I, having also her fathers
talents in that respect. with others of her
own. which l have indicated previously in
the story.
1t was on a fine bright evening, after a
day Of light following breezes, that l got
my first glimpse of that tropic pearl that l
was afterward to know SO intimately as the
Isle Of the Winds.
The clouds seemed have cd
themselves in a dense bar of royal GRIM
son which overhung the whole western ho-
r.Zon. Beneath, the sun gathered about him
little floating wiSpS of golden brightness as
If he had been weaving himself a fiery
shroud, as he sank into the sea like a
broad shield of dull scarlet, the line of the
horizon not cut truly across. An irregular
black blotch serrated and, as it seemed del
lcately plumed, was streaked across his
disk
The sailors too. We're all clustered for
ward as at the chase. They stood with
hands on each others shoulders and gazed
talking all the while in low whispers On
the quarter deck the officers of the watch
paced regularly, and Capt. Stansfield stood
alone by himself, as was his custom.
The sun dropped, 1t WERE pulling
the daylight under after him. And 1 had
seen my first tropic island.
All night the Corramantee, excellently
hermaphrodite. between brig and schooner,
stood off and on watching for the light,
that she might thread the difficult and dan
gerous shoals which still separated her
from the Isle of Winds. AS may be sup
posed was on deck early. And little An
ma Mark, who slept in my mothers cabin,
Joined me soon after 1 came up. With
eager hearts we watched the great wash
of keen green light in the east where the
sun would rise, but mostly our thoughts
were on the island ahead of us, and the
mysterious life we would lead there.
Strangely enoughs the blank horror and
apprehension with which we had started
on our journey had largely disappeared.
For though the men were rough enough
and desperate enough. yet none had said
an uncivil word to us. Moreover we had
great anticipations of wonders to be found
under those palms and on the beaches of
shining sand, which, in the eye of our
Imagination, glinted more brightly than If
every grain had been a diamond cut and
polished
The bright blueness of the sea, the glis-
tening white rocks which showed their
heads here and there, the deep sapphire
channels through which Saul Marks skiilful-
ly piloted the Corramanter. all caused us to
thrill and clasp each others hands as we
stood forward among the eager sailors l
clutched stay as the vessel, caught in
the little calm belt between the trades be-
hind her and the inshore land wind in
front, rose on the long oily rollers and
heaved her bowsprit into the hot and cop
perry sky.
phillip" said Anna, 1T wonder what will
happen to US Cd that island?"
/ turned to her. I knew not what prompt
ed the words. I had not the least thought
or intent Of them the moment before. But
now they sprang from my lips as If l
had settled on speaking them years be-
fore.
IF you love me. Anna,'' said, 1T care
not what happens. Do you love me?" 1
was still holding her hand, and as she told
me long afterward almost squeezing her
fingers into a jelly.
She turned upon me in great surprise
81 do not know what you mean," she said,
in a low, intense voice. Then, as If afraid
that some of the sailors who stood around
might overhear, Think shame, Philip she
added.
Eyes, you do know, Anna" 1 went on.
with quick impulse; you know what it
means to Umphray Spurway that he loves
my poor mother. You said so yourself and
II you know that, you know also what it
Is for me to love you. So do not pretend!'
She was silent for awhile, watching the
flying fish cleaning dark purple against
the saffron of the sky as they rose and
fell.
Then she said more softly: ct do know
what 1t Is to love, but I think 1 am too
young to know what you mean by IT, Nav.
am sure that you are too young yourself
to known
ANNA" answered. very low. for I saw