Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-05-18

myself l thus compiled my gains-I had
two friends, one of whom, oath or no oath,
should come to no harm from mankind
while l had an arm to interpose.
1 had suggested the Jersey shore as mat
ter of duty. l had heard their determine
ton to abide with me and share my for
tune, be it high or low, with something of
a feeling that put a new power into me, and,
| fancy, a new light in my eye chad they
been looking Closely, not caused by the
dazzle of the sun. Our destination lay, then,
first for the Vineyard. There l would place
this now homeless girl in care of my mother
and sister, who wers probably mourning for
lie lost, then to New London to deliver
prisoners and cargo to the proper authori-
ties, and after that-well, l would wait and
see.
Ay, would wait and see. One need not
plan ones life for months ahead. Somehow
there was brilliant spot in the future
which cared neither to define or get be-
hind-a Willo-the-wisp both tangible and
elusive which / could not analyze, being
content with the glow it spread over my
mental picture. The radiance lay on the
ancient island farm. 1t fell on the ancient
house and livened its homely interior. 1t
went abroad over familiar fields, dusky
woodlands and swamps, and gave a color
to the stretches of lonely beach. It made
l;fe more than living, and changed the dross
Of existence into something very like gold.
knew l was dreaming dreams and build
ing air castles as l stood my trick at the
wheel and hove it over to meet the low-run-
ming swell and forestall the vessels yaw
but what picture equals that of the brain
In progressive stages I mentally doubled
Montauk, raised Blockhouse island, sunk it,
and saw the mist of Norman's Land, and
then swept around the great western clay
cliffs of the Vineyard, and was at home.
Every detail was real, yet fairer than reality.
BY some queer change in me / looked less
! for glory now than I had the month before.
War was well enough if it must be; glory was
, prize easily gotten, but there was nothing
to equal peace. l had tanned wonderfully;
nothing to equal the delights of home and
domesticity. 1 had acquitted myself before
my fellows, and for a time would rest on
my honors. In short, / had by then gotten
into weakened mood, the like of which
every man knows at some moment of his
life; harmless enough, possibly, and for the
enjoyment of which he can thank God for
! withholding the knowledge of what the
next hour has in store.
By this it was about four in the afternoon
as I figured from the height of the sun,
which, though clear, shone from sky that
| had become faxed as though a fne-drawn
| smoke had settled over it. Though the
| wind hung still from the west, it was lighter,
| and the schooner dragged through the water
as if it was travelling uphill. It's sluggish
ness knew was due somewhat to the char
acter of its cargo, which was the deadest of
| dead weights, but more to the marine
| growth which had collected on her bottom
during her long anchorage, and which could
easily be seen streaming below like long
| and ragged green beard. Beyond the dull
gurgle of the cutwater and an occasional sob
In our wake. not a soHnd broke the intense