The Republican journal., 1900-02-15
Bob o. Link: A Tale OF Long Island
BY FITZ- JAMES O'BRIEN.

tongues in wood and field too faint for
their accustomed low, mysterious speech.
The Long Island shore, white and cres-
cented, barred its bosom like Danae to the
golden embraces Of the sun. In The
meadows the heavy crested grasses with
nOdding heads beat time to the sweet
wash of waves upon the beach. Yellow
spires of the golden ROC. pierced the air
like steeples. The tulip tree, robed like
priest in fereal green, held up to heaven
with branching arms a thousand golden
chalices. Far away across the Sound lay
the Connecticut shore trembling through
mist, while behind me, from the green
reresses of deserted garden, the oriole
poured forth his monotone of sorrow.
AS | sauntered down the little path that
led from the old house where | was board
ing for the summer, to my favorite haunt
by the seashore, with clouds of insects
springlng from the grass like living
spray at every step | took, | suddenly
heard the Saucy notes of that low come
dian of birds, the Bob o Link As |
have always had a friendly feeling toward
this ornithological tarceur, set to work
to obtain an interview with him. | was
not long III discovering his whereabouts
He was sitting on the stump of rail,
chattering Vehemently, and as well as |
understood his language, impudently;
preening his feathers. cooking his head on
one side, as if he had a passion for seeing
Nature upside down, and shaking his
wings as though he contemplated an inn
mediate migration to the coast of Africa.
About every halt minute or SO he would
suddenly leave his perch, and flying a
little distance, flop into the long meadow
grass, whence Instantly would proceed
most astounding vocal effort af W blrh
he would reappear and resume his rall IN
triumph. His frequent journeys to the
same spot led mt to suspect that he had
some pr vate interest in that Quarter--a
nest, OF Hung BRIDE perhaps, and that
he was in lat passing his honey moon,
so l walked toward the place in which |
saw him disappear last, determined TO be
witness of his ,mestic bliss
Ii seemed to me that human mead was
lying alone and bodiless IN the deep green
sea Of grass that surrounded me. A beau
tiful youths head. blond and spiritual,
looked up at me with calm. unfright-
ened look, while Nesting close to its pale,
rounded cheek, hushed and rather aston
ished by my appearance sat Master Bob
q Link.
The head, however, was not without
body The long bending grass met over
the form. leaving exposed only the pale,
beautiful face, which looked like an ex-
quiaite Venetian picture framed in gold
and green.
Good morning. SIR said the youth,
in a sweet voice, as bent over him, look
ing / suppose a little bewidered at this
sudden apparltion, and fondling at the
same time Master Bob o Link, with long,
slender fingers. Good morning, sir''
Good morning, ! answered "You
seem to be taking things quietly here
He gave a sudden glance downward
toward lis feet, and sad smile tlickered
over his lips.
81 am obliged to take things quietly"
he said.
"Ah! an invalid | suppose. l am so1-
ry.'
Il am paralyzed, sir"
No words can paint the tone of utter
despair in which he made this terrible
statement. If you have ever spoken with
man who has spent twenty years in soil
tary confinement, you will have noticed
the nnearthly calm of his voice, the low
monotone of the sound. the loneliness of
accent. Wen. this lads voice sounded So
He talked like one Shut ont of life. |
made place for myself on the grass. and
sat down beside him.
u was attracted by your Bird | said;
81 thought lie had nest here, and SO fol
lowed him | trust | am not intrutiing"
mot at all, sir: l am glad to have
some one to speak to. As for Bob, be has
nest here, but it's in my heart. He is the
only thing on earth that loves ne -
lyon take too sad view of life, my
friend. Your calamity is great, no doubt,
but still
''Ah, Sill, it's well enough to talk so
when you have limbs, and health and
freedom When You can work and 20 out
into lite and tread the earth with the fnll
consciousness of being But when ever
since you can remember You have been
but the moiety OF man, utterly helpless,
utterly dependent, an infant without an
infant happy unconciouspess. But
what's the use of my talking 10 Won in this
way here, Bob, show the gentleman your
tricks. -
Bob, on this summons, left his post by
the ads check, where he had remained
perfectly still, taking an inventory Of NV
person with his round, bright eye, aud an.
parently measuring me for a suit of clothes
and suddenly flew into the air, where he
summeIsaulted and piroutted and affect
ed to lose his wings and tumble from an
appalling height, Invariably recovering
himself before he reached the ground, at
Tel Nnl'H ne AldVeIy ALT upon his master
breast, and thrust his little bill! affection
ately between his lips.
"You have tanned your bird wonderful
ly, | said to the boy
at has been my amusement during NV
solitary hours, he answered, with fee
Die smile.
GLOW is it you have been left SO soil!
tary?" asked; ''you live in the neigh
borhood?'
''In that house up yonder, just peeping
from that clump OF maples,' aud he
pointed as he spoke toward respectable
farmhouse.
':And you have friends-a family?"
'Ahl sir, they are kind enough to me:
but they must be very tired of me by this
time
Come, said l, encouragingly, laying
my hand on his shoulder, 'come, tell me
all about yourself. I'm good listener;
besides, | am interested in you. Bob here
looks as if he was anxious for a story.
This is charming nook that we are in,
so III just light a cigar, and do you
talk
The free and easy manner | assumed,
seemed to surprise him. lie glanced shy
ly at me out of his large, blue eyes, as if !
suspicious of my sincerity; he then heav-
u