New-York tribune., 1901-03-10
NETWORK TRIBUNE ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT-

Ask her to come down and spend few days
with us before sail" said Cairns. 1T is for
one thing, only proper consideration for your
sister. and for another'-
You are expiring with curiosity to herr,
Interrupted Isabel with a little gUsh of laugh
ter. Then she pretended TO box her husbands
ears, and he kissed her and they went in to
supper. Next day the letter Of invitation to
Winifred CarlingbroO,l written. The reply
acceptance, mingled with girlish expressions Of
grief at lsabeIs impending departure. Mrs
Cairns tossed the letter gayly to her husband
and watched him he read il.
The hand is like yours" he observed. Isabel
nodded Cairns said no more but gave her back
Wiuifrcd'S letter and plunged into the pcrUsal
of legal looking document which had been
delivered AT the same time 1t was, in fact, a
subpoena 70 appear as witness for the Defendant
Captain DunstOne. in d case in which the plain
tiff. an A B.. reduced 80 the ordinary rating for
sheer incompetcncy, sued TO recover full wages
for the voyage recently completed by the Vent
ure- SO they can't do without me. ne sald
frowning. and pulling his fair beard, and all
through that longshore swab who palmed him
self off the skipper for a seaman I've got
to leave you Isabel. and go up to London"
OH she cried, with a dsmayed intonation.
How long shal you be away
about four days answered Cairns. drawing
her hand about his neck
Ard shall be all alone" said his wife
Cant he helped he commented. Then his
knitted brow cleared after all. my girl, it
isn't though the sailing OF the Venture meant
our parting. You'U have had enough OF my
company 10y the time We reach Jamaica. Per
haps, before we sight the western peak of those
Blue Mountains I've told you about you'll he
crying Why did / marry me%-lile the girl in
the country songr'
But the joke was lost on Isabel.
oh. Jen,' she uttered with a gasp and
look Of fear rose into her eyes. IF anything
should part | should never know happy
hour again"
1t seemed to Cairns, as he kissed her goodby
at the garden gate on the morning of the day
on which Ee went up 10 London, that never
any man had mad 50 n"autifui or So fond Il wife
before. lie WIS religious in simple way. and
as he looked up At the bright June sky over
head he pulled of his hat and thanked God for
the gift Of Isabel.
Judge how the Ianguid air and hewildering
p. Infusion { the Court Of Law agreed with this
man. He lost flesh ana color in the three days
that occupied 10y The lawsuit. when the
train that was TO carry him home rolled out of
the station his spirits revived and rose with
every deem miles. For one thing. he was sev-
cral hours t. the good, ne going To surprise
isabel 10y coming back on the Thursday evening
instead Of the Friday afternoon He purpoSely
had ahstAiucd from telling her. in order to
JOY her rapture OF delight At seeing him uneX-
pcCtcdly The man was as you will perceive. a
simIlctnn. In all the years that he had gone to
and fro upon the sea h had seen much but
learned nothing Of the world
The salt smell Of the sea came to his nOstrils
ana the gray marshes and muddy fats. with the
CLEAN of silVcry gray beyond gave place to
Grimpnrt railway station, with forest of
nl&sts sticking up beyond the tidal river bridge
and the docks His new mate getting the
cargo. one OF beer ana a"ratcd waters. into the
Venture The painters and Eilders had done
their work upon the cabin ana Stat"Tpon. the up
holSt"rcrS were Iul ting on m" finishing touches:
in six DAYS NOR" the Venture would be worked
cut Of dock into the tidcWay: then another night
at anchor h.aVing in tho pale. vcaSty SurEcS
and with the green break OF day the Venture
would sail. and hey for If" upon tho salt ocean
with Isabel IL was proper cradle for love, the
bosom 90 the
II Cairns had ever read any poetry. he would
haV" known that these thoughts Of his were
poeticai, but they seemed 10 him the merest
most natural prose He walked at good paC"
along the country lanes. his broad shoulders well
set back his head up. his stick swinging. He
had left his bag at the station. ii 10 be sent
out to the cottage later
The quaint. matched roof of the cottage rose
into sight against the background OF the strip
Of woodland where IsabeTs nChtingaltS sang
Cairns felt sick sort Of sinking at the heart