New-York tribune., 1901-03-10

Isabel, how he had first met her at an evening
party given by the wife of one Of the Grmport
merchants. and how, in contrast with the loud
dresses and cackng voices of some other young
women who were present-if they had only heard
ann. would they have ever called him delightful
aEalnE-the refined beauty and simple grace OF
the lady clerk had gained III charm. He told
the story of their brief Wooing Of the wedding.
a very simple affair and quite private at the
Grmport church, and described the cottage, a
mile outside the town. which he had taken for
the honeymoon. 1t stood in old-fashioned
garden, and there We're clipped yews on each
side of the gate, and behind wood where
n&htinEale5 sang day and night-at least, lsab
said they were niehtinEaIes
Thy wife viii have TO put up with gulls and
frieate birds at sea" said Mr. Jeremy she
can't take the nightingales along with her"
or her sister, said Captain Dunstone pity
ngly The poor thing will miss her. I'll be
bound"
she has friends in London. with whom she
lives" returned Cairns
Friends a poor substitute for kindred" "
remarked the elder HaNby.
she Is engaged to the eldest son Of these good
folks" said Cairns and | understand the splic-
ing Of the lovers is only matter of weeks He
has 4 berth as second mate aboard an Australian
liner and has good pay, Isabel tells me. and so
one may consider Miss Winfred we'll provided
for"
''Winifred, Is that her nance" cried Dun
stone 1t sounds as though it ought to belong
to q pretty girl. Now if | were twenty years
younger and little less tough and tanned.
there would he chance for me-"
oddly enough said Cairns. showing his
Ninifred is pretty or not. l have never seen 4
portrait of her. But in your interests. Captain
Dunstone. l must ask nay wife to give me 4
sight of one IL she has it,"
And he bade the owners and the retiring skip
per jovial gOcdny. and swung of at a smart
pace homeward. The mile that lay between Grim
port and the country cottage he had rented for
the honeymoon was soon covered Isabel MAS
waiting At the gate, and there were no paSsers-
by to witness the rapturous embrace with which
the married lovers met after three hours Of
separation.
"oh. Jemt' mis- young wife cried as she met
his triumphant kiss You have good news for
me, ] am 10 sail in the Venture with you? Isn't
il true?'
True that the salt and you my
wifei" Cairns passed his arms around her Slight
waist, kissed her golden haii-for Isabel was a
fair beauty-and looked ct her with pride. "Tho
cabin is to be scraped, painted and new rigged.
lit for bride. piano is to be shipped for yuu
at the HaXbys expense. and this watch and
chain are present 10 me because have been 50
lucky as to marry the sweetest and prettiest girl
dry land"
Isabel glowed at the simple iattery Her heart
was in her eyes she looked at him.
''They should have given il to me- she said
because l have married the handsomest man
and the bravest in the whole world" She had
heard the story Of the sharks and Cairns's dive
Oh Jern. if | had lost you them" She could
say more.
las you didn't know then answcrered
Cairns. with a twinkle in his bright gray eyes
lit wouldn't have affected you"
81 should never have married. Isabel fared
out. No other man but you would ever have
wen my heart" She covered of his large
strong hands with both Of hers. Say" she
cO1xed. that il you had not met me you never
would have Inarried"'
II should have been a sea husband like Dun
stone welded to my ship for better. for worse. 20
laughed Cairns. Though now that the old
fellow is going ashore for good, hc'n be wanting
somebody To brew his gTOg and fill his pip" for
him lie wanted to know about your sister
Winifrcd-whether she was pretty as you
are and whether she was engaged and / said
that she couldn't possibly b" me one. but /
he ne %
Isabel began to laugh. How am longing TO
see your face when you first set eyes Win
net' she cried. What viii you say? What
will you think? Oh. l wouldn't show You her
photograph for the world. though have got
half dozen. il would spoil the effect l mean to
create"