Middletown transcript., 1901-04-27

Wnere are you going 10 Jake us Aohls
queried Billy lazily.
"Don't think we shall get far, sir" re-
piled the old boatman, with weather
wise glance at the sky. There don't
fare to be catspaw of wind all night
I'll just drift her down to the tail O. Il c
Gunspit Sand on the flood tide an drift
back on the ebb. You'll get no sainin'
tonight, sir; but, as far as I can see,
there'll be nice slant O. wind from the
eastward tomorrow, if may be you'd like
sail in the afternoon"
'I'm afraid l shan't be here then.
am thinking of going up to the city by
the 9.4O train tomorrow morning." re-
piled Billy rather sadly, as he eyed the
dark figure in the eyes of the boat.
"Sorry to ear that, sir" replied the
boatman. "But ere comes the musical
gent, and e makes up the party. Now
we can make SAIL.
"Be verree careful wiz my violin" !"
said a voice from the side of the boat.
''It was given me by re Queen of Italee
wiz 'er own fair hands, and is worth five
hundred guinea. Hold re boat tight, or
1 tumble in the water, an drown myself
deadp'
Tom Masterman gave few short or
ders to the hand who embodied in him.
self the mate and crew of the "Sandville
Belle" Sail was made, the yacht slip
ped from her moorings to drift slowly on
the moonlit tide.
As the boatman had predicted, there
was not a breath of wind; and the signor,
secure from the perils of seasickness,
poured forth love song after love song,
with much rolling of the eyes and tender
glances in the direction of Diana.
Soon Billy had no heart to throw the
obnoxious musician overheard. He sat
silent and glum, thinking how in the
course of couple of hours he would
have parted from Diana forever.
Presently he began to count the min
utes, because Diana had come to his side,
and had begun to chat quite kindly.
Presently she moved away again.
Half the trip was accomplished, for the
yacht had drifted to the tail of the Gun
spit Sand.
''It's slack water now, and the ebb'll
be startin' in few minutes" remarked
Tom Masterman casually.
Then brilliant idea came to Billy.
He considered how, in short hour and a
half, the yacht would have drifted back
to her moorings, and he would never see
his Diana again.
He leaned over to the boatman.
"What are you getting for this trip?''
he whispered.
Give dollars" replied Tom Master
man.
''Look here, Tom; you're an old friend
of mine, aren't your whispered Billy.
''Few gents I likes better" replied
Tom readily.
''Look here, Tom. l want to talk with
one of the young ladies abroad here
said Billy unblushingly. eff it's to be
done, we mustn't get back to our moor.
ings this tide. It's dead calm and slack
water, and nobody can see. They're all
singing choruses, and won't notice if you
lay her up on the soft end of the Gun
spit an let the tide leave us there. She'll
float again in six hours. The ladies have
plenty of wraps"
There was a soft rustic of paper-such
as might be made by the transferring of
banknote from one palm to another.
Old Tom Masterman's face shone like
a piece of carved ebony in the moon
light.
The signor's tenor voice was uplifted
in sweet song, when he was interrupted
by hoarse voice from the stern-sheets.
''Werry sorry, ladies and gents,' said
the voice, ''but sweep of the tide has
taken us ashore on the tail O. the Gun
spit, SO you'll ave to make yourselves
as comfortable as you can till she floats
off on the next flood, about six o'clock
tomorrow mornin'."
n X X n
The long hours had worn away to
dawn, yet the "Sandville Belle" still lay
fixed where she had stranded. Every
member of the party sat or lay sleeping
uneasily in her open well with the except
ion of Diana, Billy, and Tom Masterman,
who had beguiled his watch by smoking
the strongest of tobacco in the hlackest
of pipes with an ardor which had gained
Billy's admiration.
The signor, after loud complainings
and many expressions of fear concern
ing his personal safety, and the harm
that might result to his tenor voice from
the unwonted exposure, had wrapped
himself in his fur-lined coat, and had
appropriated the only comfortable corner
in the boat.
Billy watched him as he lay snoring,
anu GllouSub H6 IdQ s66n DeJt6T looking
sleepers in his time than the unfortunate
scion of the noble house of Chigi.
Diana somehow felt that the illusion.
created by large pair of dark, poetic
eyes and a smartly braided military
jacket, was rapidly vanishing from her
mind
Billy sat by her side. Early in the
night, Notwithstanding her protestations,
he had taken off his coat and wrapped it
around her, and somehow her small, cold
hand had found its way into his big
warm palm.
Her eyes kept closing, and the proud
head dropped.
Billy sat still and waited, whilst Tom
Masterman automatically gazed over the
stern TO watch the rising tide.
Lower and lower she dropped. Bille's
heart stood stillas the tired head nestled
down to his shoulder.
"BillyP she muemured drowsily-
"Billy dear! You have such comfort
able shoulderp'
"Have 1, darlingq'' whispered Billy.