Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-03-13


These stories usually ended with a
promise TO bring ship loads Of hne
silks and precious stones TO her from
the most distant parts of the earth,
and, as she was young and mex
perienced, of course she readily be-
lieved them.
When John became a big, strapping
fellow, he went before the mast of his
fathers schooner and years later when
his father was no more, and John had
crossed the degree of longitude that
divided boyhood from manhood on
the chart of his life, he became the
possessor of the three-master OF
which he had so often dreamed. He
named his vessel Nancy, after the
/ little blue-eyed Derelict, and il was a
matter of doubt Of which he was the
prouder. For Miss Nancy was the
recognized beauty of the village, and
many a young man of Fairport had
envy in his heart for John Crag-
ston.
The young navigator made many
voyages. but none to any very distant
port. and his ventures were fortunate
and his worldly goods were aecumu-
lating at a most satisfactory ratio.
Miss Nancy was wont to stand upon
the beach, with her blue sunbonnet
protecting her brown eurls from the
sun. and watch Johns schooner sail
out into the open until it became a
mere speck in the distance, and
/ finally disappear altogether in the
haze. After that She would cast
many a glance to seward during the
long days and keep a welt-trimmed
lamp burning IN her window at night
untl such time as the Nancy again
sailed into the Fairport harbor.
But one day John took her for
walk along the beach and found her
shady seat II the shelter Of great
bowlder. Then. stretching himself on
the sand at her feet, he outlined a
plan 10 which she finally half-heart-
edlv consented. with a tear in her eye
and a SIGH In her heart.
.Mv little Dereliet,a he said, hold
ing her hand in his. II shall make
but one more voyage before we are
married. / am going a long distance,
Nancy-to tie far-oH shores Of In
ala. But when / return, / shall
! bring TO you the precious stones and
rare goods which | have SO many
times promised you. ! shall be gone
e for many. many months, Nancy but !
shall return and we shall live in cot
taee overlooking the sea.
Miss Nancy gazed far away at the
misty link between the sky and the
sea and made no reply.
But every hour Of the day ] shall
think OF you, my little Dereliet, anc
40 often as | can / shall send you
message. Should any great length
az time elapse without word from
me. do not doubt my constaney; rath
7 er think Of me as dead, for deatf
d alone can Danish from my heart th'
image Of my blue-eyed Dereliet''
l. He kissed her then, and she brave
= " stiaed a sob in her throat and bi'
; him God-speed.
And when the Nancy sailed out
! Fairport harbor on that bright Jun
morning. Miss Nancy stood on th
y beach and waved a handkerchief :
p lone as a bit OF the black hull coul'
he discernea against the horizon tina
ie stretched across the sea like a dee
: Niue ribbon. Then she walked slowl
: hack 10 her cottage and sank INTO
N chair With her face in her hands.
!, And the schooner Nancy neYe
= more sailed into Fairport harhor.
u During the many years Miss Name
= divided her time between cheerin
y the borrowing hearts, nursing "a
y sick or assisting the poor Of the y
lage and gazing out to sea. An
" every night light burned bright
in her window
II No direct word came from job
al alter his first two letters, but on
dov sailor drifted into the viilaR
r. Who said the Nancy had gone dow
ne ~ the Indian coast, and that. Jon
en- Cragston had died with his face
a the west and far-away look IN q
= eyes.
- Miss Nancy nourished her sorro
i silence. and the story the Q
ri sailor told was a balm to her wound
IN IN the twilight hour she loved
lie walk along the beach where John ha
a led her that June day, and seatii
ed herself in the shelter Of the gre
III bowlder. gaze out to sea.
'lr There it was that big oroa
all .,.a,,t5ered man. coming swiftly aloI
pr ire beach one evening. found her.
ile threw himself on the sand at her fee
81 and she uttered a sudden, sharp 81
60 ana covered her face with her hano
And then he told her that =
lal x.,cv had indeed been wrecked
ri ~ coast Of India, but he had BE-
Kicked up by q passing steamer q
r.rripd 70 Calcutta. There he y
me fs1len under the influence of a VOL
nd 80 sarl, ewes. and upon her he h
iet Iavished ali his fortune and his