Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-19

finally went to my father from Drumfern,
no less than three times before / could find
a form of words which was acceptable to
our guide. Kate never opened her mouth
once during these negotiations, save to ask
when Rupert would be well enough to come
to her. The reply which Mr.. Glendonwyn
gave was reassuring but somewhat evasive.
The young man would follow as soon as
his medical adviser thought 1t safe-that
was the gist Of 1t. Whereat Kate sighed
and became silent.
The letter was written In the comfortless
shelter Of the hut, in which were only a
rude slab for table and some packing
boxes for seats. But 1 had been able to
light fire with the new invented phospho-
rus matches which Mr.. GlendOnwyn carried
with him. and which struck upon a piece
of glass paper. He also brought some pro-
visions from the carriage and We ate all
together, Ruperts father sitting opposite
to US. in thick blue pilot-cloth coat, wide
trousers. like sailors, and huge knitted
comforter about his neck
In an hour he announced that the time
of our departure had arrived. 1t was now
clear day, and We could look about US upon
the bleak, unkindly landscape. I, for my
part. thought 1t dreary enough. But Kate,
on the other hand, saw only Rupert and his
coming in ALL and stepped with great deal
of courage and assurance into the little
sailing boat which was to convey US to our
destination.
vigor till we came to the mouth Of the little
winding river, which somewhat gingerly
felt its way down through these sullen
marshes to the sea. AS soon, however. as
he shipped his oars and began to set a
small lugsail, which. having been well
taught In water lore by my brother VIII,
] was glad to be able to help him to raise.
And nothing shows more clearly the great
change which had come over my poor Kate
than this, that she who before had never
been moment idle and who had ever been
the most eager to handle oar or sail, should
now be content to sit Idly by, looking out
over the water without any apparent in
ferest in what We were doing or whittier
we were going, and the reason of that I
knew not then, though afterward it was
plentifully and pitifully plain to me.
IL was a matter OF three hours before We
landed on the Island, which all the while
had been gradually rising before US across
the water-a long low, desolate, sand duny
place, with a fringe of sand and pebbles all
around 1t, plantation or two covering un-
DER d shaggy heathery heights Of rock and
circling and screaming about 1t everywhere
AS We drew round a spit Of sand over which
the waves were breaking white we came
In sight of long, low building, gray, ruin
Gus and weather-beaten of aspect, from
which an ancient square tower rose backed
by great trees and oyergrown with ivy
But from the sea 1t appeared to be roofiess
ana desolate, and the jackdaws rose In a
cloud protesting against our intrusion as
We came nearer. / tried in vain to recall
the aspect of the map of Scotland at this
point.
Mr. Glendonwyn presently brought US up
at a rude pier similar in construction to
That which We had left on tho mainland.
Here We made fast, the sail was taken
down and we stepped ashore, Mr.. GIendon-
wynn carrying our slender effects For, as
say, in the smaller courtssies he left moth
ing to be desired.
There was boat house near by, as WAS
at first glad to notice, but the iron door
was locked and in addition secured with a
stout paddock and chain. We took our way
among sea holly and starwort, thrift and
water plantin, skirting heathery hillocks
and benty warrens. over which the rabbits
scurried, and where the sea birds were he
ginning TO nest. in the direction of the
ancient and ruipous building which we had
observed from the sea,
At first 1 thought the place wholly de-
serted. for nothing was to be seen but a
plain ridge of ancient stone and lime broken
at the top, and above 1t the jackdaw's
tower or keep. But Mr.. Glendonwyn went
on steadily following a path which every
step grew palmer till We turned an arch.
way and found ourselves, by one of those
quick surprises which always affect m,
spirits with pleasure, in small, welI-kept
plot Of the greenest grass. afame with LEM
lilies and slender nodding daffodils. And
whereas without We had seen only the gray
crumbling Of q wall, rude as a stone dyke
the lime moldered away by the eager damn
Of the sea air, behold. within was a littl,
Whitewashed house with its back to tn,
ruined keep, white blinds to all the win