The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-21


the noises Of the nisht1ths chatter -, o
song of tree orickets and toads, the dee
reed notes Of frogs In their patches Q
marsh; and through all mingled the heav
diapason of the surf.
am the most practical creature IN IN
world as general thing, but the infuenc
Of it was too heavy for me. ! started on ;
chat again about the boats, and abou
women, and yachts, and books, and tn
other interests Of the outer world; bu
presently, the talk died out OF US aitogetne,I
drinking in what the night gave up.
Then Atcheson spoke
"That is my usual concert he said
sOne gets to like it.
did not answer at once. | could not
A sort of mesmeric doze pinned me down.
When 1 managed to rouse ! felt angr.
with myself for weakness, and spoke with
sneer.
aYou must find it mighty monotonous,
"A mistake, an utter mistake. It is full
Of infinite variety; 1t never repeats itself
and know, because have listened to l
now for three years, in calm. in cyclone
in every kind OF night
Another pause. Then:
| Are you going to write about this Valdez
II am no Thoreau with 9, pen. Besides
am selfish, and II I could set this dowr
would not. One man In ten Thousand
might understand. The others would ethel
matter to be profaned. Listen to the Gull
| surf rumbling on those beaches =,
1T Is like the roar Of the Prater, or thu
Strand, the Rambla, or Broadway. as Il
comes to an upper window
'You can hear that; can make out more
voices and what they say-the tales of love
and hope and hate
II can revel in it all without being mixec
in the dirt and the pains and the squalor
And 1t Is very beautiful also. What picture
did you ever see like that"
He waved his hand to where the red moor
and a patch Of purple sky hung framed
in black arch OF the pines. In the fore
ground the lake lay twinkling beyond q
great fan Of palms. On the flank was spread
thick magnolia tree, full OF scented BIOS
SONS.
raised myself with an effort, and swore
..Atcheson.' ! said, Il believe you are
either the devil or Gree, with changed
seq. Be meroiful and speak no more. y
am come. and stay here. and become as
one OF the swine"
.Iam sorry Atcheson said, 1and because
! do not want converts or companions
will say no more Therefore sleep you.
SuAT LIN ~.
The miasma Of the lotus was in my veins
and knew it and feared. I awoke with
the first lift OF the day. and got to my
boat. Atcheson came after and cried a
pleasant 4Auf wiedersehen, and an
swered with soowl and threw out the
SOULS.
was very angry with myself; I had
knew what it was to wish afterward that
had fallen,
Consequently I made up my mind to
get back to the yacht without halt, and
SO put in a day Of savage toll, And when
made out the sloop's riding Light dancing
dote close at hand. The Man with the
Sunburnt Calves was a very carnal and
practical sort Of person;
He received me ahably.
"The Van Sciaks have come in with their
schooner" he said, 4and they've q girl on
board who says she knows you-a Miss
All 1 said, Il know her well enough
We used TO- see goodish deal OF one an
other once"
the lady" said the Man with the Sunburnt
Calves, Il guess you'd better forget that.
She's engaged to a man from Massachusetts
now, a person with culture and dollars
heaps Of dollars-about ten millions OF EN-,
so believe.
And being 20 she knows what ia a soft
thing, and is not likely to chuck it up. Put
on something respectable and we'll have
the crew scull us across
Not now. At present am going to
turn in to sleep
did you" said the Man with the Sum
burnt Calves, .in the course OF your wan
derin gs find a place where they sold corn
whiskey hope it's merely mountain dew
that's troubling you, my son, because other
wise you've come back very dotty.'
CHAPTER III.
Miss Wilcoxn was young woman with
a great notion Of having her way. She
wanted to know what theSe was to be seen
in the lagoons and lakesA and I told her
with one reservation; but my tale did not
quite hold water.
She guessed that there was something
left out and demanded to hear what it was.
Whereupon | shrugged my shoulders help
lessly and told her about Atcheson, chapter,
commas and verse, merely lying in the
solitary instance Of personal name.
you said that he Is Harvard man."
she ruminated, when had finished. you
mentioned also that ne rowed against you
hot