The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-09-15
Copyright. 1901 by D. Appleton o., New ,ssA
L'ENvOr.

away II 10 q NV '1NSNfN 80
new land. Under grove
OF mighty trees. the forest
rrimoval, indeed, on the brow Of a
hill, gray old manor-house stands
upon a grassy lawn stretching down
10 the shining waters OF the broad
Potomac. On the edge OF the bluff,
looking far over the river. Is little
sleasure- house. 1t Is late spring in
the Old Dominion.
Philip and Anne Grafton for some
time past have been established in the
ancestral home OF the family from
which her mother sprang, which had
descended to her shortly before.
Though he had given up active serv-
ice in the English navy, out OF defer
ence to his wife's feelings. who would
not see him war against her country
men, and who could not bear TO think
of him on that sea which had taken
her grandfather and father as well,
Grafton had retired with the sanction
and approval OF the king. His beauti-
full wife and her story had won the
kind heart of queer little George H.,
and while loath TO lose SO good an
officer, he had at last said yes to
all her pleadings Tor her husband. She
had suffered enough and she was en-
titled to consideration.
From tall masthead, erected on
the sloping lawn, every day nutters a
small blue flag, which is especially
under the care of certain ancient
mariner of aspect curious and Ian
suagc quaint who rolls along the
walks and drives of the Virginia
plantation as if he were still on the
heaving deck OF ship He answers
to the nsmc of Jabez Slocum, and is
full OF strange tales of distant lands
and teeming seas The children of
the vicinity love him.
Philips nciehbors, in common with
this old man, call him Admiral
Grafton" He is. in fact, a rear adj
miral OF the blue, and the flag is that
of his rank.
In the little summer-house there are
two women. The difference between
them is as married. thinks Philip, as
he observes them himself unseen, !
from the porch of the house above, as
when he first saw them in the old
Chateau de Josselin in Brittany in
France. There Is but one doll be-
tween them now. II Is NOT Toto nor
any Of the demoiselles de Paris. This
one has blue eyes like. his father and
mother, and the midnight hair OF Anne
has been lightened into curly brown
that speaks of Philip Josette. who
had been brought from France after
the battle. kneels at her mistress feet.
in alteration. From where Grafton
stands he can see the downy head of
his young son nesting against the fair
white bosom OF his mother Young
Philip de Rohan Grafton Is hungry
but he will not be SO long,
The two women break into the
words of a familiar song. The man
PATCHES and listens. There is a step
behind him He turns and finds him
sell face to Ease with old Jean-Renaud.
They sing yonder. Do you hesr?'
asked Grafton.
Yes, monsieur" answered the old
man smiling.
do you know what 1t is they sing?
Philip knows il we'll. he has heard II
often; but still he asks the question
thinking the while OF the morning he
first heard II from the children at the
foot of the tower when he asked Jean
Renaud abou; II long ago.
Yes, Monsieur fAmiral. It's q
Breton cradle-song with which the
mothers put their babies to sleep.
The two men look and listN The
two women sing on. The baby sleeps.
There is peace in the land.
THE END.l