Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-09-06
The Sea SCourge
=O=


IL have seen some members of a fam
lily whom you resemble"
Paul started and placed his hand upon
Buffo's arm.
DO you mean anything by that?' he
asked, in a low tone.
Yes. | mean that have seen those
of whom your face puts me in mind"
And who are they? Where do they
live? The name?"
"Let me ask you question first. How
long have you been hereT
Ever since | can remember"
And you can remember nothing back
of thatT'
Yes" returned Paul, eagerly. and vet
sadly. Il can remember of playing in
a wide park and riding a little pony.
And | can remember of a little brook
where | used to play in the water"
And do you remember the name of
the person with whom you lived then p
No, sir. Laroon has done everything
in his power to make me forget those
things; and what with my youth, and
with his falsehood, | have forgotten it
all can remember one cold. wet day,
OF being taken into carriage with n
strange man. and my little Mary with
me-and of being driven off long dis
tance, and then Mari Laroon came up
and during the rest of the day we walk
ed. And l can remember how little
Mary cried and how he told her be
would kill her if she did not stop. And
then we stopped at a strange house and
slept that night and the next day we
reached the place where / saw the ships
and wharves. That was Boston, as
Mari has since told me-"
Did you come here thenY'
No. His rendezvous was then in
Manila. We remained there until l was
ten years old, and then he took me ito
sea. and left Mary in care of an old wom-
an there. When l was fourteen he NOV
ed his headquarters to this place, and
since then Mary has lived here. He and
the Malays have harried the seas ever
since"
rs this girl of whom you speak a
sister of yours?"
"Oh. no. quickly replied the youth.
Did you ask Laroon whom you used
to live with %
Yes, and he told ME it was with a
man named Delany."
Then why did you say you had for
gotten the name"
Because l do not think that is true"
For some moments burlington was ST.
lent. but at length he said:
Did you ever know any one whom
you called Uncle Stephen'?'
Paul started to his feet and laid both
his hands upon his companions Shout
ders. and after gazing few moments
into his face he said:
Speak that name again."
Uncle Stephen
"Ay, | remember it well. Now do
know that that name has often prattled
over my boyhood's tongue But there is
more. Stephen is but half the name"
Humphrey" said Buffo. in a lew
tone.
The youth sat back upon the gun car
riage and folded his hands in his lap.
Why, or, why" he murmured "have
| never been able to call these things
to mind? Oh, how clear, now, is the
whole thing. How we'll do l remember
that name-Uncle Stephen-Stephen
Humphrey. But tell me. sir, what you
know of this"
burlington made 10 answer, but sat
with his dark face hidden in his great
hands. Paul had more time to reflect,
and his anxiety grew apace.
You must know something of my
people-something of my early child
hood. Do not refuse me-
Il know your countenance puts me
in mind of those whom l have seem" re-
turned burlington, who. after some hest
tation, added, Il was at Col. Stephens
-"
Col Stephen?" interrupted Paul. with
energy, Then | am honorably connect
ed ~
You once had most honorable friends.
But let me go on. ] was once at Col.
Stephen Humphreys, and | saw you
there. l am sure twas you. That was
seventeen years ago. You were mere
infant then, perhaps two years old. l
can tell you no more, save that l knew
you from the very lines of your face"
But tell me if l have friends living?"
Eyes. you have friends all about you.
Ben Marion would die for you, and half
the crew"
II know that" interrupted Paul, with
a grateful emotion manifest in his tone:
but you know what / mean. Have l
any friends in American
"Hark! what sound was that?''
Poor Ben is awake" added Paul.
starting to his feet. "We shall converse
again."
Perhaps so.
The youth heard Ben's voice calling
to nm. and he stopped to say no more
Buffo burlington watched the graceful
figure of his companion until it had dis
appeared down the companion-way, and
then he arose and walked forward. NUT
tering to himself as he went:
He has a friend he little dreams Of"