Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-09-06
CHAPTER XXXvII.

were slowly riding up the river road
Just where ii entered the Wilton planta.
tion. One was young, mere boy In |
years; but certain habit Of command.
with the responsibility accompanying, !
had given him a more manly appear. |
once than his age warranted. The |
other, to casual glance, seemed much |
older than his companion. though |
closer inspection would show that he !
was still young man and that those
marks upon his face which the care
less passerby would consider the at.
tributes Of age had been traced by the
fingers OF grief and trouble. Tho
bronzed and weather beaten faces Of
both riders bespoke an open air life
and suggested those who go down upon
the great deep in ships, a suggestion
further borne out by the faded, worn
naval uniforms they wore.
In spite of the joy Of springtimt
which was all about them, both were
silent and both were sad. But the sad
ness OF the boy, as was natural, was
less deep, less intense, than that, Of the
man. He was too young to realize the
greatness of the loss he had sustained
in the death of his father and sister.
and were 1t not for the constant re.
minder afforded him by the presence OF
his gloomy companion he would prob
ably, with the careless elasticity Of
youth, have been more successful in
throwing off his own sorrow. The man
had not lost father or a sister, but
some one dearer still. lie looked thin
and i'll. and under the permanent
bronze of his countenance the ravages
wrought by fever, wounds and long
illness were plainly perceptible. There
were gray hairs in his thick, neatly
tied locks, too, that had no rightful
place there in one of his age. The
younger and stronger assisted and
watched over his older companion with
the tenderest care and attention.
They rode slowly up the pleasant road
under the great trees, from time to
time engaging in desultory converse.
ton. Philip endeavored to cheer his
companion by talking lightly of boy.
hood days as each turn Of the road
brought familiar places In the old es.
tate in view. Here he and Katharine
and Hilary had been wont to play;
there was favorite spot, a pleasant
haunt here; this had been the scene Of
some amusing adventure. These well
meant "reminiscences nearly drove
Seymour mad, but he would not stop
them. Finally they came to the place
where the road divided. one branch
pursuing its course along the river
bank past the boathouse toward the
Talbot place, the other turning inland
from the river and winding about till
1t surmounted the high bluff and
J reached the door of the Hail. There
Philip drew rein.
This is the way to the Hall, you
know, Captain Seymour" he said,
pointing to the right. Seymour hest.
tated a moment and said finally:
Eyes, l know. The boathousc lies
over there, does 1t not, beyond the
turn? think will let you 80 mp to
; the house alone. Philip, ami will 80
. down to the boathouse myself. | will
ride back presently"
well, then, will 90 with YOU" said
Philip. Il really think you are too
weak, you know, especially after our
long ride today, to 90 alone"
mo, Philip" said Seymour gently.
: 81 wish to be alone for a few mo
: ments."
The boy hesitated.
! "Oh, very WELL" he said, beginning
. to understand. II will sit down here
on this tree by the road and wait for
lyou. I'll tie my horse, and you can
leave yours here also II you wish. There
lie nothing at the Hail. God knows, 10
make me hurry UP there now, since
: father and Katharine are gone" he con.
| tinued, with sigh. go on, sir. III
wait You won't mind my waiting"
mo; certainly not, II you wish 1t.
shall be back in few minutes any,
way. ] just want to see the-the-ah-
boathouse, you know"
Yes, certainly, understand, OF
course" replied Philip bluntly, but
! carefully looking away, and then dis
! mounting from his tired horse and az
sisting Seymour to do the same from
) him.
Poor old fellow!" he murmured as
he saw the man walk haltingly and
painfully up the road and disappear
around the little bend.
Left to himself, Seymour stumbled
, alone along the familiar road oveI
) which few short months before he
9 had Travelled light heartedly by the
!. side of Katharine. AS he pressed on
he noticed a man leave the boathousG
> and climb slowly up the hill. Desirou;
of escaping the notice OF the stranger
, who, he supposed. might be the factor
: or agent of the plantation, he waited
, In the shadow of the trees until the
{ man disappeared over the brow Of the
= hill and then he staggered on. A short
g time after he stood on the landward
= end OF the little pier, and then his
Z banrt gtnn1 Elm fnr a pocnn1 on1 tb or