Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-21

seat was little damp, but be thought
nothing Of it, and lighting his pipe be.
gan sketching.
He worked for an hour putting the
weed draped rocks and long swells
that broke over them into his book.
and then, lullcd perhaps by the rnonot.
onous rhythm Of the ocean. Law back
on the cushions and fell asleep The
next he knew he was awakened bv a
cold sensation and found the tide had
risen until it wet his feet Hastily
getting UP, he took the cushions and
returned TO where he had left the boat.
only TO find it had Disappeared The
rising tide had lifted the boat and
painter from the rocks. and it was
nowhere to be seen
"Thcre must be some road bacl; IN
on the island he thought, that will
lead me near the covc where the
Gypsy is" and, still retaining tho
cushions. he started to ind ii. But
he was n stranger to Southport island.
and the farther away from the sea he
got the thicker grew the tdngle OF
scrub spr,cc and bricrs. It was too
thick to see anywhere, and after n
half hour of desperate scramhing the
afternoon sun began to seem about due
east. He had long since dropped the
cushions, and finally, in sheer exhaus-
tion, he sat down on rock to collect
himself
1T looks as though I'm billed In stav
here all night" he thought as hc noted
the lowering sun. "and nobody knows
how much longer. There must be n
road somewhere, though, and I'm 60
ing to find it if the light lasts long
enough"
He started once moro and had not
gone ten rods ere be came to one. and
then he breathed easier. His clothes
We're torn. his hands and face scratch
cd ny briers. and to save himself he
couldn't make it seem but that the sun
was setting in the east. He sat down
to think. All sound of the ocean was
gone. and n stiffness that seemed to
crawl out of the thicket was around
him. He rested n few moments more
and then suddenly heard the sound Of
wheels and presently saw coming
Ground the curve, an old fashioned
Carryall worn and muddy. and. driv-
Ing the horse at n jog trot n man as
dlapidated looking as the vehicle.
Gladdened at the sight he arose and.
holding up his hand as n signal, halted
the team. Excuse me. sir" he said
TO the man. who eyed him curiously,
but will you tell me where I sm?
"Waal." was the answer in n slow
drawl, we're on Southport island an
; bout four miles from the iumpin' or
place. Whar might ye be gon'? Ye
looked pushed
~ am" answered Page. land badly
pushed too. lost my boat over back
here on the shore and have had
; cheerful time among the Mohawk
briers. I belong to a yacht that is
anchored in cove of this island,
can't tell where, and il you will take
me to her I'll pay you we'll
The man in the wagon laughed
Say, stranger" he observed with a
chucklc, you mind me o the Teller
that got full an wandered round for
spell till he fetched up to house
an sed to the man that cum TO the
door, II you will tell me who am or
whar | am or whar l want ter 90 I'll
give We dollar"
Page had to laugh in spite of His
plight for the humorous twinkle in
the old mans eyes as he uttered his
joke was Infectious
I'd like ter commodate ye" he add,
ed, but as I'm carryin' Uncle Sans
mail an must git home an tend the
light, an as ye don't know whar We
want ter go, yc best jump In an go
: down to Saints Rest. whar live. an
in the mornin' We'll try an hunt up
, yer boat"
1t seemed the only thing TO do. and
2 Albert awaited himself of the chance.
: Can you tell the spot where YOU
I found me- he said to the man a they
started on. I'd like TO 90 back there
tomorrow and find my cushions"
WAL" was the answer. as Iva
druv over this road twice a day 70,
I nigh on to thirty year, I'm tolerabls
familiar with it. My names Terry,
! an I'm keeper o. the light at the Caps
an carry the mail to sorter piece oui
? on. Who might ye be-
My names Page and I'm from BoS
t ton, and a lawyer by profession" re-
|. piled Albert.
) Uncle Terry eyed him rather sharply,
II wouldn't a took ye fer one ha
! said "Ie look too honest | amt
o much stuck on lawyers" he added with
| n chuckle I've had 'sperence with
| 'em. One OF 'em sold me- IA hole in thu
0 ground onct an it cost me the hull O
twenty years sayin's, Yell 'scusa
me fer helm blunt it's my natur."
"Oh don't mind" responded AL
D bert laughinsly. But YOU mustn't
judge us all by one rascal
: They drove on, and as they logged
, up and down the sharp hills he caugh,
sight here and there OF the ocean, and
, alongside the road, which consisted Of
I two ruts a path and two grass grown
, ridges, he saw wild roses in endless
profuson. On either hand was an in.
terminabe thicket. In the little val,
legs grew masses of rank ferns and
, on the ridges, interspersed between
the wild roses, clusters of red bunch
, berries. The sun was almost down
when they reached the top of long
hill and he saw at its foot small har
Dor connected with the ocean by a mar
row inlet and around It n dozen OF