Chicago eagle., 1904-08-27

"Why should I have thought of the
because you thought him to he my
father. Did ] not hear you speak of
my resemblance to himT
"Yes, for you both stood by the bin
naclc as | ssoke. and you looked more
then like Mari Laroon than you did like
a binnacle. ! only discovered that you
both belonged to the same family of ami
mate beings-that you were both of
Adam But let that pass. When Cau.
casian parents give birth to an Ashantee
child then | might believe that some few
drops of Mari Laroons blood flowed in
your veins. but not till then. And yet
IL have seen some members of u fam
lily whom you resemble"
Paul started and placed his hand upon
Buffo's arm.
"Do you mean anything by that!" he
asked. IN low tone.
ayes. | mean that have seen those
Of whom your face puts me in mind"
"And who are tlcyI Where 10 they
live? The namc!'
"Iet me nsk you question first. How
long have you been herrT'
Ever since ! can remember"
"Anh YOU can remember nothing back
of thatf"
Yes returned Paul. eagerly. and yet
sadly. IL can remember oe plnyiug In
II wide park and riding u little pony.
And can rcmemhcr OF lirilp brook
where used TO play In the water"
"And do you remember the name Of
the person with whom you lived thcn"
mo. sir. Lnroon has done everything
la, T.; ot. Fan
things; and what with my youth. and
with his falsehood. I have forgotten it
all. l can remember one cold. wet day.
Of being taken into carriage with n
strange man. and my little Mary with
me-nnd of being driven off long dis
tance, and then Mari l.aroon 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 he
would kill her IL she did not stop. And
then we stopped at 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 thcn?"
mo. His rendezvous was then In
Manila. We remained there until was
ten years Old and then he took me to
sea, and left Mary In care Of IN old wom-
an there. When ! was fourteen he nov
ed his headquarters to this place. and
since then Mary has lived here. lie and
the Malays have harried the seas ever
since"
"Is this girl Of whom you speak n
sister Of yours?"
"Oh. no." quickly replied the youth.
Did YOU nsk Luroon whom you used
to live withV
"yes, and he told me It was with a
man named Delany."
"Then why did you say you had for
gotten the nameT"
Because l do not think that II true"
For some moments burlington was 81.
lent, but nt length he said:
did YOU ever know any one whom
you called Uncle Stephen'i'
Paul started to his feet md laid both
his hands upon his companions shoul.
ders. and after gazing few moments
into his face he said:
SPEAK thnt name again."
Uncle Stephen"
"Ay, remember It well. Now do
know that that name has often prattled
over my boyhood's tongue. But there IL
more. Stephen Is but half the name"
Humphrey" said Buffo. In a lew
tone.
The youth sat back upon the gun car.
rlnge and folded his hands In his lap.
"Why, or. why" he murmurcd. "have
I never been able to call these things
to mind? Oh, how clear. now. Is the
whole thing. How well do ! remember
that name-uncle Stephen-Stephen
Humphrey. But tell me. sir. what you
know Of this"
burlington made no 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 | have seen," re.
turned Burlington, who. after some hesi-
tation, added. II was ut Col. Stephens
."Col. Stephen?" interrupted Paul. with
energy. "rhen l am honorably connect
edY'
,"You once had most honorable friends.
But let me 20 on. ! was once Mt Col.
Stephen Humphreys. and | saw you
there. I am sure twas you. That was
seventeen years ago. You were a mere
infant then, perhaps two years old. |
can tell you no more, save that ] knew
you from the very lines Of your face"
"But tell me II have friends living p
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 I
any friends In American"
"Hark! what sound was that?"
"Poor Ben is awake" added Paul.
starting to his feet. 1--WE shall converse
again."
perhaps so.
The youth heard Ben's voice calling
to nm, and he stopped to say no more.
BuifO burlington watched the graceful
figure of his companion until It had dis.
appeared down the companions and
then he arose and walked forward, NUT
tering to himself as he went:
"He has friend he little dreams Of"
CHAPTER VIII.
On the following day, toward the mid.
die Of the forenoon. Paul left the brig
to go up the river. He had the same
boat which the captain had used the
evening previous. and he would have
had the same crew had he listened to the
will Of Laroon. But he was determined