The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-07-19
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
- nee in livery. Tom sat no more
at his masters table. He had,
at Il instead and TO make him
self the servant he had been hitherto
in name only. Daintree would have
let the old arrangement continue. but
the new one was a boon to Tom. Ii
gave him freedom and Independence
and occupation. and so helped him
wonderfully upon the upward road.
One evening when a ship had come
In and Daintree had driven into sgd
ney for his letters be returned In such
extraordinary spirits that he could
hardly touch his dinner: he must gloat
over a crinkling sheet OF paper. while
the soup grew cold In the very spoon.
and Tom could only suppose that his
masters family had come round at
last. As a rule. he talked necessarily
to Tom while the latter waited. but
this evening his letter absorbed his
whole attention. At last. however. be
looked up, and his saturnine counte'
nance was redeemed and TRANSPORTED
by a perfectly startling radiance and
joy.
Thomas" he said, you must marry
a wife,
The CHEEKY tone was as new In him
as the delighted look. Tom was &C
astonished he had to think what the
words meant before shaking his head.
why not. my good fellowT' cried
Daintree.
why should you want me tor re
torted Tom.
Because I am about to marry one
myself"
Had he said he was abcut TO bury
one Tom could not have been more
startled and amazed. Somehow he had
never conceived Of Daintree as a mar
ried man. That solitary spirit cen
tered and immersed in self and con
sciously wallowing in its own solitude
and gloom, had forbidden such {
thought the more easily since Tom haC
himself abandoned every aspiration d
the kind. A twinge Of jealousy sue
ceeded his FIRST surprise. but In another
moment his heart dilated with uDself
fish pleasure. and his congratulationI
were no less sincere than yociferous.
"If you knew her." said Daintree
"you would congratulate me ever
more" And he proceeded 10 praise hi
choice as he could have praised moth
Ing that was not In some sense bis
and yet bis passion was convincing
His voice shook with II as his fac
shone.
"a Sydney ladyT' Tom ventured {,
inquire.
Good heavens, no. II she only wer,
ss near as that! She Is on her wa!
out to marry me. This letter was writ
ten q month before she sailed"
"From EngIandT'
"Ye.."
lou will see her In another month.
perhaps before. You never know
how long or how short the voyage vii
be. Mine was 1856 days, and that wa
long. kept a chart Of it-stop: In
going 20 fetch Il. Clear away. ~
had dinner enough"
He rushed from the table. 10 returi
presently with mariners chart Of th
world. upon which he had neatly mark
I'd out the daily courses Of his recen
voyage II was q chain o. many link
from England 10 the Cape and a ChaIl
Of longer links from the Cape 10 Aus
traIIa.
"Sow. them cried Dsintree. arranr
ing the chart under the lamp and seat
Ing himself delishtedIy az the tabl'
"sow well see where they've got q
Hello! where's my letter.
II was on the door. end Tom pickle
u up. averting bis eyes 20 that b
should see nothing while Daintree r,
fsrred 10 the contents.
"Ha. Here We have g." and the lei
Ger was thrust into his pocket "The
were to sail on the 2Sd of June. Ho'
many days ago 10 thatf This IL Ser
tember the 18th. seyen-thirty one
thirty-one and twelve. How much !
thatY'
"Eighty-one." SAID Tom.
"Only eighty one! Then you're right.
sighed Daintree. ''and they won't b
here for smother month. I was ffty
Eve days more"
''Tbey may make q quicker voyage.
They may, but I never have. Tn
one before was q hundred and fort
DAYS. They were 10th above the 81