Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-12-26
[ooNT1NuED.l

hid the world, but through it shone a
poignant vision of Claire Harding
among the WILDWOOD fir trees-in the
autumn evenings long ago. And this is
how the tears came back into Tom
Erichsen's eyes, to show him that his
soul had lived through a nights bush
ranging and four months of Major
Honeybone's iron gang.
Daintree looked on with a jealous
scorn. That a few stray verses in the
Annual Register should put fire and wa
ter in eyes which the combined "Hours
of Exile" and Of "Idleness' some
times left in such a very different state!
1t was a CALLING thought, and it show
ed itself in such black looks that Tom
was constrained to cut his first heart
felt outburst very short indeed. So he
hastily added that the poem appealed
to him particularly. He need not K
plain why.
81 'see,' said Daintree. "Not alto
gether Oh it's merits, eh? I'm glad to
hear it," And his face lightened a
little.
81 don't know" said Tom humbly.
IL was Ou lis ulClllS, L Iulih. ooiSAS
it must appeal to every miserable man.
Oh, it's all, all therein such words!
Come, sir, don't you think it fine your
self?"
"Fine," said Daintree, els a word
which the critic does not employ I'M
advisedly. Your fine poem is not spas
modic. 1t takes a meter and sticks to
it-as l do. for example, and as Byron
did. You don't catch me or Byron
writing poems with no two stanzas
alike in form! No, Thomas, the verdict
is not fine but that the lines have a
certain merit 1 don't deny"
"yVho wrote them" asked Tom after
a pause.
"His name is Tennyson," replied the
poet. "You have never heard it be-
fore, dare say, and I shouldn't be sur
prised if you We're never to hear 1t
again. There were fair things in his
last book, but. upon the whole, 1 am
afraid the production you so admire
may be taken as representing his high
water mark. which is a sufficient COM
mentary upon the rest. I understand,
however. that he is a very young man,
so we must give him a chance. When
he is my G he may do very much
better if he perseveres, as l have done.
Now, my notion of treating such a
theme" said Daintree, you have heard
before, but you shall hear it again"
And with that he drew "Hours Of
Exile from his pocket and read with
ineffable JUNCTION one of the longest
sets of 'Stanzas to Clarinda," while
the terrier gaZed up at him with eyes
of devoted sympathy and admiration
and Tom fed his upon feathery emer
aid branches and a turquoise sky as he
reluctantly decided that the kindest OF
men was in some respects the most
%egregious also. S~uddenly-to his horror
the reading stopped. He had beer
caught not attending! He lowered his
eyes, n they fell Upon the snowy
wings of a full rugged ship just clear
ing the woody eastern point of the bay
and sailing slowly and majestically on
Both men sprang to the waters edge
Daintree's book lay in the sand. Thu
ship was now clear of the point, stand
ing to the north of Shark island will
the light breeze upon her counter,
noble vessel Of 600 tons, flying the rel
ensign at her peak.
Not a word passed at the water
edge, but it was Tom who led the rusl
to the bungalow, who fetched Dain
trees immense spyglass, with thef flag
of all nations let into the leather, ant
who barred the lenses before putting i
-, l,;o ,,oc+o,,, cJ,o1y;,r hands ~.
"How many days are they out?" ask
ed Daintree, aiming wildly with til
glass.
"Ninety-nine."
"She could never do it,"
cts been done BEFORE"
ooh, no no. This must be some the
ship. Steady the glass for me. 1 can
get focus. There-now! Yes, I see he
people, but l can't read her namew
Let me try, sir"
"Here, then"
Tom tried and gave it UP.
$40 Piper's point!' he cried. "She'
pass there much closer!" And agai
he led the way, with Daintree thundel
ing close behind and the terrier bari
ing happily at their heels.
Along the shore they raced, the littl
bay on their right, then across the prom
ontory %diagonally and out at it's ives
ern point, painting, trembling, stream
ing with perspiration, but in time. He
bowsprit was sticking out behind tt
island, and they were there to see he
nose follow, with the foam curling III
der it like a white mustache.
Tom had the telescope, focused still
and he handed it to Daintree withol
q word, but the Il concerned we
trembling SO violently the ship juml
ed right and left, and Tom had to tt
again. He was steady enough. WIS
was it to him? She was only half
mile off now, and the first thing
saw was a frock huttering on the poo
"Now l have it!!' he muttered. TT
suns on the letters; one, two, three
yes, there are eight! Re-
He lowered the glass and held OF