The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-09-04

once DeyOuQ the DelL Oh trees tnaL sur
rounded Mawgan Chase she seemed
to forget the particular object she had
in view. Grayton was SO good a talk
er that everything save the particular
subject he was discussing at the mo-
ment passed out Of her mind.
Grayton, in reality, talked general
tiles, but he felt bound to talk in self
defense. Esther was reticent, as she
usually was when in his company;
and he was consumed with a desire
to tell her he loved her. Hence he al
most feared any break in the CONVEX
sation, lest he should unguardedly be-
tray his feelings and so put an end to
a delightful friendship. SO he talked
about the weather, about his absent
vicar, about the needs of the parish,
about the wrecks OH the Beetles, about
the chances of passengers luggage be-
ing washed up by the tide; and on all
these subjects he had something to
say that to Esther at least was ex-
tremely interesting.
The tide was at it's lowest when
they entered the bay. At the extreme
corner, and close to the waters edge,
stood a solitary figure staring steadily
through a pair of field glasses.
Grayton and Esther walked slowly
in his direction. The wind was blow
ing strong and cold. In the offing the
sky looked dark and stormy. The e
was a muddy green, save where the
rocks churned it into foam.
The man with the glasses took no
notice Of them. He stood quite still,
looking ~intently in the same direction.
who is he?" Esther asked, when
they got sufficiently near to see his
face distinctly.
His name is Nevins," Grayton an
swered. HE has been lodging with
old Mrs. Dyer for the last two months
or thereabouts."
What does he dol"
Nothing! He spends all his time
on the cliffs or down in the bay"
is he connected in any way with
the salvage mem"
Not that l am aware of. No, he
seems quite alone; and, as time must
hang rather heavy on his hands, l pre-
sumo he finds it interesting to watch
along the coast for whatever the tide
may bring in"
But he must have some particular
object, surely?'
Il believe he came mainly on &C.
count of his health. Had a nervous
breakdown or something Of the sort,
and the doctors ordered complete
change, perfect rest, and absolute
quite, with as much fresh air as he
could get. am bound to confess,
however, he looks in excellent health
You have made his acquaintance,
Of course?"
well, hardly. He rather avoids
me. Never m to church by any
chance, and is as close as an oyster
about his personal affairs"
How interesting!"
II have given him the go-by of late.
Mrs. Dyer a y he is a very nice man,
gives very little trouble, and pays up
on the nail"
Has he made any friends in the vii.
lager"
Not any, I think. He is too
reticent a man to make friends any
where"
But why does he look at the sea
through a field glass?"
Grayton laughed. "Oh. the story
goes that he holds a watching brief
for some relative who was a passenger
on the Nebraska, and who is anxious,
in case his luggage should be washed
up by the tide, that no one runs away
with it."
did he come here for that particu-
lar purpose?"
ooh, no. He had been staying here
some considerable time before his rel
alive knew anything about it. But.
discovering he was here, he wrote,
asking him to keep his eyes Open"
Il should like to have a talk with
him."
your"
why not? You have aroused my
curiosity"
"Oh, very good. He appears to be
coming this way at length. I will
speak to him."
They. changed the angle of their
walk q little SO that they might inter-
cept him. He, seeing their object.
tried to avoid them. So Grayton call.
ed to him across the intervening space
Of sand.
Anything to report, Mr.. Nevins?"
Nothing since 2 o'clock"
"You are hoping for something's"
"Oh, well. a to that. l can hardly
say that I am. It can make no differ
ence to me whatever the waves toss
up"
But . relative Of yours is, I am
told, interested"
'sWell. . distant relative. but more a
friend than Z relative" and he turned
his head - though he wished to end
the conversation.
HAS your friend lost something
very valuabls?" Esther questioned.