Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11

Then the new arrivals, accompanied by
Smith, got into the vehicle on the island
that did not run rails, and drove down the
rigid lane of immaculate consta bulary, while
the six eight hundred avalla bic populace
stood behind and Cheered.
Wasn't that nice?" said Christabel, as
turn in the road took them out of sight of the
crowd, and she settled back little more in
formally among the carriage cushions. Isn't
it delightful to have all the fun of being royalty,
with none of the responsibilities or hard work!
I'd like to go back and do it all over again.
Then she turned to Smith. You, | suppose,
have all the hard work and responsibilities,
and none of the fun; or do you turn them out
like that whenever you come back from
Georgetown!
What was it about her, Smith wondered,
that made her different from everybody else!
She was not the most beautiful woman he had
ever seen. Yet. with the lovely awkward grace
of youth still clinging about her, with her
white skin, warming to ivory under the tropical
winter sun, with the mere JOY of being alive
vsibly vibrating in her, she gave him new
thrill every time she spoke, or moved, or looked
at him,-a thrill that almost hurt.
She cried out again with delight on coming
in sight of their destination.
Fort House was worth an exclamation
great low building, or rather group OF five
separate buildings the largest one in the center,
surrounded by four squat, square towers at the
corners, and all connected by wide veranda.
1t was not, however, at the house that
colossal silk cotton trees which had already
flung their mantle of shade over it. They
looked incredibly old. and the great buttresses
of root, extending halfway up their trunks, ex-
planned the ability they had shown to with
stand three centuries of hurricanes.
Florence Rogers was waiting on the veranda
for them, dressed, she promised O'Brlen to
be, in her prettiest frock and looking as if she
had done nothing all day but sit IN the big
rattan chair, where they caught their first
glimpse of her, and wait for their arrival
Il want another look at those trees before
we 90 into the house." said Christabel when
the formalities of the introduction were over;
and the four of them walked together out to
the cliffs edge where they stood.
They are worth it." said Smith. If you
could learn their language, they would tell you
some great stories about Calico Jack, no doubt"
Calico Jack! had almost forgotten him
for the moment And whereabout on the
island do you think he buried his treasured"
Why, right here, suppose" said Smith.
Its the 1ikeliest spot of all. 1t was here on
this hill that he had his fort. Gregg used the
angle of one of the old ramparts is built right
into the walls. Calico Jacks cave-one much
like the one at Georgetown. only smaller-is
down under the house. Gregg used to use it
for wine cellar
Christabel turned to her father. And you
are going to let me stay here only day."
she demonstrated. Are You still inexora bic
about going back day after tomorrow morn
ing" 6,
know there such place in the world but
! suppose that New York is still located on
Manhattan Island, and is still open for business.
Unless we hear that earthquake has
swallowed it up, am afraid that day after to-
morrow morning will have to mark the end of
our visit
Well" said Smith, "a good deal can hap
pen in a day. Well do the best we can with it."
Their he turned to Florence. =" believe we
all dining here tonight, aren't WEI"
Il hope YOU will be good enough to call it
dinner" she said 1t will be meant for one"
Then she added, Yes, at seven o'clock"
He looked at her with an understanding
smile. III wait to say thank YOU he said
until have time to do it adequately"
Then he turned to the Beaumonts. Il am
glad YOU like the place" he said. Il hope that
tomorrow at this time you will like it still
better"
With that he took his leave and made his
way slowly down the hill.
lust about twentv-four hours later O'Brien
sat on the edge of Smiths bed, watching
him dress for the dinner that to mark the
end of the Beaumonts' one long day on Horse
Island.
They had made the most of it, as Smith had
promised they would. Gregg's old private car.
an open affair with an awning, in which, in his
dav he had been wont to ma Ike his progresses