The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1908-03-10
Forty Years
Between.
BY LLOYD osBoURNE.
------ @s. d.. Il
Copyright. 1893, BY the s. s. Mcclure Co.


and saw thu basaltlc cliffs. tile white
aud foaming reefs, the green. still for
ests of that unforgotten island. He
was boy once more. with fioy' ars In
his hair, wandering beneath the palms
with Tehea. Eow often had he
thought Of her during all these years,
the years that had left him gray and
old, the years that had carried him
unscathed through so many dangers in
every quarter of the world. For him
she was still In her adorable girlhood.
untouched by time. radiant princess
In her radiant Isle. waiting by the
shore for his return. II shocked him to
remember that she was not far short
Of siXty-a fat old woman perhaps
married to some strapplng chief and
more than likely with grown children
of her own. How Incredible II seemed,
But word. ana he might land and
zee her. But a word. and the questions
Of forty years might yet be answered.
Answered, yes, to SKATER as like as
not, with pltlless realities, the tender
Pigment OF dream. No. he said, lac
dared not expose himself to a possible
disillusion, to play iato the hands of
sardonic nature, ever mecking at man.
No. hut he would carry his ship closr
In shore and watch from the bridge the
unfolding bays and tiny settlements of
that lost paradise, and then. dipping
his flag 70 his vanished youth. he
would sink over the horizon his men,
ory thrilled aud his sentiment unim-
paired. to set his face for England.
Dawn was breaking as he slowed
down TO leeward Of the Island and
watched the shadows melt away. II
was Sunday. n dat Of heavenly calm,
fresh yet MINDLESS. viii a sea -
smooth that the barrier reefs for once
were silent. and one could hear. fFsnl
across the hEShezi and shining water.
the COO Of pigeons In tie forest. In
der bare sfeerage way, with the leads
man dnnn!ag In the fnrecllaIns, flc
SHIP Rugged the shore and steamed al
a snaIi's pace round tine island. IN
the lofty bridge. hIga above the won.
dering faces ~ his communal. the
whI;r haired captain imls sivc. sn.
prene and solitary. gave ~ sign al
those inner emotions that were ae-
youring him. Along Tie shore tie
sight II the battlesbip brought ont
here and there q startled figure or n
group. 4 couple af laughing girls.
astriGe ON Tunieg. raced the Inslexib,c
Tor a nlile. and fhen. their road end
nc In precipiee. threw kisses with
their saacy hands. Little children ran
out into the lagoon. shouting with ioy:
DID mca, In Sunday clothes and With
black Eihlex under their arms, turned
their soIemn eyes 10 seward and for
got for = moment the road 20 churrh
white man. In striped pajamas. vas
N surprised nj morning Golfer on the We.
n rania of his little house. lie darted
inside aDd rcappeared with a magn-
zine rife. which lie ernptIed IN the air
and followed w his courtesies by rails
Ing and lowering a union jack the
slss ~ handkerchief. The battle
4 ship dipped hrr stately white .rnsiwa
In acknowledgment as a swan might
salute ! gnat. aud swept On with
maicaty.
4 with every mile the bays md
wooded prumontorIes grew increasing
\ ~ familiar a. Sir John was borne To.
ward I.ihua. The scene 81 his boyish
folly. lie looked ashore IN wonder.
surprised at the SIT4dnes~ and exact
ness 81 bis recollection. lie might
have landed anywhere ana found flis
way through those tanrie1, scented
paths. with no other guide hut mem.
Dry.
Il There WIS Papaioioa. with lie roar
Ing fails: there. the ti' a Pesu. where
he hid shut his llrSt gnai: yohiler tie
misty heights Of Tiagapu. where Te-
p hea fad b. had campcd n night In the
clouds In az mir u English cold. II
was rEc homecoming TO ~ al
thcsa familiar 8lgRes spreading oft
before him. lie in0sei NJ bis hands.
n hIs thin. vCineI. UrInkied hands. and
60 80 e"cg him. with a sort 81 sur
pFla1. that h. was an Old mau.
''rhat v.ns forty years ago he said
D. h!ase'' "FoFty years ago.
A LlaHm opened ont aud he pct.
Feivcd, wl'h nn ineSpressible paug
Mhc ihA'rhrt hU;secs set deep In ~.
haGo uf palms aud brcadfrnIt trccs.
b. fe1' himself Ia the throcs of
tFanstr rHI painful INDIGESTION. lie
j lacei up aud down the bridge: be iit
~ cigar md threw II away again: b.
wire approached Commander stlIi.
veil ~ though TO give an order. aud
ben. fiIII In doubt. turned shame
hceiiy on his heel.
w ny the deep miner came the hoarse
urmur OF the leadsman.
u lag with him 20 stop the ship or
1pt~a word and she would come shIv.
Ting 10 q standstIli: n word and the
epntHwHin would pipe away his gig
% tho crew would be running 10
thcir places. Ills heart nched with
&he desire 10 land; but something
new not what-withheid the order on
ID lips. Let him remain silent and
y opportunity would pass away for.
PER IL was passing now with every
rn Of the propeller. Had he not told
he would retnrni HAD he not
kispered II that night when they