Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-09-03
sILAs K. HOOKING.

to forget the particular object she bat
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
i usually was when in his company
and he was consumed with 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 tc
a delightful friendship. SO he talked
/ about tho weather, about his absent
vicar, about the needs of the parish
about the wrecks on 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 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 sea
was 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 Whereabouts"
What does he dog"
Nothing! He spends all his time
on the cliffs or down in the bay"
the salvage menu"
Not that | am aware of. No, he
seems quite alone; and, as time must
hang rather heavy on his hands, 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 ac-
count of his health. Had 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 % ia
We'll. hardly, He rather avoids
me. Never comes to church by any
chance, and is as close as an oyster
about his personal affairs
How ting: - ~ = -
Il have giYenahim the go-by Of late.
Mrs Dyer says he is a very nice man,
gives very little trouble, and pays up
on the nall
Has he made any friends in. the vii.
lage?"
Not any, I think. He is too
reticent man to make friends any
where
But why does he look at the sea
through a field glass?''
Grayton laughed. ooh, the story
goes that he holds a watching brief
for some relative who was 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 Il"
Did he come here for that particu.
lar purpose?
Oh, 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.7
81 should like to have talk with
him.
Your
why not? You have aroused my
curiosity.
Oh, very good. He appears to be
coming this way at length. will
speak to him.
@ They changed the angle Of their
walk little so that they might inter.
cept him. He. seeing their object.
tried to avoid them. So Grayton CALI
ed TO him across the intervening space
| Of sand.
- hing to report. 4 Nj Neyins ?n
Nothing since 2. O'clock
You are hoping for something =,
Oh, well, as to that, I can hardly
+ say that 4 am. It can make no differ
ence to me whatever the waves toss
mp
But q relative Of yours is. i am
told, interested Z 8'7
Well. = distant relative, but more q
friend than relative and he turned
d No wished 20 end
the conversation. 1907
Has your friend lost sometime
livery valuable q. Esther questioned
with q smile. 557Sl9- 4