The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-06

Sir, SAID the ISLANDER, addressing
the chaplain, did you know my
mother?"
That I did" returned the old man.
Her name was Mary Page Thornton,
and she was one of the sweetest girls
in Virginia"
"And will you tell me about her.
and about my father and my people ?"
with the greatest pleasure" said
the chaplain, kindly. Meanwhile
Capt. Ashby and these gentlemen will
wish to hear your story"
Take him to your cabin" said the
captain promptly, "and tell him the
things he wants to know. We can
wait"
NO." returned the islander; IT can
wait. 1 have waited all these years
and a few hours more cor less will
make little difference. You have a
right to know my story, and here It
is"
Rapidly, concisely, with a fine dra-
matte touch, he told the story as he
knew 1t of his life on the island. He
was so entirely unconventional that
he Intervene the bare details Of the
strange relation which he gave them
with personal touches. He made no
secret of his love and worship for the
girl, Of the belief in her which he had
cherished, of the reverence in which
he had held her. He exhibited that
strange commixture of feeling with
which he regarded her as a human
woman and as demi-goddess. He
showed that he was at once her mas
ter and her creature, yet through 1t all
there ran such thread Of bitterness,
Of grief, of resentment, Of shame, that
his auditors, at first unpossessed Of
the key to his feelings, listened to him
with amazement and could scarcely
realize or comprehend. He told the
story Of the two lives up to the sight
ing Of the ship upon the island, and
then. his heart failing him, he turned
to Whitaker and bade him take up
the relation.
1t was delicate matter of which to
speak, but the simplicity with which
the first part Of the tale had been pre-
scented gave the oficer his cue. He
was q man of retentive memory, Of
quick apprehensivs power, and with q
nice sense. of discrimination, . rare
man. indeed. And he told the rest of
the tale with Q subtle sympathy for
the situation and the actors that en-
abled him SO to present It to the inter
ssted little group Of ofacers that he
almost made them SEQ II as 1t trans
pired.
And what" asked the captain, wher
the final word had been said, do yor
propose to do now, Mr. Charnockr'
1t was the first time that he hat
been so addressed and the man start
ed. He had heard Mr.. Whitaker
words as one in dream. He had beef
going over that dreadful scene on tn,
sands. His heart was lacerated ant
torn again. He was blind to every
thing but the past. He saw her fac,
dimly in the present. He could Sc,
nothing of happiness in the future.
81 don't know" he answered.
But surely this has not made an
difference in your feelings?"
|
her, not in me-"
"She made frightful mistake" sal
the captain. impressively. but she ha
nobly atoned, and"
shes not what thought she was,
said the man, land If love her, Low
her now not because, but in spite, c
what she is, and there is difference.
;,ta =.
), ker at this juncture, has settled tn
matter herself. She says that she wi
q have no mans pity, no mans col
a tempt, that no man shall marry he
on suffrance, and that"
;, Right" said the surgeon. who wa
" a man of very few words and genera
l. ly good ones.
= my young friend" broke in tn
p chaplain, 'if might advise"
But this" returned the islande
t. with fierceness, SIS not a matter fc
. advice. l don't know the world or II
customs. l must appear strange
l. you men. But take it that man
s choice of a wife, a mans settlemer
of his future is not thing that b
d brooks counsel over. At any rate,
?, want none of it."
G Come with me-" said the chaplain
e I'VE will talk it over. l have live
o in the world" he went on, gentl
a Perhaps l can help you. Have "
your permission to withdraw, Cap
e Ashby?"
d Certainly" said the captain.
n Pardon me a moment, chaplain
g. interposed Whitaker; but the your
lady has asked that some of us 6
H. ashore to take her deposition as
r the matters that have been allege
concerning our friend here. Car
d Ashby, will you"
sr Certainly, Mr.. Whitaker, I will G
And if you will accompany me, docto
d and you, chaplain, shall be glad. NJ
Whitaker, you are a notary publ
ID and can administer the necessal
st oaths."
a. Very good. sir" returned Mr.. VIII
lie taker. The other gentlemen bow
ye their acquiescence. THE lady sa
lie she would like to be undisturbed uni
lc | evening"