Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-06-24
E7
Mr.. Langford Was an Intensely Dis
appointed and Embittered Man.

Mr.. LanqfOrd was an intensely us
appointed and Embittered Man.
decks of a cruising ship for over a
year.
Something-as to whether it was
Providence or not he was somewhat
doubtful in his mind afterward-
brought Langford on deck before his
usual time for rising. The watch was
in charge of a rather sleepy, stupid
second officer, unimaginative and IN
Observant. He had not noticed the
land which it was difficult to see from
the deck at any rate, especially as it
did not lie between the yacht and the
sun, n as it had not been reported
from the masthead, he knew nothing
of it.
Langford had found sleep impOs-
sible. The year Of search, the constant
disappointment, the pressing sense Of
mystery, the feeling that his conduct
was indeed irreparable had preyed
| upon him. He was thin, worn, nervous
n irritable. He walked up and down
the deck in the cool of the morning
thinking. For three years practically
he had had this woman before his
eyes as the goal of his efforts. Now
she vas gone, and he must concen-
trate his life upon something else. He
gazed languidly and indifferently
about the horizon, his Impractical eye
noticing nothing for a time. Sudden
ly, however, staring off to s%tarboard
listlessly during a pause in his steady
tramp, he thought he caught a glimpse
of light. He looked idly in the direc-
ton whence the reflection had come
for q few moments and saw it again;
a thin cloud Of smoke, or was it haze,
rose above it. He was puzzled by it,
Of course, and stood staring. The con-
centration in his gaze, he thought, dis
covered to him a cloudy blink in the
gray of the dawn which might mean
land. He knew there was no land
charted in those seas, for he had care
fully studied the chart the night be-
fore, saying nothing to anyone, for he
had become somewhat sensitive about
the matter.
He ran down the companion ladder
into his cabin and fetched thence a
new and powerful glass, which, upon
his return to the deck, he focused
upon the distant point of light. BY
INC III VI (AiOSC PO"ClAOI O41OCulc1O
he made out what it was. He was a
man of quick decision and
! He called the officer to him, pointed
to the light, and handed the glass to
the man in question.
What do you make of that, MI.
Hoffman,"
The officer took a quick look
through the glasses. handed them back
to their owner, and said lac~onicaIly:
Land! Fire. Smoke, sir"
Head the yacht to that island at
once"
Very good, sir" said the officer,
turning to the man at the wheel and
ordering the helm to be put aPort.
The yachts bows swung slowly
round until the island and the light
we've both dead ahead.
Now, Mr.. Hoffman," said Lang
ford, when the maneuver was COM
pleted, who is at the masthead?"
I'll see sir" answered the second
officer, stepping forward.
Bring him to me-" said the owner
as the officer turned away.
In a few moments the officer came
back to the quarterback followed by
one of the seamen The man looked
very much frightened, for Langford
was in a towering passion, and when
he was in a passion he was not a
pleasant spectacle.
"Did you see that island yonder?"
began the owner, hercely.
Ter"