, 1910-03-10
ALLs5zRAHo7s5 6Y ny Ml1re5
.os,er-t noa s, nc c1Ae~er. coer9Ac1y N eSkAy ssy,a0,

F"I beg your pardon, Mr.. Whitaker,
hut what is this ~gentleman's Nance
The word gentleman was used natu-
rslIy and unconsciously, with an alb
solute sense of its fitness, as every
one I'm the cabin could perceive.
"1t is not rightly known" said Whit
,,ker. but he Is believed to be a
virginian Of the"
u knew il" raid the chaplain. i'm
nulsively: he is one of the CherHocks
of Nansemond county,
"Your recognition, chaplain" said
the lieutenant-commander. eagerly.
will be of great value In determining
This strangers name and station. The
evidence of 1t is circumstantial. | do
not know how 1t will be regarded in q
court of law
81 have always understood that the
%Charnock estate. was a vast one" said
Capt Ashby, and since coal has been
mined on the Virginia lands It has be-
come very valuable
at is true answered the chaplain.
who holds 1t now?" asked the sur.
geon.
1T is held by an old man. my friend
of many years standing. the brother
of John Revell Charnock."
81 believe that to be my name" said
the islander.
Il have little doubt of it, replied
the chaplain, continuing. ''Tbe frs
John Revell Charnock was lost at sea
He and his wife and young child some
30 years & set forth on a voyage
around the world for her health. The
ship. in which | believe he had some
ownership. was called the Nansemond
It's course was traced as far as Val
p~araiso, thence 1t sailed for the Phi in
pines and was never heard of agein. |
know the story" said the chaplain.
turning toward the captain, because
John Revell Charnock was one of my
best friends, as is his brother. Philip
Norton Charnock. who now holds the
estate"
is the present Charnock married? o.
No" returned the chaplain, he is
an old bachelor"
That will make 1t easier for our
friend here" said Mr.. Whitaker. PRO
Eided the evidence is thought convinc-
tng."
The best evidence that he could pre-
eent, returned the chaplain, sis in his
face. He is the living image of his
Father as | knew him, and he has fam
lily characteristics which l think would
enable almost anyone to identify him
Without question"
Sir" said the islander, addressing
The chaplain. did you know my
fnother?"
That did," returned the old man.
Her name was Mary Page Thornton.
ind she was one of the sweetest girls
n Virginia."
And will you tell me about her.
md about my father and my people o.
With the greatest pleasure" said
he chaplain, kindly. meanwhile
apt. Ashby and these gentlemen will
wish to hear your story"
Take him to your cabin" said the
faptain promptly, and tell him the
Fhinss he wants to know. We a
Eait."
NO" returned the islander; II a
Falt, | have waited all these years
no a few hours more or less will
make little difference. You have a
ight to know my story, and here it
RAPIDLY, concisely, with a fine dra-
attic touch. he told the story as he
new it of his life on the island. He
as SO entirely unconventional that
= lhterwove the bare details of the
range relation which he gave them
'th personal touches. He made no
ecfet of his love and worship for the
Hl oil the belief in her which he had
heflshed, of the reverence in which
had held her. He exhibited that
range commixture of feeling with
hlch he regarded her as a human
oman and as a demi-goddess. He
'o"ed mat he was at once her mas
ana her creature. yet through 1t all
.eTe ran such a thread of bitterness,
grief, OF resentment, of shame, that
5 auditors, at first 'unpossessed Of
e Key to his feelings. listened to him
"n ahlazement and could scarcely
Ill
"Ize or comprehend. He told the
o'y OF the two lives up to the sight
5 oi The ship upon the island, and
pen, MS heart failing him, he turned
"hIttaker and babe him take up
e relation.
was a delicate matter of which to
eaN' out the simplicity with which
"rst part of the tale had been pre-
n.eu gave the officer his cue. He
d man of retentive memory, of
neA apprehensive power. and with a
sense of discrimination, a rare
indeed And he told the rest Of
'aie with a subtle sympathy for
s'tuation and the actors that en-
, MN SO to present it to the inter
illttie group of officers hal he
RED. ~
Hhu what" asked the captain, when
maj word had been said, do you
VI IN H.