Gilpin observer., 1910-12-15

hill; they received his letters: lhey
received the money he sent them each
month-but they wanted him. The
girl wrote with merciless candor. He
| time for him to return. She told him
why. She wrote what they, in their
loving fear of infiicting pain, would
never have dared to say. At the end
in postscript, she had asked for his
congratulations on her approaching
marriage.
To Nathaniel this letter had been
torment. He saw the truth as he
had never seen it before-that his
place was back there in Vermont,
with his father and mother; and that
there was something unpleasant in
thinking of the girl as belonging to
| another. But now matters had
changed. The letter was a hope and
inspiration to him and he smoothed
it out with tender care. What refuge
that little home among the Vermont
hills would make for Marion! He
trembled at the thought and his heart
his way again through the thick
growth of the woods.
1t was half an hour before he came
out upon the beach. Eagerly he
scanned the sea. The Typhoon was
nowhere in sight and for an instant
the gladness that had been in his
heart gave place to chilling fear But
the direction of the wind reassured
him. Casey had probably moved be-
swung in the form of a cart wheel
from the base of the point, that he
might have sea room in case of some-
thing worse than a stiff breeze. But
where was the small boat? With
every step adding to his anxiety Ma
thaniel hurried along the narrow rim
of beach. He went to the very tip
of the point which reached out like
the white forefinger of lady's hand
into the sea; he passed the spot where
he had lain concealed the preceding
day; his breath came faster and fast
er; he ran. and called softly. and at
last halted in the arch of the cart
wheel with the fear full-flaming in his
breast. Over all those miles of sea
there was no sign of the sloop. From
end to end of the point there was no
boat. What did it mean? Breathless-
ly he tore his way through the strip
of forest on the promontory until all
Lake Michigan to the south lay before
his eyes. The Typhoon was gone.
Was it possible that Casey had aban.
doned hope of NathaniePs return and
was already lying off ST. James with
shotted gun? The thought sent a
shiver of despair through him. He
passed to the opposite side of the
point and followed it foot by foot. but
there was no sign of life. no distant
flash Of white that might have been
the canvas of the sloop Typhoon.
There was only one thing for him
to do-wait So he went to his hiding
place of the day before and watched
the sea with straining eyes. An hour
passed and his still aching vision saw
no sign of sail; two hours-and the
sun was falling in binding glare
over the Wisconsin wilderness. At
last he sprang to his feet with a hope
less cry and stood for few moments
undecided. Should he wait until night
with the hope of attracting the atten-
tion of Neil and joining him in his
canoe or should he hasten in the di-
rection of ST. James? In the darkness
he might miss Neil, unless he kept
up a constant shouting. which would
probably bring the Mormons down
upon him; If he went to st. James
there was a possibility of reaching
Casey. He still had faith in Obadiah
and he was sure that the old man
would help him to reach his ship; he
might even assist him in his scheme
of getting Marion from the island.
ITO BE CONTINUED)