Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-07-15

80
adjusted himself to them, but the op-
p%ortunity he needed he did not get He
was Immediately plunged into an at
mosphere Of such strangeness to him.
filled with uch compelling necessity
for attention, that although he
loathed the necessity thus imposed
upon him, he was constrained TO take
part in the life that flowed around
him. His Instinct-and he was al
most a woman in his instructive ca
pacity-was to be alone. but It was
impossible. and in spite Of himself
what he saw distracted him. The
people he met did more.
Whitaker hustled him below, OF
course. as oon as possible and took
him into his own cabin. Fortunately
they were men OF much the same
height and build. although the islander
was the more graceful. symmetric and
strong. and he succeeded in getting
him into a civilian suit Of clothing for
which he had no present use. There
were 10Th loss and gain in his appear
ance. There was no gain in the island-
er's feelings, at least, he thought not,
in view of the 1rksome restraint Of
ClOlAAASS anu S0k NhSlS Was d CSELdAA
satisfaction to his soul in being no
longer singled out from among his fell
lows by the strangeness OF his apparel
AS clothes the garments became him,
and 1t all depended upon your point Of
view as to whether you preferred the
handsome barbarian with a hint Of
civilization in his carriage. or the CIV
ilized gentleman with a suggestion OF
the barbaric in his bearing. Whitaker
reasoned rightly that the sooner he
became accustomed to these things
the better, and that the time to begin
was Immediately.
He had had a hasty word or two
with the captain before he took him
below, and when he was dressed-and
1t required assistance from the lieu
tenant-cOmmander ere the unfamiliar
habiliments were properly adjusted
the two passed from the ward room to
tho cabin Of the captain in the after
part of the ship.
The few sentences in which Whitta-
ker had made his brief report to
his superior had in a measure prepared
the captain for the more lengthy dis
course that followed. and, feeling that
the situation was one which required
more han the simple authority Of the
master of a ship, he had summoned to
conference the surgeon and the chap
lain. 1t was to these three men, there
fore, that Whitaker and the islander
presented themselves.
The chaplain, like Whitaker, vas a
Virginian. He had not noted the
islanders face when he came aboard
in his s~emi-savage garb. but as his eye
dwelt upon him standing clothed and
In his right mind before him he gave
a start of surprise, and SO SOC as the
formal sa~lutations had beer ex-
changed, with a word to the captain
for permission, he asked Whitaker a
question.
Il beg your pardon. Mr.. Whitaker,
but what is this gentleman's name?"
The word gentleman was used natu'
rally and unconsciously, with an abb
solute sense of its fitness, as every
one in the cabin could perceive.
1T is not rightly known" said Whit
taker, but he is believed to be a
Virginian Of the"
II knew It," said the chaplain, Inn
pulsively; "he is one Of the ChRrnOcks
OF Nansemond county"
Your recognition, chaplain" said
the acknowledgements, eagerly,
will be of great value in determining
this strangers name and station. The
evidence Of 1t Is circumstantial. l do
not know how 1t will be regarded IN a
court Of law"
II have always understood that the
Charnock estate was a vast one" said
Capt. Ashby, land since coal has been
mined on h Virginia lands 1t has be-
come very valuable"
1T is true" answered the chaplain.
Who holds 1t now?" asked the sur.
geon.
TT rs held by an old man, my friend
of many years standing. the brother
Of John Revell CharnOck."
Il believe that to be my name" said
the islander.
81 have little doubt of It," replied
the chaplain, continuing. THE first
John Revell Charnock was lost at sea.
He and his wife and young child some
80 years ago 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
paraiso, thence 1t sailed for the Philip
pines and was never heard of again. ]
know the story" said the chaplain,
turning toward the captain, because
John RevelI Charnock was one OF my
best friends, as Is his brother, Philip
Norton Charnock, who now holds the
estate"
CTO BE CONTINUEDD