The Comrade. (Winnfield, La.) 1890-1914, 1910-10-21

= - l[fZS$3
|E@ -1s8S }E2.>.I.Sa
adjusted himself to them, but the op-
portunlty he needed he did not get. He
was Immediately plunged into an at
mosphere Of such strangeness to him.
filled with such 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 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 soon 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 civilian suit Of clothing for
which he had no present use. There
were both 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 irksome restraint Of
clothing, and yet there was certain
satisfaction to his soul IN being no
longer singled out from among his fel-
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 hint OF
civilization in his carriage. or the civ1
| ilized gentleman with 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 q hasty word or two
with the captain before he took him (
below, and when he was dressed--and
it required assistance from the lieu
tenant-commander ere the unfamiliar
habilments were properly adjusted
the two passed from the ward room to
the cabin of the captain in the after
part of the ship.
The few sentences In which Whftta-
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 than the simple authority OF the
master of 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, was a
Virginian. He had not noted tbs
islanders face when he came aboard
in his semi-savage garb, but as his eye
dwelt upon him standing clothed and
in his right mind before him he gave
start of surprise, and so soon as the
formal salutations had been ex'
changed, with 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 alb
, solute sense of it's fitness, as every.
, one in the cabin could perceive.
1T is not rightly known" said Whit.
taAer, "but he is believed to be q
Virginian of the
II knew it" said the chaplain, i'm.
pulsiyely; "he is one Of the Charnocks
Of Nansemond county"
"Your recognition, chaplain" said
the lieutenant-commander, eagerly
Twill be Of great value in determining
. this strangers name and station. The
! evidence of it is circumstantial. dc
not know how it will be regarded in q
court of law"
; II have always understood that thu
\ Charnock estate was a vast one" sait
= Capt. Ashby, "and since coal has beer
:, mined on the Virginia lands it has be
;, come very valuable"
1T is true" answered the chaplain
"Who holds it now" asked the sur
: geon.
:, = 1T is held by an old man, my frient
= OF many years standing, the brothe
!, Of John Revell Charnock."
- II believe that to be my name," sal,
y the islander.
4 Il have little doubt Of It," replio
i the chaplain, continuing. THE dra
If John Revell Charnock was lost at SCI
. He and his wife and young child som
"a 80 years ago set forth on voyag
II around the world for her health. TIL
h. ship, in which believe he had som
ownership, was called the Nansemont
If It's course was traced as far as Va
IL paraiso, thence it sailed for the Phi,il
d pines and was never heard Of again.
8 know the story" said the chaplain
" turning toward the captain, "becaus
N John Reyell Charnock was one Of m
~ best friends, as is his brother, Phil
Norton Charn0ck who now holds tt