The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1911-12-13

changed, with q 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 its fitness, as every
one in the cabin could perceive.
1T is not rightly known" said Whit
taker, but he is believed to be
Virginian of the"
Il knew it." said the chaplain, i'm
pulsively; he is one of the Charnocks
Of Nansemond county"
Your recognition, chaplain" said
the leutenant-commande eagerly,
will be Of great value in determining
this strangers name and station. The
evidence Of it is circumstantial. l do
not know how 1t win be regarded in a
court OF law"
Il 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"
1T 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."
Il believe that to be my name" said
the islander.
Il 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.
Its course was traced as far as Val
paraiso, thence It sailed for the Philip
pines and was never heard Of again.
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 %
NO." returned the chaplain, he is
an old bachelor"
That will make II easier for our
friend here" said Mr.. Whitaker, pro
vided the evidence is thought convinc-
ing"
The best evidence that he could pre-
sent" returned the chaplain, ''is in his
face. He is the living image Of his
father as l knew him, and he has fam
lily characteristics which think would
enable almost anyone to identify him
without question"
Sir" said the islander. addressing
the chaplain, did you know my
mother?"
THAT I did" returned the old man.
Her name was Mary Page Thornton,
and she was one of the sweetest girls
in Virginia"
"And win you tell me about her,
and about my father and my people p
with the greatest pleasure" said
the chaplain, kindly. Meanwhile
Capt. Ashby and these gentlemen will
wish to hear your story"
Take him to your cabin" said the
captain promptly. and tell him the
things he wants to know. We can
wait"
NO." returned the islander; Il can
wait. have waited all these years
and few hours more or less will
make little difference. You have a
right to know my story. and here #
is."
Rapidly, concisely. with a fine dra-
matte touch, he told the story as he
knew 1t Of his life on the island. He
was 30 entirely unconventional that
he interwoVe the bare details Of the
strange relation which he gave them
with personal touches. He made no
secret Of his love and worship for the
girl, Of the belief in her which he had
cherished, Of the reverence In which
he had held her. He exhibited that
strange conmixturs Of feeling with
which he regarded her as q human
woman and as a demi-goddess. He
showed that he was at once her mas.
ter and her creature, yet through IL all
there ran such a thread Of bitterness,
Of grief, Of resentment, Of shame. that
his auditors, at first unpossessed Of
the key to his feelings. listened to him