Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-06-06

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was low; and as the plumes Of spray
from the incoming waves rose high In
the air q rainbow formed itself In
the fieeting mist. It was q fairy pic
ture. repeating itself two or three
times, no more.
That's my symbol Of hope" said
Aleck quite impersonally. to anybody
who chose to hear.
Mr.. Chamberlain turned to Aleck
with his ready courtesy. Not the only
you have received. l hope. on this
charming voyage"
Madame Reynier was ready with her
pleasant word. Aren't we all sym
bols for you-if not Of hope, then Of
your success az a host? We've lost
our aches and our pains. III nerves
and our troubles; all gone overheard
from the Sea Gull"
You're all tremendously good to
me. I know that" said Aleck. his
slow words coming with great sin
certify.
Melanie kept silence, but she re-
membered the rainbow.
The headland was the landward end
Of a small island. one part Of which
was thickly wooded. A large unused
house stood in a clearing. evidently
once a rather pretentious summer resi-
dence, though now there were many
signs of di~lapidation. The pier on the
beach had been almost entirely beaten
down by storms. and a small, flimsy
slip had taken its place, running far
down into the water. A thin line OF
smoke rose from the chimney of one
Of the outbuildings; and while they
looked and listened the raucous CRY
OF a peacock came to them we the
still water. Presently Chamberlain
suggested:
Il feel 1t in my bones that there'l
be Holsters over there to be had fol
the asking. l heard your man say he
wanted Holsters, Van: and l believe
I'll row over there and see. I'm feel
ing uncommoniy At and need some ex
ercise."
All right, I'll go too" said Aleck.
I'll bet a bouquet that l beat you
rowing over-Miss Reynier to furnish
the bouquet" was Chamberlain's next
proposition. DO you agree to that
my lady7"
And pray. where should get q
bouquet?
"Oh, the next times we get on land
And we won't put up with any old bou
quet of juniper bushes and rocks
either. We want a good. old-fash
toned round bouquet Of garden posies
with mignonette round the edge and
rose in the middle; a sure-enough
token Of esteem-that kind Of thing
you know. Is 1t a bargain. Miss Rey
nier?"
Very we'll. 1t Is a bargain agreed
Melanie: but I shall choose bachelors
buttons!"
So they took the tender and got OF
with a great show of e~xactness as tc
time and strictness Of rules. Madame
Reynier was to hold the watch, and
Aleck was to wave a white handker
chief the minute they touched sand
Mr.. Chamberlain was to give a like
signal when they started back. The
yacht slowed down and held her place
as nearly as possible.
Chamberlain pulled a great oar, and
was, in fact, far superior to Aleck In
point Of skill; but his stroke was moi
well adapted to the choppy waves in
shore. He had learned 1t on the
sleepy Cam. where the long. gliding
blade counts best. The men stayed
ashore a long slime, disappearing en-
tirely beyond the clump Of trees that
screened the outbuildings. When they
reappeared. an old man was with
them. following them down to the
boat. Then the white handkerchief
appeared. and the boat started on it,
return.
Aleck profited by Chamberlain
work. and made the boat leap forward
by a shorter. almost jerky stroke. He
came back easily with Ave minutes &c
spare.
Good work." said Mr.. Chamber
lain. you have me beaten, and you'll
get the bachelors buttons: but yoU
had the tide with you"
Nonsense! had the Holsters ex
tra!" asserted Aleck.
We'll. II you had been born an Eng
lishman, we'd make an oarsman out
Of you yeti"
HUH" said Aleck.
But they had news to tell the ladies
and while they we're having theil
dinner their thoughts were turned tc
another matter. The island. 1t ap
peared, had for some years been aban
doned by its owner. and its only In
habitant was q gray and grizzly OLD
man, known to the region as the her
NIT. His fancy was to keep a light
burning always by night In the land
ward window OF his cabin, so as tc
warn sailors or the dangerous head
land. There was no lighthouse in the
vicinity. ana oy q kindly consent the
! people on the neighboring islands and