Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1920-08-20
CHAPTER v.
The Man From the Sea.

ing over n cracked pot; II II cannot
be mended, then II Is the part of a
man to say no more Of 1t. For weeks
I had an aching heart; indeed II is
little sore now after all these years
and happy marriage, when | think
of 1t. But kept brave face on me,
and above all ! did as had promised
that day on the hillside. / was a
brother to her. and no more, though
there were times when had to put
curb upon myself.
For the most part she and Jim were
happy enough. 1t was all over the
ried when he had passed his degree,
and he would come up TO West Inch
four nights week to sit with us. My
folk were pleased enough about II,
and tried to be pleased too.
We used to take long rambles to-
gether, Jim and /, and 1t is about one
of those that l now want to tell you.
We had passed over Bramston heath
and round the clump OF frs which
screens the house OF Major Elliott
from the sea wind. It was spring,
and the year was q forward one. so
that the trees were well leaved by the
end OF April. II was as warm as
summer day. and we were the more
surprised when we saw a huge fire
roaring upon the grass plat before the
majors door. There was a fir tree in
Il. and the flames were spouting up
as high as the bedroom windows. Jim
and stood staring; but we stared the
more when out came the major with
a great quart pot in his hand, and ut
his heels his old sister, who kept
house for him, and two Of the maids,
and all four began capering about the
| fire. He was q douce, quiet man, as
all the country knew; and here he
was, like Old Nick Mt the carlins'
dance, hobbling round and waving his
drink above his head. We both set
Off running, and he waved the more
when he saw us coming.
"Peacel" he roared. "Huzza, boys /!
Peace!"
And at that we both fell to dancing
and shouting too for II had been such
weary war, as far back as we could
remember. and the shadow had lain so
long over us that II was wondrous to
feel that 1t was lifted. Indeed 1t was
too much to believe, but the major
laughed our doubts to scorn.
"Aye, aye, II is true" he cried. stop
ping. with his hand to his side. ''The
allies have got Paris, Boney has
thrown up the sponge, and his people
are all swearing allegiance to Louis
| XVIII"
"And the EMPEROR asked; will
they spare him?"
"Theres some talk of sending him
to Elba, where he'll be out OF mis-
CHIEFS way. But his ofIicers--tbere
are some OF them who will not get OF
so lightly. Some deeds have been
done these last twenty years that have
not been forgotten. There are few
old scores to be settled. But it's peace,
peace" and away he went once more
With his grea: tankard, hopping round
his bonfire.
Well. we stayed some time with the
major. and then away we went down
to the beach, Jim and /. talking about
this great news and all that would
come OF 1t. How little did Jim know
at that moment, as he strobe along by
my side so full OF health and OF splr-
Its, that he had reached the extreme
summit OF life, and that from that
hour all would in truth be upon the
downward slope.
There was q little haze out TO sea,
for 1t had been very misty In the early
morning, though the sun had thinned
II. AS we looked seward we sud
denly saw the sail OF n small boat
break out through the fog and come
bobbing along toward the land. A
single man was seated In the sheets,
and she waved about as she ran, as
though he were of two minds whether
to beach her or no. Al last deter
mined, II may be, by our presence, he
made straight for MS, and her keel
feet. He dropped his sail. climbed out.
and pulled her bows up onto the beach.
"Great Britain, l believer said he
turning round and facing us.
He was a man somewhat above
middle height. hut exceedingly thin
well dressed in suit OF brown with
brass buttons and he wore high boots,
which were all roughened and dulled
by the sea water. His face and hands
were so dark that ne might have been
n Spanlard. but IA he raised his hat
TO us we saw that the upper part OF
his brow was quite white. and that II
was from without that he had his
swarthiness. He looked from one TO
the other of us, and his gray eyes had
something in them which had never
seen before. You could read the
question, but there seemed TO be n
menace at the back OF IT, as II the
answer were right and not favor,
"Great Brltaln" he asked again,
with n quick tap OF his foot on the
single.
Eyes" said l, while Jim burst out
laughing.
"Engand7 Scotland?"
Scotland. But it's England past
yonder trees"
Bon know where l am now. I've
bnop In a For ,,,ithppt "a oOmpocc for