Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1892 — CAST UP BY THE SEA. [ARTICLE]

CAST UP BY THE SEA.

CHAPTER XVlll—ContjnitxdV While Mrs, Jpnos was endogvor- *•* to fan Edith's first spark of friendship into a brighter flame, Joe Smart was burning with love for Polly Grey. He had used every argument that the warmest passion could suggest to persuade her to

OjercomeJmcscmples a»d to become bis wife, Polly had always regarded Smart with great affection ; but, although their intimacy was hpon a looting that rendered the slightest hesitation dangerous, she still resisted his proposals. “ Not until some eye witness s wears that he saw Paul's body buried will I listen eved to you, Joe Smart, who were Paul's best friend, ” such was Polly’s final determination; Joe Smart was in a difficulty ; how’ would it be possible to pro.ijrt? the desired witness ? It at length struck him that the only chance of obtaining information would be through Lcontiuc, assisted by one of the lugger’s crew, who might have obtained tbefname of the French privateer upon which Paul and Dick Stone bad been killed. For this purpose Joe Smart set off for Falmouth, in order to discover from the authorities of 'that town all the particulars of the txchange of prisoners that had been effected when Leontine returned to France with her brother Victor : this, information might be a guide to Leon tine's address, and she might probably discover some member of the privateer's crew who could swear to the fact of Paul’s death. It was the eve of Christmas day when Joe Smart started upon this important mission : the snow was 'falling hejavily, and was drifting in the wind that howled across the hill tops and scattered the sow withered leaves that at this late season still dung tenaciously to the oaks. It was bitterljy cold, and Joe Smart’s fingers wfere so numbed that he could scarcely feel the bridle through • bis thick wqokui gloves; buttoned fight to the raised the I bigb collar of his great coat, around which he tied a large red woolen comforter that Polly had given him at the last moment of starting. Thi6 was the same-comforter Ibat she had Iraitted years/ago as a present for Paul when he should return. -Thus secured fr„m the weather, with a aon’-wester oil skin cap drawn tightdy over his head and ears and tied ■beneath his chin, Joe Smart trotted alcng upon a powerful cob and took the road for Fa'mouth: The wind was directly in his face ; and as the aapw froze as it fell, the mane of his horse wasicovered, and the eyes of the animal, like those of the rider, were so pained bv the drift that it bent its hr ad upon one side to avoid the cutting wind. The earth was white with snow, and as Joe Smart rode along he ol sed his eves to avoid th© needle like sharpness of the sleet, trustiug to the sure footedness of i»is careful horse. It was about 3p. m. when he passed along the road above Sandy Cove; and as he jtfnnced below, he recalled the old tiroes wiien Paul's clipper lugger lay audio red in the bay, and Polly had always welcomed him at the pretty cottage on the cliff, which now was his. “Poor Paul! ’’exclaimed Joe Smart bsTutpself, “lie was as gallant and fine a sailor as ever lived ! God rest liiSßouland bring happiness to his

dear wife ! ” Occupied with these thoughts, he trotted steadily along, meeting no object upon the road except a man well wrapped up like himself, who %e*it Iks head before the blast as Bis horse cantered quickly by like a pbantem, leaving no sound of hoofs tn the snow that was already many laches deep. As Joe fcmart is trotting onward on the road to Falmouth, we will follow the stranger whose horse was hurry ing in the opposite direction. There was no road visible, and the recent tracks of Smart’s horse were' rapidly disappearing beneath the fast fa liug snow, but without an in--atant's hesitation the stranger spurred his powerful black horse over the white surface, regardless of hidden holes or drifts; he was so muffed up that hardly his eyes were visib’e ; and thus he galloped on until he arrived at the steep footpath that led dor u the cliff to Sandy Cove. Springing from his horse, he r drew the reins ovor its head and led it carefully down the zigzag path. Upon reaching the bottom, he knocked at the door of a hut formed of a well tarred inverted boat, in which windows had been fitted. “ Who’s there ? " cried a shrill woman’s voice from within. for I'm very cold, ' said the stranger, ‘‘and I won t detain you for two min■tes. ” The door immediately opened, and securing the reins to a hook outside and entered the hut.closing the door behind .him to keep opt the cold wind. The occupant of the hut was a woman of about forty five, with aevcral children, the youngest of wluni was a boy about six years old. “Does a man named Paul Grey live here?" asked the stranger. “Paul Gray live here?" replied the woman. “No, I wish he dd ; Ibe's dead long ago. poor fellow ! on the day that ray good man fell fight.iog bv his side, aud they re both now in heaven. Tli s child, " continued 'the woman, as she took the youngest by the hand, *' was then at my breast, whoa the news came home that his brave father Was shot tiitougk. The Polly brought some wounded men to Falmouth, but my jy,nr man lies in the sea; God only fcnows the spot. " -j Vi, :•' - i V’’ ~

BY SIR SAMUEL W. BAKER

‘ ‘ Poor fellow ! be was a brave sailor, " said the stranger, “ but what of Paul,Grey’s wife; is she, too, dead ?” he asked in a hollow and uncertain voice. ■ . - “ No, gfae’a-alrvg and well, poor soul, but always sorrowing, " replied the woman. “ She often comes over here and sees us all, and talks of

Paul as though he were still alive; and she goes up to the cottage on -the cliff, and looks upon the sea as though she thought the Polly: would return again as in the old times. ” “Is the old boat gone, too?” asked the stranger. Lord bless you ! the boat, the Poliv, do you mean ? Why she never came back to the Cove after the tight; she was almost knocked to pieces, and was sold at Falmouth to pay Paul's debts; there's nothing left except the cottage on the cliff, and that was bought by the one armed eaptain when all the things were sold. ” “ Where is Paul’s wife ?” inquired the stranger. “She lives at the rectory with Mrs. Jones and Miss Edith, who were very good to her; they come here sometimes now, and never forget 4he poor, God bless them ! I don't know what my poor children would have done this cold Christmas had it not been for a’ their goodness. And the one armed captain, too, is a good man, and helps us often ; he ll make Mrs. Grey a good husband if she ll have him, but they say she won't listen to him till she sees where Paul's buried. Poor soulJ she's a good wife, aud true as steel. ” “ And is it supposed that she will then marry the one armed captafti ?” asked the stranger. ““ Well, it’s most likely to come off I think. ” replied the woman. “ You see, Captain Smart was a good friend of Paul's, and he did everything for Mrs. Grey when she was mourning . for him ; he paid all the debts, and never let her wan t; and she must have a harder heart than flint if she doesn’t love the man. ’’ “ And the lad, Ned Grey ? ’’ said the stranger ; where is he ? ” “Ned Grey 1” replied the W r oman. “Why, there's a long story about Ned Gray ; he was missing ever since the night of Parson .Tones’ murder, together with the nigger Tim, and was never heard of since. Some say as how he did the murder, but that I know is a lie; but for all that they issued a warrant for all three—Paul and Ned Grey and Tim—because the old woman, Mother Lee, witnessed against them.” “Parson Jones murdered!” exclaimed the stranger; “Ned Grey and Tim missing and never heard ot! Mother Lee witnessed against them! Good heavens! what shall I hear next? Where is Mother Lee?” “Why, you know something and yet nothing of these parts,” replied the woman. ‘ Mother Lee hated Paul aud she tried to wreck the Polly by lighting false beacons on the cliff in a .sou' west gale; her clothes were covered with tar, and she caught fire and blazed for half an hour till she was burned to a cinder. It was the devil’s work for his own that night.” “Have the murderers of Parson Jones been discovered?” asked the stranger. “Nothing has ever been heard of them.” replied the woman; “but as two hundred guineas were stolen,

and the same amoujht was found in a bag concealed in a cave in Paul’s house, together with a lot of jewels and smuggled goods, suspicion fell upon his family and a verdict of wilful murder was brought against Paulf Ned Gray and Tim, for whom a warrant was given.’’ The stranger made no reply, but, giving the woman a shilling, he left the hut and once more encountered the firce blast. Leading his shivering horse to the summit of the cliff, he remounted and galloped hard in the direction of the village. After the first two miles were accomplished. the dusky twilight gave way to darkdess. and he was obliged to slacken his speed toa walk; it was about 5 o’clock when he first saw the lights twinkling in the windows of the villagp. Riding through the puiet and desolate street of snow he halted at the door of the White Hart Inn and put up his tired horse. Leaving a small valise that was strapped upon the saddle in charge of the boys that took his horse, he left word that he should require a room, and without changing his clothes or In any way altering his muffled appearance, he at once disappeared in the darkness of the street. In a few minutes he entered the garden gate of the rectory and stealthily approached the house by the lawn; he observed a bright light at a window on the ground floor, and he was soon sufficiently near to distinguish the persons within. A large fire blazed up the chimney of the drawing room, where were seated several ladies. Having drawn near to the window, the suspicious looking through the glass. Mrs. Jones and Edith were unconsciously sipping their tea, while Polly Groy was seated by the fire in an arm chair, reading. Presently Edith rose from her sent, and drawing her chair near, she placed her arm around Polly’s neck and kissed her cheek, j The stranger left the window, and retiring ns quietly as he had arrived, ho passed round the house to the back door and rang the bell. A woman servant answered the 'summons, and for the first moment she screamed and slammed the door at seeing the tall, rau fied figure thut | looked block and huge upon the | white snow. y * ‘Open the door, my good girt," . _ ‘ - ■ **

cried the stranger, “and don’t be afraid. I have a message of much importance to deliver to Mrs. Grey.” Onoe more the timid girl opened the door, and the stranger entered the house. - “Say to Mrs. Grey immediately,” said the stranger, “that a straDger who fought with Paul Grey, when he fell, wishes to speak with her; but show me into a room where lean see her alone.” The girl led him into the library, and leaving the candle, she left him

liverod the message. A chill of surprise thrilled through Polly Grey. “How strapge,” she said, “that'Oaptain Smart should only have started to day, and that already some person brings intelligence of the event! They must have met upon the road! What kind of person is this who has brought the message?" asked Polly. “He's a horrid-looking man, mum, if you please,” said the timid maid; “you can't see any thing of him except a tremendous great coat and a slouched cap, and a big comforter, and a shawl tied round his throat that hides his face altogether, and he looks as cold as shivers,” continued the girl, “for the snow is sticking all about him.” “Is there a fire in the library,” ask l olly. “Yes, mum, there’s a blazing fire.” “Then tell him I will see him immediately.” The girl left the room, and having said a few words to Edith and Mrs. Jones (who felt rather nervous at the idea of a strange person having been thus admitted into the house after dark), Polly shortly followed-her. As Polly Grey enteredlibrary, lighted only by one candle that the maid had left, she at first hardly distinguished the dark andmuffled form of the stranger, who was standing by a bookshelf. Startled for the moment as he came forward, she said, “I believe you are the person who wishes to speak with Mrs. Grey? I am the widow of Paul Grey.” The tall figu? e of the stranger for an instant appeared to real forward, but almost immediately recovering himself, he said, in a deep and trembling veiee, “Widows of Paul Grey, I was with him in the fight when he fell.” < Polly pressed her hand for some moments against her forehead in silence. “I know he fell,” she said, “and that bravely; but I have al ways hoped against all hope that he was not killed, but perhaps gravely wounded, and that I might again see him in this world. Did you see him die? Gh tell me, I beseech you, all! Hide nothing from me; for now that I know that he is really dead, I can bear to hear all concerning him.” “I came here to tell you all I know,” replied the stranger, “l am a sailor who fought and bled in that hard fight when Paul and Dick Stone were both struck down. Poor Dick lies in the sea, and Paul—but I will not harrow your feelings, Mrs: Grey. I had heard that you were about to marry again, and that Captain Smart was to fill Paul’s vacant place. I am an old friend of Joe Smart’s, and J could wish him no better fortune than to win Paul’s wife.” “Alas!" said Polly, “that such reports have stirred abroad. Captain Smart was Paul's best friend, and he has well befriended me, but never was woman truer to her husband’s memory than I have been; it has been a life of sorrow to me for many

a long year, and I have prayed to ‘God for deatlT as my greatest comP fort, that I might see dear Paul again in heaven. I could not take another vow; my heart would break; but still, there could not be a better or more honest man than Captain Smart." L A a PoTIy spoke these words, the talL muffled figure drew nearer to her aud said in a hoarse whisper, “Mrs. Grey, did you ever dream of Paul? Did you ever pray for him when away?" “Dream of- Hun?” said Polly. 1 have passed such nights of happiness with Paul in my arms, only to wake and find myself alone, and the world a wilderness without him; and I have prayed till my heart was nearly brokea that God would restore him to roe. I have lived in hope till now; and you, evil messenger, have broken the iast reed on which I leaned, now I know that Paul is gone forever. O God! why did I pray? Let me die rather than live this life of anguish!" said Polly bitterly, in her despair. For some minutes Polly leaut upon' the mantelpiece and buried her face in her hands. The tall stranger also appeared to be affected. “And if," said he, “Paul Grey would return to life what would become of Captain Smart? Does he not love vou, Mrs. Grey?" “Question me no more. You have delivered your fatal message;! thank you for the sad npws. You must be tired and hungry, and I Will order supper." “The moment is too serious for thoughts of hunger. I have more news to tell, but I must have your thorough confidence," replied the stranger; “tell me plainly and upon your oath, does not Smart love you and do you not return his love?" "

“He does," said Polly, “and for him I have tho affection of a sister. Siuce Paul’s death he has been more than a brother to me, and be now asks for his reward that I should consent to become his wife.” “What is your reply?" asked the stranger. “I must know ull before I proceed with my story, for the end has not been told.” Polly hesitated. “Why should I be ashamed to declare my feelings? I cannot love again as I loved Paul, and yet I owe Captain Smart so much that although I have always refused his offer, I feel that if Paul’s pirit could know all he has doae for

me and lor his interest he'would him* self counsel me to accept his hand. I have told him,” continued Polly, “that I can bear no more until be can discover an eye-witness who saw my dear Paul's body buried. He has left this house to-day for Falmouth, and if you came from that direction you must have met. him on the road. have rendered his journey unnecessary. would that I were dead.” ‘ Mrs. Grey,” said the stranger solemnly and in a voice broken by his ftxcited feelings, “prepare yourself Tor tbe remainder of -my* tale. Can-you bare more?” he asked earnestly. “ - r - - . VI can bear anything,” said Polly; : ‘my distress has been so great that nothing can impress me, now that Paul is dead; my feelings have grown ca lous.!’ . “i

“Then hear the end and fortify ycurself for what will be as severe a shock as you ever had to bear. Are ycu prepared? Is your courage screwed to its highest pitch? Can yc u support the trial?” “I can bear anything, she repeated only tell me quickly. What can bd worse than all I know?” The] stranger sat down on a chair, and, apparently overcome by emotion for some moments, he leant his elbows on the table and buried his ,fa:e m his hands. As though feeling oppressed, lie unbuttoned his great coat and loosened the numerous wraps around his throat; then standing up he approached Polly, who calmly awaited his mysterious announcement. (to be continued.)