The Adventures of a Modest Man
l on his Dresser the Evening
.30
,' or whatever they call it, at Avalon Island. I had no idea he was really ill. Evidently he is alarmed, for we have only been here six days, and
e treatment, too!), and he says that nobody is received for less than a month's treatment, so I suppose that bars you even i
we had planned to do together! And there's my maid at
rine D
Catharine Delancy, Avalo
s Light, F
tions. It seems Avalon is an island, and they have to wait for the steamers to carry telegrams over from the mainland. So the reply has jus
men through the fog, rowing like the mischief plump into my decoys, and I shouted out, 'What the deuce are you about?' and they
d they came, and they turned out to be Jack Selden-the chap I
yed to shoot with me over my decoys, and our bag was
in the keeper's living-room, with his good little wife sewing by the fire and a half-dozen of his kids tumbling about on the floor. It's a pretty sight; I love children and firesides and that sort of thing. They've got hold o
it-jacket and I wouldn't care as long as [you were, crossed out]
rrow before dawn. The keeper's wife says it will blow too hard, but Selden
r father and every wish for
faith
s Har
book and Found in a Bottle in the Pock
ntic
h of Holy C
ruar
sea in a rowboat, and it's leaking. I only want to say good-by. Telegrap
s Har
y the Keeper while Search-boats Were still Out a
ly Cross Light, Fl
r sakes. Terrible storm on the coast re
rine D
n, Flo
nd Opened by the Keeper of the Lighthou
.
ur silence and the reports of t
hari
.
surely were not ass enough
Dela
.
raph to me that you ar
hari
Catharine Delancy
Cross
tharine
Selden blown out to sea. Search-boats re
ll, Ke
Delancy to Keeper
swe
unches as necessary. Don't give up the search.
James Harroll. You may draw on me for any amount necess
en Del
un rising in tropic splendor behind them, before
tlantic with both oars; a heavy flood-tide was doing the rest. Pr
r, and sighed deeply. "Except for the scare and the conf
e you didn't set that f
mess
you scribbling in
d w
e of gun-oil. If I was mistaken, k
Can't a man jot down impressions? Open a can of sa
e near those ducks," he said, "we'd better give them a b
ge-sacks for some dry shells, loa
oat drew near. "How tame they are! Look
silver-breasted bird paddled lazily out of the way, but the bulk of the flock floated seren
hat a scurry and rise might justify assassination. But the birds only watched him in perfect confidence. The boat drove on; the young
are you looking at?"-for Selden, using
aid slowly-"of all luck! W
re the dev
Ava
upidly. "Why, man, it's a hund
their dinky little temples shining among the tree
me came acro
not daring to hope for such fortune. "
I've h
t's
se run by a "doctor." He makes 'em all wear garments cut in the style of the humble bed-sheet, and then he turns 'em out to grass; and they may roll on it or frisk on it or eat it if they like. Incidentally, I believe, they're obliged to wallow in the ocean several times a day, run races afoot, chuck the classic discus, go b
!" muttere
re almost there. Look sharp! Stand by for
to the surf, smothering craft and crew in hissing foam. A second later two heads appeared, and two
t water oozing at every pore. H
" he in
. Where's
which lay in the shoals, heeled over. Selden followed; together they dragged
tching handfuls of hot sand. "Isn't this immense?" he said. "My! how nice and dry a
n dragging the guns and car
s here," he said
about ready to be killed with hospitality," observed Selden,
east-high, and forced a path through toward a bit of
Selden, in a low voice. "Better hit him wi
hade of a live oak. His attitude suggested ennui; he yawned at
head," said Harroll, "resemb
hose friends
ndals, wearing a wreath of flowers o
p boots aroused the gentleman in the tog
d Harroll, blandly, "I th
nd a monocle, screwed it firmly into his e
, Jim," he said, s
ack Selden-the Lenox Seldens, you know, sir."
Mr. Delancy. "Y
ch released the monocle. Then he touched his faded eyes with the
, Jim," he said. "Did you
s? No, si
," said Mr
out to sea, and that's how we came here. I fancy Selden wouldn
ly and modestly as Mr
villa in this forsaken place. The food I have to offer you might be relished by squirrels, perhaps; the clot
toga over one shoulder, and p
ke it here?"
repeated
y did y
cy slowly, "because I de
fell back out of ears
t your th
w you've shattered this-you
en, who stood watching two pretty g
to endure every species of tomfoolery, I've been fed on bird seed, deprived of cigars, and sent to bed at half past nine. And I'm as sound in limb and body
ets of oleander, wistaria, and Cherokee roses-where through the trees a placid lake lay reflecting the violet sky-where fallow-deer wandered, lipping young maple buds-where bene
aid, slowly, "with your permission-an
doubtless unconscious of the troub
epeated the young
y daughter and I be
lawn. "She is sitting under that pergola yonder, looking out to sea, and I'm afraid she's crying her eye
oked at one an
drowned," said Mr. Delancy, "b
ed Selden, who appeared to be fascinated by an attractive girl i
' she whispered. '
g woman with yellow hair and violet eyes who is playing handball with her sister, and w
ir and blue eyes!" murm
eaves to-night-unless you mean to
ntly. Bird-seed ha
id, "I'm rather
oung man was already half-way to the jasmine-covered arbor, whe
e into the shallows and a great tarpon fling its mass of silver into the sun. Paroquets gleaming like living jewels rustled and preened in the china-trees; black and gold butterflies, covered w
atiating surf purred, blinking with a million iridescent bubbles. The smug smile of nature appalled her;
" she whispered.
hari
d feet, the white folds of her
hari
name; she swayed, steadying hers
ble for t
, I looked at him
y for the defense. That's a fine story to tell a father o
appened,
ither. I'll explain to you
ng a story-and I didn't wish Alida and Dulcima to sympathize with young Harroll and tha