Page:The Galaxy, Volume 6.djvu/629

1868.] "Who knows but this precious bracelet is actually a family jewel of our own. You say the woman was inquiring for me. I must see the old man you speak of before I leave."

"He knows no more than I told you, sir. I have seen him myself. I did not suppose you would be able to speak with him so soon "

She glanced at him half reproachfully as she spoke, and a shadow crossed his face.

"Yes, I know," said he, hurriedly, "I do not forget my loss in caring for the living. This child is now my charge, and I shall attend to her interests as carefully as to those of my own daughter. The bracelet I shall put away until Neria is old enough to wear it; and before leaving home I shall make all possible inquiries concerning her mother's story. And now, Anita, good-by. I shall not see you alone again until time has done so much for both of us that we need not fear to meet."

He took her hand, looked down into the dark eyes raised to his with such an ocean of anguish in their depths, and then, half drawn by them, half impelled by his own tender nature, he stooped and kissed her.

A vivid scarlet stained her cheeks, a wild joy lighted her eyes; and as she slowly withdrew her hand and left the room, every line of her supple figure, every motion of her graceful head, so expressed the new life burning in her veins that Vaughn, watching her, muttered, as she closed the door,

"It was folly, it was inconsistent. But it is the last. Never again, Anita, never again."

And Fate, listening, smiled a scornful smile, whispering,

"Yet once more Frederic Vaughn, yet once more, and in your own despite."

pursuance of the intention expressed to his new retainer, Mr. Gillies took an early opportunity of ascertaining Reuben's reputation in his native village.

"O, there ain't no harm in the fellow," said Mr. Burroughs, to whom his first inquiry was addressed. "I guess the worst that's to say of him is that he's sort o' slack, and had rather luff and bear away than to keep her right up in the wind's eye. But he's handy, Reub is, and can do first rate if he's a mind to. I shouldn't wonder if he answered your purpose, Cap'n, as well as a better man. But what does Nance say about it?"

"I do not know to whom you refer," said Mr. Gillies, in his driest manner.

"Why, Reub's wife, Nancy Brume. If she hain't gi'n her consent, it won't do no good to ship him. She'll be after him, and get him, too."

Mr. Gillies looked puzzled and disgusted, but made no reply.

"Tell you what, Cap'n," pursued the good-natured publican, "why don't you jest step over there, and speak to Nance about it yourself. It seems a pity you shouldn't have Reub, and I tell you now, Nance is skipper of that concern, and is the one you've got to reckon with first or last. If you don't go and see her, she'll be up to see you before many days are over."

"Heaven forbid!" ejaculated Gillies; and after a moment of consideration, briefly added,

"Very well, I will go. Where does she live?"