The Tides of Barnegat

when the radiant sunshine had turned the ribbon of a road that ran from Warehold village to Barnegat Light and the sea to satin, the wide marshes to

was fine and the water not too cold-and was returning to Warehold by way of the road, when, c

n of silver, lay the spit of sand narrowing the inlet, its edges scalloped with lace foam, its extreme point dominated by the grim tower of Barnegat Light; aloft, high into the blue, soared the

lders, tightened the strings of her white cap, smoothed out her apron, and with the re

e kitchen-maid had scalded him. Somehow the poor outcast brought home to her a sad page in her own history, when she herself was homeless and miserable, and no hand

coddling-up kind of woman of fifty, with a low, crooning voice, gentle fingers, and soft, restful hollows about her shoulders and bosom for the heads of tired babies; Meg thin, rickety, and sneak-eyed, with a broken tail that hung at an angle, and but one ear (

andscape he had taken the opportunity to wallow in whatever came fi

scal!" she cried, stamping he

a was near enough to lay her hand upon him, and then, wi

tles and jest as dirty as when I throwed ye in the water. Come out o' that, I tell ye! Now, Meg, darlin'

at a man of thirty, dressed in a long, mouse-colored surtout with a wide cape falling to the shoulders. On his head was a soft gray hat and about his neck a white scarf sh

m between the blossoms, twisted his one ear to catch the sound

or John. I thought it was you, but the sun blinded me, and I couldn't see. And ye never saw a better nor a brighter mornin'. These spring days is all blossoms, and t

tening the reins on the restless sorrel as he spoke. The voi

dressm

now-that fine, delicately wrought, sympathet

'bout that skinny fright being 'Miss,' and there ain't no doubt 'bout her stayin' so. Ann Gossaway she is, and Ann Gossaway

at" the doctor replie

bad 'twarn't her tongue. If ye could snip off a bit o' t

ut face. Busy as he was-and there were few busier men in town, as every hitching-post along the main street of Warehold village fr

, with a smile, dropping his whip into the socket, a

him-did ye ever see such a rapscallion! Every time I throw him

to his roadside acquaintance; the agate-eyed setter returning Meg's attentions with the stony gaze of a club swell ignoring a shabby relative. The doctor smiled thoughtfully. Th

ing of all others?" he asked. "I thought

ips go by; that's the only thing that'll quiet my nerves. They're never in a hurry with everybody punchin' and haulin' them.' Not that there's anybody doin' that to me, 'cept l

" laughed the doctor, gathering up his re

never will be. She's my wee bairn that I took from her mother's dyin' arms and nursed at my own brea

he made the inquiry his eyes kindled

u young people kin. Ye think I go round with my eyelids sewed up. Miss Jane knows what she wants-she's proud, and so are you; I never knew a Cobden nor a Cavendish that warn't. I haven't a word to say-it'll be a

e in his throat for accompaniment, picked up his whip, lifted his hat in mock courtesy to the old nurse, and callin

warm spring days-sat down to rest, the dog stretched out in her lap. The little outcast had come to her the day Lucy left Warehold for school, and the old nurse had

ike he's done? But grown up or not, Meg"-here she lifted the dog's nose to get a clearer view of his sleepy eyes-"she's my blessed baby and she's comin' home this very day, Meg, darlin'; d'ye hear that, ye little ruffian? And she's not goin' away ag'in, ne

k posts topped with white balls and shaded by two tall hemlocks, through which could be seen a level path leading to an ol

rn's arrival by the country stage, but her impatience was such that she could not enter the path without this backward glance. Meg, who had followe

instant a young girl in white, with a wide hat shading her joyous face, jumped fro

een? Didn't you know I was coming by the early

und the soft cheek, patted it gently for an instant as a blind person might have done, and then reassured,

, darlin', but they told me you wouldn't be here till dinner-time. Oh, darlin', is it you? And it's all true, isn't it? and ye've come back to me for good? Hug me close. O

e, Martha?" A woman above the middle height, young and of slender figure, dressed in

her all over again. Oh, but I'm that happy I could burst meself with joy! Give me ho

ing her cheek against it as she walked. Meg had ceased barking and was now sniffing at

sion to anything physically imperfect, no matter how lovable it might be

' 'cept his food,"

ing all the closer to the nurse. "This isn't the dog sister Jane wro

dog. You don't like

wful," retorted Luc

nce you went away," Marth

ay, you dreadful dog!" she cried, stamping her fo

e to Martha's side raised his eyes ap

e had stopped to pick so

he stooped over and stroked the crestfallen beast'

cy with a toss of her head. "I wouldn't touch him with a pair of

r in a pitying tone. "He was half starved when Martha fo

And you will send him away, won't you, like a dear good old Martha?" she added, patting Martha's shoulder in

lowed behi

because it had followed so closely upon the joy of their meeting. What had come over her bairn, she said to herself with

er. She had seen the look of disappointment in the old nurse

I was ashamed to let him see Meg. He's comin' up to see you to-night, Lucy, darlin'," and sh

nd twisted her pretty head around u

nk he's coming

s sent over every day to find out when you would be home, and Ba

t seen him for years; I hear he's another one of your beaux," she added, tucking the flowers into Jane's b

her," answered Jane, ignoring Lucy'

s he d

e two. "He's sailin' a boat when he ain't playin' cards or scarin'

e. "He's got a great many very good qualities; he has no mother and the captain

ed that her influence might help him, and then again, s

d; and I don't blame him for throwing anything he could lay his hands on at this little wretch of Martha's. We all played cards up in our rooms at school. Miss Sarah never knew anyt

wered Jan

her lids at Martha. "Just as he used to and sit around, or has he-" Here she

ute he kin git. And he can't come too often to suit me. I jest love him, and I'm

would be a man for me to look at when I came home, and you've got two already! W

leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "I'm not in the back of the docto

ars old, isn't he?" excla

m. If he'd had the right influences in his life and could be thrown a little more with nice women it w

ith a staircase protected by spindling mahogany banisters and a handrail. Jane passed into the library an

ars-the little crib still occupied one corner-the old woman took the wid

"same blue eyes, darlin', same pretty mouth I kissed so often, same little dimples ye had

nded shoulders and plump arms of the

stepping back a pace and looking her over criticall