ars dropped from his hands and fell in against the thwarts of the
boat, and he clasped his knees and looked up as he talked, not regarding
at all his single silent listener.

"When this is to be put upon the stage there shall be a garden and two
personages."

"Also," said I, "a jealous listener behind the scenes."

"If you please," he said promptly, and plunged at once into the dialogue
he had overheard:

"'Richard, thee may never again say the words which thee has said to me
to-night. There is, thee knows, that between us which is builded up like
as a wall to keep us the one from the other.'

"'But men and women change, and a wall crumbles, or thee knows it may be
made to. Years have gone away, and the man who stole from thee thy
promise may be dead, for all thee knows.'

"'Hush! thee makes me to see him, and though the dead rise not here, I
am some way assured he is not yet dead, and may come and say to me,
"'Cilla"--that is what he called me--"thee remembers the night and thy
promise, and the lightning all around us, and who took thee to shore
from the wrecked packet on the Bulkhead Bar." The life he saved I
promised.'

"Well, and thee knows--By Heaven! you well enough know who tortured the
life he gave--who robbed you--who grew to be a mean sot, and went away
and left you; and to such you hold, with such keep faith, and wear out
the sweetness of life waiting for him!'

"'Richard!'

"'Have I also not waited, and given up for thee a life, a career--little
to give. I hope thee knows I feel that. Has thee no limit, Priscilla?
Thee knows--God help me! how well you know--I love you. The world, the
old world of war and venture, pulls at me always. Will not you find it
worth while to put out a hand of help? Would it not be God taking your
hand and putting it in mine?'

"'Thee knows I love thee.'

"'And if the devil sent him back to curse you anew--'

"'Shame, Richard! I would say, God, who layeth out for each his way, has
pointed mine.'

"'And I?'

"'Thee would continue in goodness, loving me as a sister hardly tried.'

"'By God! I should go away to sea.'

"'Richard!'

"Which is the last word of this scene," added Schmidt. "You mayhap have
about you punk and flint and steel."

I struck alight in silence, feeling moved by the story of the hurt
hearts of these good people, and wondering at the man and his tale. Then
I said, "Was that all?"

"Could you, if not a boy, ask me to say more of it? Light th