Rockhaven   By: Charles Clark Munn (1848-1917)

BY CHARLES CLARK MUNN

AUTHOR OF "POCKET ISLAND" AND "UNCLE TERRY"

ILLUSTRATED BY FRANK T. MERRILL

BOSTON LEE AND SHEPARD MCMII

Published March, 1902.

Copyright, 1902, by Lee and Shepard.

All Rights Reserved.

Rockhaven.

Norwood Press J. S. Cushing & Co. Berwick & Smith Norwood Mass. U.S.A.

To All WHO DESPISE HYPOCRISY AND DECEPTION WHO ADMIRE MANLY COURAGE AND WOMANLY DEVOTION WHOSE HEARTS YET VIBRATE TO THE CHORDS OF ROMANCE AND WHO RESPECT SIMPLE FAITH IN AND GRATITUDE TO GOD This Book is Respectfully Dedicated BY THE AUTHOR

[Illustration: THE OLD TIDE MILL.]

CONTENTS

I. ON ROCKHAVEN

II. WINN HARDY

III. THE ROCKHAVEN GRANITE COMPANY

IV. WHERE THE SEA GULLS COME

V. JESS HUTTON

VI. THE BUD OF A ROMANCE

VII. SUNDAY ON ROCKHAVEN

VIII. THE HAND OF FATE

IX. A FRIENDLY HAND

X. MONA HUTTON

XI. THE DEVIL'S OVEN

XII. THE PARTING OF THE WAYS

XIII. WILD ROSES

XIV. J. MALCOLM WESTON

XV. A MATTER OF BUSINESS

XVI. THE GROWTH OF A BUBBLE

XVII. IN THE PATH OF MOONLIGHT

XVIII. IN A FOG

XIX. A PHILOSOPHER

XX. A CLOUD OVER ROCKHAVEN

XXI. THE MOOD OF THE BELLS

XXII. TWO RASCALS

XXIII. THE STARTING OF A "CORNER"

XXIV. THE PROGRESS OF A "CORNER"

XXV. A SUMMER DAY

XXVI. A CLIMAX

XXVII. SEVERING THE TIES

XXVIII. ON 'CHANGE

XXIX. THE BUBBLE RISES

XXX. THE BUBBLE BURSTS

XXXI. TWO DOGS AND A BONE

XXXII. THE AFTERMATH OF A SWINDLE

XXXIII. A TOUCH OF HEROISM

XXXIV. A WOMAN'S WILES

XXXV. THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE

XXXVI. GOING, GOING, GONE!

XXXVII. A SOCIAL CYNIC

XXXVIII. THE END OF AN IDYL

XXXIX. A GRAY HAIRED ROMANCE

XL. A GOOD SEND OFF

XLI. EIN WUNDERBARES FRAULEIN

XLII. THE ROAD TO THE TEMPLE

XLIII. THE CYNIC'S SHADOW

XLIV. ONLY A MOOD

XLV. THE OLD HOME

XLVI. A NEW STAR

XLVII. LOVE ETERNAL

XLVIII. CONCLUSION

ILLUSTRATIONS

THE OLD TIDE MILL

MONA

JESS HUTTON, PHILOSOPHER

THE DEVIL'S OVEN

THE BUBBLE BURSTS

ROCKHAVEN

ROCKHAVEN

CHAPTER I

ON ROCKHAVEN

"It ain't more'n onct in a lifetime," said Jess Hutton to the crowd of friends in his store, "that luck comes thick 'n' fat to any on us 'n' so fer that reason I sent over to the mainland fer suthin' o' a liquid natur; 'n' now take hold, all hands, 'n' injie yerselves on Jess."

With that he began setting forth upon the counter, in battle array, dozens upon dozens of bottles filled with dark brown liquid and interspersed with boxes of cigars. For Jess Hutton, the oracle, principal storekeeper, first selectman, school committeeman, prize story teller, philosopher and friend to everybody on Rockhaven island, had sold a few acres of granite ledge he set no value upon, for two thousand dollars, half cash down; and being a man of generous impulses, had invited the circle of friends most congenial, to "drop round ternight 'n' I'll set 'em up."

It is true that the cigars he passed out so freely were not imported, still they were the best he kept, and not the cheap brand most in demand on Rockhaven, and the bottles contained the vintage of hops and malt instead of "extra dry," but both were urged upon all in a way that left refusal impossible.

And of that unique gathering of men, with sea tanned faces, garbed mainly in shirt, trousers, and sailor caps, some wearing boots, some slippers, some barefoot, nearly all addressed one another as "Cap" or "Cap'n," for to own a fishing sloop or jigger on Rockhaven meant distinction.

"I dunno how it all come about," said Jess, when the popping of corks had ceased and the incense of cabbage leaves began to arise, "but I was sorter dozin' on the counter that day when this bloomin' freak, with white duck pants, 'n' cap, 'n' shirt, 'n' gray side whiskers, blew in, 'n' the fust I know'd, I heerd him say, 'Come, wake up, Rip Van Winkle! I want ter buy yer quarry!'