Mr. Hamilton paid the bill, which amounted to over seven hundred dollars, without a question, and promised to come again the next season. Leopold assisted the party in going on board of the yacht, and shook hands at parting with Rosabel. He watched the vessel, with the beautiful girl waving her handkerchief to him, till she was out of sight. He was sorry to have her go, for it was a pleasure for him to look at her. He had sailed her to High Rock the day before, and she had said a great many pleasant things to him. It was a quiet time at the Sea Cliff House after the departure of the New York guests, but Leopold missed Rosabel more than all others, and even then began to look forward to her return.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE COMING WAVE.
By the middle of July the Sea Cliff House was full. The report of the New Yorkers among their friends that this hotel was the best on the coast, induced a great many families and others to seek accommodations at the house. By the first of August Mr. Bennington was obliged to "colonize" his guests in the neighboring houses. The season was a decidedly successful one to him, and his profits more than realized his anticipations. In the fall he paid off the mortgage on his furniture, and the note he owed to the widow Wormbury, and still had a large balance in the bank. The Island House had hardly any business, for people preferred to go to the Sea Cliff, even if they had to take rooms outside of the hotel. Ethan did not make any money that season.
Leopold had all he could do in the boat, and made a small fortune for himself by taking out parties. He raised his price to six dollars a day, so that he could pay Stumpy two dollars a day for his services. The affairs of Mrs. Wormbury were therefore in excellent condition.
After the season was finished, a man came over from Rockland and took rooms at the Sea Cliff House. He inquired if there was such a person in the place as Joel Wormbury. The guest was very much surprised to learn that he was dead, and in the course of the day went to see his family. He had come to offer Joel a situation on a plantation in Cuba, where he had first met and known the deceased. The visitor was an engineer, by the name of Walker, and had instructed Joel in his business, so that he was able to run an engine on a plantation. Joel had told him his story. He had been picked up by a passenger steamer, and carried to Liverpool. There, after he had been drinking, he was induced to ship as a seaman in a bark bound to Havana, where he first met Walker. He ran away from the vessel, and went with his new friend to the plantation where the latter was employed.
Joel was a mechanic, and understood an engine very well. Instructed in the details of the business by Walker, he obtained a situation at very good wages. He had written to his wife, but for some reason unknown his letters failed to reach their destination. After working two years on the plantation, he determined to go home, and ascertain what had become of his family. Walker had gone with him to Havana, where Joel changed his money into American gold, and embarked in the Waldo. That was the last his friend had heard of him. Walker had come home on a visit to his relatives in the interior of the state, and wished Joel to return with him.
The mystery was solved; and the visitor declared that his friend had not drank a drop of liquor during the two years he was in Cuba.