The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-05-21

Fanny turns white, and retreats still
farther from the cliffs edge; then she
gives little forced laugh.
81 must say, John, you've got
strange notions of pleasant talk; first
Won scold me till cry, and then you
sneak about murder. Now | must
90 home, and if you can't trust me to
90 by the beach, I'll take the long way
over the cliffs. Are you satisfied now,
sir?"
Satisfied John is radiant at such
an unexpected sweet submission. for
the road on ahead over the cliffs is
just two miles round for Fanny, and
when they began to quarrel she had
said nothing should induce her to go
home unless she went by the beach,
where, as John knew, Captain Stand
ish aud his friend are pacing up and
down In front of the little bay. GU
little duckI" he says, and John offers
up a good deal Of atonement IN word
and act, which Fanny receives with
many smiles and bushes, and at last
he let's her go. -,
why not go by the lane2" he
asks.
Fanny mods. 81 was just thinking
50" she said, and she looks back over
her shoulder, and smiles like an angel,
John thinks.
But the smile fades out of her face
more quickly than the rose color from
these long ribbon-like cloud lines.
By the time she reaches the end of
the rock path her forehead is dinted
with frown.
The path ends its shelf like course
along the cliff, and slopes down to the
left In a steep descent to the road
leading to the beach; on the right it
mounts as steeply to the upper part of
the villager. A lane with high hedg-
es fringed with plumy fronds of lady
fern, and nearer the ground, rarer,
more minute kinds nestle like green
tassels in the chinks of loose piled
masses of stone hidden by long, satin
strips of hart's tongue.
Fanny stands frowning still where
the three ways meet. She is thinking
about John.
IT don't believe he thinks half
enough about me-he wouldn't dare
be so masterful if he didl" And then
(for a good intention repented of sell
dom gets a second hearing), Fanny
LCAA5 nCI6C1A 40 al N nACO
slave | shall be when I'm married, if
I'm never to look at any one or speak
to any one but him. What's the use
of good looks ifthey're all to be hidden
out of sight?" and she hardens herself
in this one idea of her own beauty,
and the amount of admiration due
to it.
She stands still, looking wistfully
down the steep lane to the beach. A
sound of voices comes up to her, a
hearty laugh, and then some words
which bring a blush to her cheek
blush Of pleasure; her lips part. and
her head is thrown back saucily as
two gentlemen come In sight, saunter-
ing up the path.
BY Jovel this is lucky"
Captain Standish takes his cigar out
Of his mouth, and says, GOOD even
He is a tall, fair youth, with pale
hair and eyes; there is a washed out
look about him. Mr.. Russell has a
more manly aspect; he is short and
thick set, something of the bull-ter-
rier breed.
Fanny is in such flutter of vanity
and delight, that she hardly knows
/ what is said to her, or what she an
swers. She has quite forgotten her
intention of going straight home, and
stands listening and laughing while
the Captain talks.
PART II.
John stands listening too Just
where Fanny left him-listening and
yet not hearing the querulous scream
of'ahe sea gulls at the foot of the cliff
dipping their black-tipped wings in
the Dreaming curl of the waves, and
then rising in a sudden flight with
tanning outspread feathers, or sink
ing again slowly as the air resists their
pinions.
But John is not frowning. He
has wronged Fanny by his half. formed
good and docile she is. after all A
spirit of her own. All at BiddeforC
there'll be none of these fellows com
ing down to plague honest menP"
John Fry came back yesterday from
Biddeford; he has an uncle there,
share of his boat and his business fol
! very moderate compensation.
"Johnl-John Fry, s'yi Hellol-
/ where are yo?"
t A coast guard, in blue flannel AM
shiny hat, comes running along tn
} ledge, as easily as if it were six fee
wide.
r He stops short when he sees John
} sets his legs wide apart, and bot
! hands go down to the bottom of hi
} pockets.
well, Davie?"
Look aliveI" says Davie, with a re
: face, and jerking his thumb over hi
/, shoulder. Eyer wanted below; tn
Biddeford boat is off the rocks, ant
q there's one awanting 20"
!, Wanting of me?"
: John pulls off his wideawake, dout
6 les it up, and then hattens il out wit
his strong, brown hand; finally, thi
It proceeding having failed to solve hi
i; perplexity, he moves on to wher
q Davies thumb is pointing.
/" "There'll be bit of gale to nigl
). afOre the boat reaches Minehead,
u says DaVie; and then he stands sti
is and lights his pipe, while John Fl
]. hurries down to the beach.
g Unless he had scrambled down IL
a face of the crag-a bold feat for eve
O so fearless a climber-he must folio
5 the path Fanny has taken, but he
is not thinking of Fanny as he hurri
is along. His uncle at Biddeford W;
e. an old man; he had already bad OF
8, seizure, and this might be anothe
( John had few friends or relations, b
n those he had he loved with the int
L slty of deep, strong nature, and
t. heart was full of anxious fear for b
uncle; be had left him so we'll al
)" hearty, and so full of warm sympatl