The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-05-21
KYLE CRIFFITHS-A TALE OF THE
WEIGH COAST.


This time of household war
KYLE 0RIFFITHS-A TALE OF THE
WEIGH COAST.
A sea like a duck-pond, calm as
glass aud red as fire; long strip of
snow white sand, backed by prec'pi-
tous rocks, gray by day, red too now
from the incarnadine arch of sunset
sky above to the westward a strip
of land running out into the hardor,
and showing black as ink against the
lower line of living gold, where far
beyond, the sun had just dipped bis
flaming orb to rest behind the waves.
Over the point the topsail rigging OF
the three .masted vessel. Nearer, in
foreground, a girl seated on heap
of dry sea-weeu, her yretty, hrown,
dlmpled arms ciasped about h'r
knees, her h ad uncovered save by n
mass of black, silky cuIls, throw,
back and res ing against an old boat,
moss grown and broken, and long
dlsused, which had found its last
haven in this quiet nook. 1t was all
very quiet for a while, but by and by
a step came tramping over the hard
smooth sands. The young girls
cheek glowed with deeper red, and
her heart began to beat, and her
hands trembled as though she was a
bird on the eve of flying to it's mate.
Not being a bird, but woman, how
ever, she coquetted-sat still, star
ing at the sunset she did not see, and
started and almost screamed when 9
big man, brown, and bearded, and
muscular, came suddenly round the
stern of the ruined boat and with a
short exclam alton, half choked as in
great gladness, he took her straight
into his arms and hugged her till she
screamed in right earnest:
"Kyle, put me down put me
down! How dare you be so rude,
sir, let me 60, please do"
'sNot till you have given me kiss
Faithie," said the other, keeping hit
hold, good humoredly, yet with
omething of repr oach in his grave
blue eyes. "What not one, after
three months waiting ? Why, lassie
l thought you cared for me bit bet
ter nor that. An l hungering fol
this moment ever since / left you"
The tone of the reminder-perhapI
even the Stacking of his arms-touch
ed her. Faith Morgan had warn
little heart, albeit five years younge
than the one against which it wa
beating now. Inconsistent as tru
woman, the moment he let 60 sh,
began to cling, and put up her lips.
81 do care for you, Kyle sh
said, "only-only you startled IN
So" and forth with she began to sol
like a baby. He made no answer a
first, only kissing her with close, ten
der kisses on lips and eyes, till tn
tears were driven back and the lip
pouted.
"Now, Kyle, do let me go. Yo
are so rough, and-and some on
might be passing"
"And what if some one was ? ask
ed the sailor, loosening his hold
however, and letting her resume he
former seat, while he took up pc
sition on the boats keel beside hel
"Who Las a better right TO kiss yo
thanI? can tell you, Sam Jone'
lassie didn't wait for him to begir
for we walked up from the pier Il
geLher, and she had the house doc
ouen and her arms around his nee
while he was still pc. ring up at th
window " on the chance OF her lookin
out"
"Nancy Evans is bold girl
quoth Faith, tartly. eff those al
the manners YOU like Kyle, | VOL
der YOU didn't try TO cut Jones o,
when you first came here"
81 come between another man an
his lass - cried the sailor, staring
"but there, you're joking, swee
heart /; and besides, yoa know theI
in not girl in Wales, or Englan
either, that could meet my tanc
save your own little self alone"
"You don't say America" sal
Faith, saucily.
"America v' repeated her lover
"why, in the name of all that's com
ly, you wouldn't have me compar
You to Yankee girl, would you ?''
The honest Indignation of his ton,
however ludicrous in itself, had
softening influence on Faith. He
big, brown eyes grew suddenly we
and her voice sank to half-sham'
faced whisper:
"Only told you wouldn't won
der If you took to a foreign CIR
Kyle. Some say they are prettie
than we are"
"You would ha' wondered
though" retorted Kyle, promptly
"Prettier than you I'd like to Sc
that woman. Faith, give me you
hand, and turn your face this way
Do you think I'll be content with tn
back OF your head tonight p
He took her hand as he spoke, an
she let him keep it; but her fac
was still turned away, and ther
was a faint quiver about the rudd
lips. Perhaps her next words e,
planned it.
"Father says you are going ava
again almost at once, Kyle"
"Aye, when he came aboard t
meet us he gave me the offer.
did seem hard, Almost too hard
when I'd hoped to have a little ref
aside of you afore ! went ava
again. But, after all, it will shorte
the time of waiting one way, lassie.
Chow, Kyle ?"