The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-04-10

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have me compare you to Yankee girl
would you?"
Tho honest indignation in his tone. how.
ever ludicrous in itself, had a softening eff
feet on Faith. Her big brown ewes grew
suddenly wet, and her voice sank to a half
shamefaced whisper
only 1 told you 1 wouldn't wonder if
you took to foreign girl, Kyle. Some say
they're prettier than we are"
"You would ha' wondered. tbonph d" re-
torted Kyle, promptly. "Prettier than you!
I'd like to see the woman. Faith. give me
ycnr hand, and turn your face this way
Do you think III be content with the back
of your head tonight"
He took her hand as he spoke, and she let
him keep it; but her face was stiIl turned
away, and there was a faint culver about
the ruddy lips. Perhaps h er next words ex-
planned it
Father says you're going away again al
most at once, Kyle
AYE; when he came aboard to meet US
he gave me the offer. 1t did seem hard,
Almost too hard, when I'd hoped to have a
little rest aside of you afore 1 went away
again. But, after all, it will shorten the
time o waiting one way, lassie.'
/ How, Kyle?"
'Didn't your father say I was to wait for
you till was a captain? I'm going as cap
tain this time and only for six weeks
4 trip; leastways that's what they calculate it
at. Some business with the New York
agents, think; but I suppose you We heard
! about ir?'
That the Olinda was 20 be fitted out for
sale and that you were to take her over an
charter another vessel to bring you back?
Yes; but won't it take you longer?''
81 doubt not. They're to have the boat
and cargo ready. Mr. Denbigh's arranged
all that. Did you know his son-the new
Junior partner-is to ship with us?'
Yes" she said. Good Heavenl how
rosy her face was now; and yet the crimson
sky was fading into blues and violets. He
was looking ut her, and the broxs suddenly
darkened over his eyes, giving them an odd,
fierce expression. His voice, however, was
quieter than before.
Il can't say 1 care about sailing with :he
owners son. I'd liefer take any other pas
senger Theyre apt to fancy that because
they're boss ashore they need be boss aboard
an I'm masterful man myself, an don't
hold with no Co.'S in salt water. Hows'-
ever, I shouldn't mind so much if 1 liked
the man"
''And don't you?" asked Faith timidly,
her color still high.
do yOu"" said he, STOPPING forward to
look her full in the face. "IIe's been deal
at Amlwch since left, people tell me, an
you must ha seen plenty of him. What do
you lhink of him?
+ II, Kyle?" her eyes dropping beneath the
!. -
pleasant-spoken and civil think he's nice
enough"
"And I think him cross between fool
and ape" quoth Kyle Griffiths shortly; "son
of sea-cook! Well, Faith, 1 wonder"
Faith snatcheG her hand away angrily.-
"He has more manners than you" cried
she, painting, and ruffling ike an enraged
sparrow, 'the is a gentleman at any rate, and
would never dream of using such language
of people he don't know more than to speak
to- Oh,'-and here her feelings were too
much for words, and an indignant little
sigh and shiver filled the gap.
Even the violet was dying out of the sky
now, and cool gray shadows crept up from
the east, and threw a sombre tint over the
mans face. A small, cold wind rose out of
the sea, ruffling its breast with long, fret
full lines, like the puckered face of an ailing
child 1t chilled the dimples in Faith S
cheeks and blew the soft brown locks of
KyIe's stern brow and far overhead gull
few by, with long shr!ll scream, like the
wall of a banshee. Before it ceased Kyle
spoke;
HE is a gentleman, is he? 1 thank God,
then, I am not. Had 1 been one might
have been betrothed TO some fine lady,
i'stead O. the daughter Of an honest seafar-
ing man like myself. Faith, twice these
five minutes have you found fault with my
manners. 1 don't say they're finer nor i
rough sailors have need to be, but you
never laid blame on them before. Has this
gentleman been teaching you to do SO In my
absence this timer"
Women are constitutionally cowards.-
Faith Morgan was very woman For al
reply at filst she, metaphorlcally, turned
tail. and took refuge behind that ever-ready J
shield of femineity, a burst of tears 1twa:
not until they had lasted long enough tc
{ make KYLE apostrophize himself as brute
that she sobbed out:
Glow c-c-cruel you are! You kn-n-noW
that love you as you are better than-anc
vet-ohr' Another burst, and the pretty
, / head dropped very near ny 4S . NASN' -
voluntarily he laid his hand caressingtI
upon It. Involuntarily his voice took
softeued, soothing tone.
cam cruel, Faithie, and to you? Nay
, then. don't cry. Mayhaps / was over
sbarn but was met on landing by Ill tall
about young Denbigh an YOU They sai'
he had been taking my place, an though
, wouldn't believe it, nor even bearkeh u
. the foul-tongued gossips, it sort o cut M
when you spoke mp for him. Faith lassie'
, love you more than manya husband. 70,
, were to play me false with any one, thlhi
I'd feel like killing him an you too
He looked like it at the moment, and sh
believed him, and trembled at the mlngilh'
of passionate tenderness and wrath IN III
l tone InstinctiveIy she turned and cisspe'
: his strong hand in both hecs, her face turn
. ed up coaxingly.
''Dan't think o such things, Kyle, love
, Won know I never could. What's Mr.. Den
bieh to me but fathers partner"