Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-05-07

know. He's pleasant-spoken and civil.
think he's nice enough"
"And I think him a cross between foo
and ape" quoth Kyle Griffiths, shortly
Well, Faith, | wonder
Faith snatched her hand away angrily
"He has more manners than yOu," CRIED
she, painting and rufiing like an enraget
sparrow; che is a gentleman, at any rate
an would never dream of using such Ian
guage of people he don't even know more
than to speak to. Ohr'-and here feel
| ings were too much for words, and an in
dignant little sigh and shiyer filled the
gap.
Even the violet was dying out of the
sky now. and cool, gray shadows crept ur
| from the east. and threw a somber tin
over the mans face A small, cold vino
rose out of the sea, ruffiing its breast with
! long. fretfuI lines, like the puCkered face
of an aiIing child. 1t chilled the dimples
| in Faiths cheeks and blew the soft
| brown locks of Kyle's stern brow; anC
! far overhead a gull flew by, with long
! shriII scream. like the wall of banshee
| Before it ceased Kyle spoke:
| "He's a gentleman, is he? | thank
God. then, am not. Had I been one ]
| might have been betrothed to some fine
lady, i'stead o. the daughter of an honest
seafaring man like myself. Faith, twice
these five minutes have you found fault
with nv manners. l don't say they're
finer nor a 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 time?''
Women are constItutiOnallY towards,
Faith Morgan was very woman. Fer
all reply at first she took refuge behind
that ever-ready shield Of femininity, a
burst of tears. 1t was not until they had
lasted long enough to make Kyle apos-
trophize himself as a brute that she
sobbed out:
"How c-c-cruel you are! You kn-n-now
that love you as you are better than
and yet-oh!" Another burst, and the
pretty head dropping very near Kyle's
knee Involuntarily he laid his hand
caressingly upon it. Involuntarily his
voice took a softeDed, soothing tone
cam I cruei, Faithie, and to you I?
Nay, then, don't cry. Mayhaps I was
Over-sharp, but [ was met on landing by
i'll talk about young Denbigh an you.
They said he had been taking my place,
an though I wouldn't believe it, nor even
harken to the foul-tOngued gossips, it
sort o. cut me when you spoke up for
him. Faith, lassie, love you more than
many husband If you were to play
me false with any one, | think I'd feel
like killing him an you too"
He looked like it at the moment, and
she believed him, and trembled at the
mingling Of passionate tenderness and
wrath in his tone. Instinctively she
turned and clasped his strong hand in
both hers, her face turned up cOaxingly.
"Don't think o. such things, Kyle, love ;
you know l never could. What's MIR.
Denbigh to me but fathers partner?"
He was holding the soft hands and
looking down into the sweet eyes. The
moon, Just rising, glittered on something
which, unnOticed by her, had escaped
from the folds Of her neckerchief- "a
golden circle with the portrait of a man
within.
Faith, /" said Kyle Griff1ths, in tone
which strOve for steadiness, "you're
wearin' grand new trinket since I saw
you last. Who gave you that?o
He spoke too suddenly. With quick,
frightened gesture she snatched away
her hand, as if to hide the bauble With
a face deeply, terribly red, the red of
cowardly consciousness, she stammered
out:
"I-I-it's nothing father's-Imean
bought it'
Without a word Kyle loOsed her wrist
and rose up. Without word he turned
from her; only when he had gone ten
steps he came back, and said, very hoarse
and low:
Faith Morgan, you have told me lie,
an you know it. | can't say if it was for
the first time, but can say it shall he the
last | wondered and his voice sank
deeper still" that you should shrink
when | took you in my arms, a while ago.
| wonder now you dare let me do it, wi
that mans face lying between my heart
an yours. Go to him now, an you will
L want no wife on whom | can't depend
in word an deed"
He was gone the next moment; and
Faith, sObbing bitterly with grief and
anger, went home to find Philip Denbigh
at the garden gate waiting for her.
He had been counting her for the last
two months, and she-had coquetted
with him. Flirting is not an amusement
confined to the upper ten. l have heard
OF a young PatagOuian squaw who was as
finished an adept at it as any Belgravian
beauty; and Faith, an only child and the
prettleSt girl in Amlwch, had been won
dertully fond of trying her destinations
on the weaker" sex till the arrival of a
new first mate for her fathers favOrite
vessel, the vessel he had commanded
himself until he was admitted to a part
nershlp In the firm of Denbigh & Co., his
employers. Kyle Grifiths, big as giant,
true as the light of day, and masterful as
he SAID himself, had "Cut out" all the
rest in no time, and won Faith for his
own undivided property. She never
even cared to look at any one else when
he was by; and, believe, loved him as
entirely as was in her nature, with most
worshlptul affection; but when Kyle was
away at sea, and young Mr.. Denbigh
came to Amlwch-Mr. Denbigh, who was
what she called gentleman; some one
who wore fine clothes and had white
hands and curly mustaChe-and when
this hero testified an immed late and VIC
lent admiration for herself, how could
she help being pleased? how could she
help going back to the old habits?
She did not help, either. Mr.. Denbigh
made love; and she smiled and fiirted, all
unconscious in her fattered vanity oil
what the neighbors were saving, until
JuoI uICC udS , bSlOIe hEIe IeGulu, lue
sutton brought matters to crisis by &
declaration. They had a tiff about 6
photo of Faith which Denbigh had
stolen and put in his locket; and he haC
brought her fine gold locket with one
| of himself in it, and begged her to accep
it and take the donor into the bargain.
Followed Weakening for silly little
Faith, and the confession, "But an
| engaged"
Followed anger from the gentleman
| and tears from the ladvl.