Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-04-29
KYLE GRIFFITHS.
4 Tale of the Welch Coast.

A sea ike q duck-p ono, calm as glass
and red as fire long strip of snow
white sand, backed by precipitous
rocks, gray by day, red too now from
the incarnadine arch of sunset sky
above; to the westward strip of land
running out into the harbor, and show
ing black as ink against the lower line
of living gold, where, far beyond, the
sun has just dipped his flaming orb to
rest behind the waves. Over the point
the topsail rigging of three-masted
vessel. Nearer, in the foreground, a
girl seated on heap of dried sea-weed,
her pretty brown dimpled arms clasped
about her. knees, her head covered by
a mass of black silky curls, thrown
back and resting against an old boat,
which had found it's last haven in this
quiet nook. 1t was all very quiet at
first, but by and by step came tramp
ling over the hard smooth sands. The
young girls cheek glowed with deeper
red, and her breast began to heave and
her hands to tremble, as though she
were bird on the eve of fl wing to it's
mate. Not being bird but woman,
however, she uetted-sat still star
ing at the sunset she did not see, and
started and almost screamed when a
big man, brown and bearded and mus
.cular, came suddenly round the stern
of the ruined boat, and with a short
holf oh 1oI
ness, took her into his arms, and hug
ged her till she screamed in right
earnest.
kyle, put me down! put me down
How dare you be SO rude, sir? Let me
go, please do"
"Not till you've given me kiss,
Faithie,' said the other, keeping his
hold good-humoredly, yet with some
thing of reproach in his grave blue
eyes. "What not after three months
waiting? Why lassie, [ thought you
cared for me a bit better nor that. An
[ hungering for his minute every day
and hour since [ left you"
The tone of the perhaps
even the slackening of his arms-touch-
ed her. Faith Morgan had a warm
little heart, albeit five years younger
and smaller than the one against which
1t was beating now. Inconsistent as a
true woman, the moment he let her go,
she began to cling, and put up her lips
L do care for you, Kyle she said,
only-only you startled me So" and
forthwith she began to sob like baby.
He made no answer. at first, only kiss
ing her with close, tender kisses on
lips and eyes, till the tears were driven
back, and the lips pouted.
"Now, Kyle, do let me go. You're
SO rough, and-and some one might be
passing"
land what if some one was % asked
the sailor, loosening his hold, however,
and letting her resume her former seat,
while he took up position on the boats
keel beside her. "Who has better
right TO kiss you than I? [ can tell you,
Sam Jones lassie didn't wait for him
to begin, for we walked up from the
pier together. and she had the house
door open, andher arms round his neck,
while he was still peering up at the
window on the chance of her looking
out"
Nancy Evans is bold girl" quoth
Faith, tartly. eff those are the man
aaers you like, Kyle, [ wonder you didn t
try TO cut Jones out when you first came
here
1 come between another man and his
lass = cried the sailor, starting; " but
there, you're joking, sweetheart; and
besides, you know there's never a girl
II Wales, or England either, that could
meetmy fancy saveyour little selfalone. -
You don't mention America" said
Faith, saucily.
''America!' repeated her lover:
f' Why, In the name ofallth comely.
you wouldn't have me compare YOU to
Yankee girl, would you?''
The honest indignation in his tone.
however ludicrous in itself, had a sof-
tening effect on Faith. Her big brown
eyes grew suddenly wet, and her voice
sank to a half-shamefaced whisper.
tOnly [ told you [ wouldn't wonder
If you took to foreign girl, Kyle.
Some say they're prettier than we are. :"
''You would ha' wondered, though, :"
retorted Kyle, promptly. "Prettier
than you? I'd like to see the woman.
Faith, give me your hand, and turn
your face this way. Do you think I'll
be content with the back of your head
to-nlght?"
He took her hand as he spoke, and
she let him keep it; cut her face was
still turned away, and there was faint
qulyer about her ruddy lips.
Rather says you're going away again
almost at once, Kyle"
Aye; when he came aboard to meet
us he gave me the offer. It did seem
hard, Almost too hard, when I'd hoped
to have little rest aside of you afore [
went away again. But after all it Will
shorten the time o waiting one way, las
sic.