Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-01


warned him away; whereat the fellow
gave him scowl and sheered off.
As Kate sat on the deck in the afternoon
she was thinking that the worst of this
puzzle was that nobody seemed to be to
blame, and asking herself why she should
take il so much to heart; there was no
such good reason why Field should not
like Louise as well as Fleming and he
was as good fellow if he did laugh at
his own jokes. and Louise was certainly
worthy of the best. But he had every adj
vantage of Rich, and Kate always SYM
pathized with the weaker side. She could
not bear to see any one in trouble. re-
memberng a certain heariache of which
time had cured her indeed, but which she
did not care TO repeat. And what was
strange about her sympathy with Rich now
was, that il brought back the taste of that
same bitterness and the same forsaken
feeling.
She had forgotten the bright and strange
scene, and was looking down into the
water full of changing light, when a shad-
ow passed over her. and glancing up. a
sail almost touched her. and the same
balf-naked sea-dog was grinning at her
closely. She gave him one half-startled,
udtt-utndub GitiNts tuIHtu dDOul anu
went down to Captain Shore in the cab
in.
Fleming came off presently with Mrs.
Brook, and sent one of the hands ashore
with the yawl again, remaining 10 keep
Kate company. She told him how the
wild young islander had been annoying
her again. and he was very much vexed
about it. and told Field when he and
Louise came aboard. Field made light of
it as usual and was rather amused. He
came over and threw himself down by
Kate. and began challing her about her
admiring Triton, her Neptune in over
alls, and the like.
Now. Kate was In no humor for banter
she had been brooding over the prospect
of Rich going off home by rail alone and
unhappy, and the spolIng of their cruise
which had else been so pleasant, and was
especially out Of bumor with Field for u
marplot aud for being selfish and unsee-
ing. So, much TO his surprise. she kept
silent for a minute with her face seaward
and then turned on him sud denly and an
swered, speaking quickly and sharply,
1t doesent become you very well to
make light of an insult offered to a lady.
If you weren't by to resent 1t, you might
at least have the delicacy to say nothing
about 1t. If you thought less of yourself
and more of others, you'd make fewer
such blunders. There are barbarans who
are not fishermen. and all the people who
annoy and spoil peoples happiness do
not wear overalls." Then, overcome with
vexation at the unintentional vehemence
OF her speech and the rush of pent feel
ings but half understood she turned away
quickly and sobbed once in spite of her.
self; then went down TO her state-room
and locked herself in.
Louise went after her presently, but
Kate would not answer or let her in. She
did not come out till supper time. when no
one took any notice, and she tried 10 APP
pear as ii nothing had happened.
Field was quite concerned, and took an
opportunity of asking Fleming if he knew
what was the matter with her: but he
answered no. not altogether. lie thought
she was not feeling very well that day.
At the same time Fleming took the chance
Mr.. Meadow happening to join them. of
announcing bis intention OF taking the
train at New Dublin. and both opposed it
strangely. But Field forgot and fell wills
Ting to himself, and presently he said,
i.a.0 nno"o you 'aIh vi SoInS
Yes, told her this morning."
81 thought so," answered Field, and
began to whistle again reflectively. He
lay stretched on the roof of the cabin,
and Fleming sat near him. erich"
he said, ''ii that amphibious dog annoys
Kate again, we must teach him better
manners After pause he said, erich,
don't see what you want to go home
for; wouldn't if stood in your shoes"
Fleming looked at him inquringly.
"'Well, maybe you wouldn't he answered
little sharply. "But Ifs and providngs
don't SO often happen as might be. 1T
Is, and hadn't ought TO be- you know )"
and he got off and walked away.
The wind sprung up toward sunset. and
blew unceasinglyly from the northwest.
and the Heron lay at anchor for the night.
One of the ladies proposed to take row
after supper and try an echo of which
some one had spoken, and Fleming got
round the yawl and helped them all over
the side. Field and the skipper were talk
ing together in a low tone, and they called
Fleming and spoke to him, looking tow
ard the shore without pointing; and then
Fleming dropped into the hatchway quick
ly and put something into his pocket,
sprang out lightly and back to the yawl
and pulled away in straight line, keep
ing the sloop between him and a boat
which was coming off from shore. When
they had come aboard in the afternoon,
after bringing the milk and eggs. Shore
had said to Field privately, IF it wasn't
coming on 10 blow out OF the northard,
I'D be for going into New Dublin to-
night. | don't like these islanders much
they're about half shark, anyway. You
ought not to have showed Them green
backs the way you did, they looked at
them as If they were shap set enough to
eat them and you too.n
Their manner, at first forbidding and
sulky. had become iocuar and rudely IA
miliar, and they had made a small pres.
ent of fish, on the strength of which they
invited themselves TO came aboard in the
evening. so now they were coming
There were six or eight of them, men and
women.