The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-09-04


two, so if you'll steer the ship. lit
tie woman, I'll be proud and happy
to see you home"
What could | do?
The wind was dasling the rain
about in little vicious sheets, and
my companion, intent upon retain
ing fast hold of his umbrella, was
perhaps unconscious of the fact
that he was keeping equally as fast
hold of my hand.
"Thisis pleasant" he observed
presently, in a moments lull of
the storm, as he bcamcd at me over
his stalwart shoulder. :" I've
thought | should like little woman
of my own to sail with me through
fair and stormy weather. Whew !"
as sudden gust threatened to turn
his umbrella wrong side out" if
it's going to blow III this way |
shall have to furl my royals"
1t was impossible to resist the
inclination to laugh at him; but
after / had recovered my gravity |
said as coldly as possible:
81 think, Mr.. ="
"Try Dexter" he suggested
cheerfully, John Dexter"
II think, Mr.. Dexter" l went on
with increasing hauteur, that |
need not trouble you to escort me
home"
/ endeavored to disengage my
hand, but he had retained it with
gentle force.
why, it's no trouble to me, my
girl; don't you see that ! like it?
"Well, / don't!" exclaimed
desperately. Perhaps you do not
know that you have taken n most
unwarrantable liberty. 1t is very
rude in you to address me as you
have, or to claim any acquaintance
whatever, simply because you pre-
vented my slipping on the ice that
day. If | had not known by your
speech and your Dress" here |
flashed scornful glance at the
brass buttons, "that you were a
sailor, | should have requested the
protection of an officer. But my
father was a sailor, and | remem-
Der him as outspoken and frank,
though always gentleman"
/ emphasized the last words, and
as we passed under the glare of a
caslight | could see my commodore
flush darkly about his magnificent
beard.
But he still retained my hand
within his arm and kept steadily on.
"You can STOW that, little
woman" he said gravely. eff |
have been bold or rude to you, it
was. as YOU say, because | didn't
know any better. But as it's too
stormy foryou to be out alone |
am bound to see you into port
now. and in the future if | should
meet you I'll try to carry less sail. "
He said 10 more, but sheltered
me carefully from the driving
storm until we had reached my
/ home.
Goodnight, little woman, and
good luck to you i" he said, with
brave kindness "and remember
always that a sailor loves and re-
spects good woman above every
earthly thing, even if he can't talk
like a story-book."
Then he went swinging away
through the wind and the rain
while ! ran in to tell mother OF
my evenings adventure, feeling
sure that | should never see him
again-and feeling also q little
sorry.
But | met him in the postoflice
the very next morning, and was
about to give him gracious bow
of recognition, when, 10! he passed
me with head erect, eyes front, and
a general air of rigidity oppressive
to look upon.
Tears of modification sprang TO
my eyes, but | winked them away
and rated myself soundly for beine
SO foolish-a rude, uncultlvated
sailor, what was he to me, anyway?
NV dear mother died in the fol-
lowing summer and left me lonely
indeed.
A year after her death, feeling
the need of rest from writing,
engaged myself as nursery gov
erness 10 two little girls who were
to 90 abroad with their parents.
My expenses were to be paid, and
| would receive fair salary and
the change of scene and occupation
promised to be delightful to me.
My young charges were quite
sea-sick for Il few days, which kept
me prisoner in the cabin; there
fore we were in mid-ocean when
made the discovery that my com
modore was among the Columbia's
passengers.
lie looked as big and brown as
ever, and was dressed in the inevit
able blue flannel and brass but
tons.
A strange feeling, which l was
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