Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-06-26
vi.
ri sTRANGF1ELDs.

Hard by an open space OF yard, rudely
rallied, stood a house of wood; a fair-sized
house, and strong as IN oak-built hull
The yard that adjoined this house vas a
shipwright's yard, and often as the tar cal
dron belched its smoky stencil in the mids
of it, the fumes could never kill the sweet
favored smells that filled the air around
from the white deals and shavings of the pine,
and the blocks of red-hearted oak and teak
from India.
And now even at this stagnant season,
when the Frenchman's INT the Yankees love
of small sweet pickings was so voracious,
that the art of the British coasting trade was
a plucky coquetting with wind and haven,
even now in this yard were the skeletons of
two vessels-a lugger and a schooner-to he
finished, equipped, and af1oat by August,
under the signed contract of Michael Strang-
field, who wanted neither pen nor witness to
make his word binding.
On this evening of Cuthberts impressment,
the master s%hipwright sat in the parlor of his
wooden home, filling the room with the mist
of navy tobacco. In this matter of the pipe
his flesh was weak.
Mr.. Strangfeld sat in a high-backed arm
chair near the table, and opposite to him was
his wife.
Both of them were busy; the one with his
pipe and a design on paper of the hull of the
schooner skeleton yet in the yard-and
the other with knitting needles.
On the table, at Mr.. ~Strangfeld's elbow,
wa a big horn Bible.
II believe" said he, in a slow, hard voice,
withdrawing his pipe, and speaking slightly
through his nose to retain the flavor Of the
tobacco, that the lines here laid Town be
those thatll give MI. Wainwright the speed
he looks for" He eyed the paper earnestly.
And as he said this he laid down the draw
ing, and looked at his wife through a pair of
Undermined spectacles.
The spectacles of those days were dis1gure-
ments, as all persons know who are familiar
with old prints and paintings.
But neither the irresistible enlargement of
Mr.. Strangield's eyes, nor the goblin circles
through which they surveyed Mrs. Strang-
field, could deform the stern and worn
beauty of his countenance.
Fifty-five his age was, and ten years added
would still have left his days behind his face
due to a half-weary expression of asceti-
cism, and the pickering of an over-hanging
brow, and an calculated droop of the under
lip. His dark hair, well laced with white,
hung in decent profusion over the white col
lar of his coat, and his attire was gray, coarse
stockings, stout broadcloth, furnished with
dingy metal buttons, and square-toed boots,
with soles thick enough to warrant him no
skulker.
-"If the moon wasn't 70 clean I should al.
low there was a gale Of wind in the sound of
the sea-"
He yawned loudly.
"Wife, I've smoked enough, and enough is
eontentment to a thankful heart"
He rose to place his pipe on the mantel
shelf, and reared a figure that brought hts
head close to the low ceiling.
"Jenny is in her bedroom, and there she
sits and sits. What ails the girl? Hast thee
noticed her, Michaela" said Mrs. Strangfeld,
who, though she pat her questions with q
touch Of fretfulness in her voice. went or
knitting very placidly.
This was a woman to DO admired for he1
pretty hands, soft eyes, and rich brown hair
neatly smoothed beneath a full cap.
Otherwise. her face disarmed criticism b,
its vacant, ~good-natured and cheerful in
sipidity.
~strangfeld turned to look at her, and re
sumed his chair.
"You have seen me watch her" said h
"Why, therefore, do you say. Hast the
noticed her, MichaelT You are apt to speal
without care, wife. Your lips go enc val
and your mind another"
swell, well, I lave my faults"
@Truly you have, my dear"
A gospel says, who is without SIM Tn
less it's thee, Michael; and that one shoul'
know by your readiness to cast stones"
Mr.. S%trangdeld frowned, but was wis
enough to hold his peace.
"What ails Jenny, theni" continued tn
mother. "You should know. You be
man of long sight. I never could hide
secret from thee"
Nh. Strangield sat for a space behind hi
spectacles, bordering, while his wife lai
down her needles to pass her hand over be
5 hair.
"What should be the matter with herr d.
manded Mr.. Strangield, presently. "He
. health Is sound7'
j, II hope sol" cried Mrs. Strangfeld, ne,
; voualy.
D. mo one has been meddling with her hear