Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-07-08
THE sTRANGFrELDs


CHAPTER VI.
THE sTRANGFIELDS
Hard by an open space of yard, rudelv
rallied, stood house of wood; fair-sized
house, and strong as an oak-built hull.
The yard that adjoined this house was a
shipwrights yard, and often as the tar cal
dron belched its smoky stencil in the midst
of it, the fumes could never kill the sweet
favored smells that filed the air around
from the white deals and sllavings 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 and the Yankees love
Of small sweet picllings was so voracious,
that the art of the British coasting trade was
a plucBy coquetting with wind and haven,
even now in this yard We're the skeletons of
two vessels-a lugger and a schooner-to be
finished, equipped, and afloat 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 Cuthbert's impresSment,
the master shipwright sat in the parlor of his
wooden home, filing the room with the mist
of navy tobacco. In this matter of the pipe
his flesh was weak.
Mr.. Strangfeld sat in 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 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.. Strangfield's elbow,
was big horn Bible
Il believe" said he, in q slow, hard voice,
Withdrawing his pipe, and speaking slightly
through mis- nose to retain the flavor of the
tobacco that the lines here laid down be
those thatT give Mr.. 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 pair of
Undetermined spectacles.
The spectacles of those days were disfgure-
ments, as all persons know who are familiar
with old prints and paintings.
But neither the irresistible enlargement of
Mr. Strangheld's eyes, nor the goblin circles
through which they surveyed Mrs. Strang-
field, could deform the stern and worn
beauty of his countenance.
Fifty-fye his age was, and ten years added
would still have left his days behind his face
due to q half-weary expression of asceti-
/ cism, and the pickering of an over-hanging
| brow, and an acidulated 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
skullasr
@If the moon wasn't SO clean l should a.
! low there was a gale of wind in the sound of
the sea-"
He yawned loudly.
| "Wife, I've smoked enough, and enough is
contentment to thankful heart"
He rose to place his pipe on the mantel
shelf, and reared a figure that brought his
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, Michael." said Mrs Strangfield,
who, though she put her questions with a
! touch of fretfulness in her voice, went on
! knitting very placidly.
This was q woman to be admired for her
| pretty hands, soft eyes, and rich brown hair,
neatly smoothed beneath a full cap
Otherwise her face disarmed criticism by
it, vacant, good-natured and cheerful in
sipidity.
Srangfeld turned to look at her, and re-
sumed his chair.
"You have seen me watch her, said he.
"Why therefore, do you say, Hast thee
noticed her, Michael9 You are apt to speak
without care, wife. Your lips go one way
and your mind another"
"Well, well, have my faults"
truly you have, my dear"
GAS gospel says, Who is without sin? I'm
less its thee Michael; and that one should
know by your readiness to cast stones"
. Mr., Strangfeld frowned, but was wise
enough to hold his peace.
"What ails Jenny, then@ continued the
mother. You should know. You be a
man Of long sight. l never could hide q
secret from thee
Mr.. Strangfield sat for a space behind his
spectaces, bordering, while his wife laid
down her needles to pass her hand over her
hair
"Evhat should be the matter with herr" de
manJed Mr.. Shangfield, presently. Her
health is sound|
Il hope solo cried Mrs StrangGeld, ner-
vously.
mo one has been meddling with her heart,
to my knowledge"
"Meddiei Certainly not. Should 1 not
know"
"Unless," continued Mr.. Strangfeld, @sht
be fallen into that state against which the
Apostle warned the Corinthan damsels, put
ting it in this way--that the unmarried
woman careth for the things of the Lord
which was, doubtless, true thing to say
of those ancient people, but viii not hold
now.n
Mrs. Strangfeld shook her head softly.
IF she had a sweetheart she would tel
me, said she, looking rather vaguely, how
ever, at her husband, as woman might
whose conscience does not place her perfectly
ct case.
u could not imagine that she would not,
said the husband, sternly
AS to Mrs. Mead's gossip, its idler thar
the wind. Being known to her somehow,
continued Mrs. Strangfield, who was moi
very easily repressed, and who, when she had
point to get at, always Travelled TO it along
the most roundabout paths-'for the chit
win not explain how their acquaintance be
gan--is it not proper that Mr.. Shaw, who i,
a born gentleman and knows manners, should
take off his hat to her and pass pleasant
word when they meet? Now, through som,
blockhead neighbor, Mother Mead hears o.
their talking on the beach, whittier Jenny
had gone for shells for pin cushion. AND
to me she comes with wise tossing Of th,
nose. But, says ], 'Ma'am, l am my daugh
uers mother, and what concerns me shall b,
my proper trouble, under Providence, thai
our neighbors may have full time for theil
own affairs That was well said Michael
dost thee not thinkln
LET Mrs Mead beware how she meddl,
with Jenny's namei But there should b
no cause, neither for her nor any other gossip
to talk