Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-11-05
SETTLING A QUESTION.
How I Was Influenced to Change
My Declared Principles

L
My Declared Principles.
The wind was right off the land II
was strong; but under the cliffs the
sea was calm enough. So the three OF
us ran the boat down and got her out
over the bar, though with the tide
against us it was a hard pull Miss
Flo had come with us after all, for she
had never had a really good try at pol
lock-fshing. When we had got fairly
out over the sandbanks and gained the
shelter of the Ness, she steered. while
Tom made himself precariously COM
Portable in the bows. Laddie and
pulled easily through the smooth water
under the rich, red cliffs, and in TWEEN
ty minutes we were floating Just above
the weed-clad, rocky homes of the pol
lock
Then : took both oars and padded
along gently, while Laddie helped to
get out the lines.
Miss Flo could raise no objection to
the india-rubber worms we used; still,
she preferred to try her hand at row.
ing, and promised to leave the steering
to me. Laddie impressed upon her
that as soon as ever he called out, she
must back water hard, or else the bait
would be left fast in the rocks and
weeds six feet below our reach. Miss
Flo promised, and no doubt did her
best; but two of our lines had snapped
before we had gone fifty feet.
A shadow of wonder, rather than
vexation, fitted across the boys
face, and l am sure he was not sorry
when the girl herself suggested that
we should put her ashore, for she
didn't like the motion of the boat now
that we went so slowly.
We would not hear of such thing;
but in the end we ran in stern first
under the shelter of the rocks and
helped her to land with Bengo to keep
her company.
Now, then, Tom!'' shouted Laddie,
''hold her off, or we shan't have an
inch of paint left on her! Give her a
shovel Now's your chance! Well, you
are a -!' His sentence was cut short.
Tom had let the wave carry us against
the rock with a shock which sent the
boy over the thwart onto the most
prominent parts of the anchor.
Tom did not seem to notice this ca
tastrophe nor the remarks which it
elected, for he was busy in effecting
his own landing This done, he gave US
a shove which got US clear of the rock,
and expressed hope that our fishing
might be successful
'What are you up to?" gasped the
boy, who was on his feet again, using
his paddle sturdily to avert a second
mishap.
81 don't think Miss Flo should be
left all alone, though you won't go
very far off"
"Oh, she's all right!' was the broth
erlY reply. ''She likes being alone.
Look out there again! Keep her off,
However, Tom insisted on following
Miss Flo across the slippery weed,
which had so far taken up all her at
tention; and to save the boat we left
him, punted out into the open, got out
our lines and padded leisurely away.
WELL" said the boy, after a few
Il can't make out what's the
matter with Flo. I've never known
her to feel bit of swell like this be-
fore"
Ipointed out to him that it was just
such a gentle motion which was most
trying to many people, and his sister
had certainly gone a little pale.
NO" said he, as he took a small
pollock off his hook and threw it in
to the bottom of the boat II be-
lieve that she's cut up at your 60
ing away so soon. You've always staid
at least three weeks before"
/ thought this the least bit unlikely,
so l said nothing. Then ] looked to-
ward the shore, where could see two
people leaning over roek-pool, evil
sently looking for anemones, and it
deemed more unlikely still.
But Laddie went on:
You get rather wild, sometimes,
when you are so awfully independent
you know what ! mean; and she
really was angry at what You said
asst night. All the same, I'm sure she
wants you to stop as much as any of
US"
! replied that l was at loss to know
what l had said tomake anyone angry.
What it was he didn't quite know;
Re hadn't been listening to our CONVEX
'ation, but it was something about a
poor young schOolmaster like myself |
having no right to win the affection of
4 woman before he was in position !
20 offer her a comfortable and easy |
place in society.
certainly had said something of the |
Kind and had pointed out the dangers |
If marrying anyone with more money |
han one possessed ones self
Laddie did not know what there was |
in such principles, nor
could he say why they made his sister
angry; but lie stuck to it that they did.
/ was getting interested, and spent
half an hour in trying to draw him out
! little more. Then he noticed that the |
Wind was getting round to the south
Ind would scoa be off the sea So we
moved back as quickly as we could to
pick up the two on shore.
We hailed them and told them to
come out along a ledge of rock, from
which they stepped easily into the
boat They said they had had a de-
lightful time. and believed them
We were soon well on our way hUme.
Tom and I pulled Laddie and Miss
ElO were in the storm Tho how ta1I-ad |