Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-02-11

"BleSS my BoulG exclalmeu MIS- DIS
bee, that's little too bad. The only
man in the party wouldn't stand it,
girls"
"Manr exclaimed Ethel. Gall
that pudding-faced gelatine man!
Lord forgive usl"
"Oh, say, Ethel" demonstrated Ger
tie, 'you ought not to talk like that"
Don't say ought to me. I'm tired
OF doing what ought to do"
Ethel was twenty-six and her skin
was growing yellow under her eyes.
go down into the cabin and keep
Der Alte Chaperon awake" suggested
Sybil.
do 1t yourself"
mot such bad idea," said Sybil,
slipping down the companionway.
Collie Beattie was not asleep yet. He
sat up and stared as the tall, white girl
came below.
"Awfully good of you, you know" he
murmured.
"Oh, it's not so very good; but what
do you means"
~ mean your coming down here to
keep me awake" Sybil turned just a
trifle pink under the ears. Had he been
listening to their conversation on deck?
1t must have edited him, she thought
II came down to keep myself awake"
she said, hastily, and then added, in
consistently: "Why don't you go on
deck and enjoy the breeze?"
because can't enjoy the breeze" he
answered.
Its too strong for you, l suppose"
said Sybil, with touch of scorn.
Eyes. much too strong"
Makes you chilly"
Eyes, makes me chilly"
might spoil your complexion.
MY whatY'
"Your complexion"
Didn't know / had any,"
you're as white and pink as baby"
That's true, but don't think that's
much of a complexion for man, you
know"
Neither do l. ] should think you'd
get little sunburn on you just from
shame"
Collie laughed He seemed to be i'm
mensely amused. He had funny way
of being amused at things that didn't
amuse other people. 1t was jolly for
him, but it made the other people an
CRY.
"lf you're going to laugh at my con-
versation I'm going back to the-the
girls" exclaimed Sybil, springing up
the steps.
Collie laughed some more. Then he
| stretched himself on the cabin locker
and laughed again. Next he closed his
eyes and smiled. A minute later he
| was sound asleep. All the women came
down and looked at him half an hour
| later. He didn't seem much to look at.
He had deep lines under his eyes when
he slept and a worn appearance. Yet
they all looked at him and despised
him. He just slept on and didn't mind
| IL.
Valuable person to have on yacht
ing excursion, isn't hep" whispered
Ethel, with genuine growl in her
pretty voice. IF had thing like
that for husband Td-but I'd never
have one.''
Lets 90 on deck. l do believe it's
fallen dead calm" said Mrs. Bisbee.
So 1t had. The Clover's mast was
plumb perpendicular. So were her
mainsail and her lib. The water
looked like molasses. And 1t was
seething hot The skipper said there
was going-to be sduall and sent the
one sailor, boy, aloft to furl the top
sail. The skipper was right There
was going to be squall Big blue
black clouds were piling up in the
northwest Lightning played around
their lower edges. The skipper said II
would not be bad squall. The Clover
would stand it under jib and mainsail.
1t came along in few minutes. You
could see it strike the water over near
the Connecticut shore. 1t made the sur.
face six shades darker. The girls had
their rubber goods on, but the skipper
said IL would not rain. However, they
had heard skippors say that before.
The s4uall came bounding over the
sound.
Then they never knew how 1t hap
pened, but the boom gave Terrific
jump right across the yacht 1t hit the
skipper on the head and knocked him
senseless. The next moment he was
halfway over the lee rail with seven
shrieking women pulling at him. The
yacht was pretty nearly on her beam
ends, and the sailor boy was paralyzed.
Then Collie Beattie walked up out Of
the cabin rubbing his eyes.
"Did some one scream?" he asked.
''Oh, look at that useless thingP
cried Ethel, Juggling at the leg OF the
shippers trousers.
Whereupon Collie woke up
He brushed the women aside like SC
many flies and pulled the skipper into
the cockpit Then he let 60 the jib'
sheet and the yacht righted partly.
Here, my lad" he called to the boy,
take the wheel" The boy obeyed,
and Collie pulled of his coat. There
was red spot in each OF his cheeks.
whats he going to do?" inquired
Gertie, awestruck.
Lord knows, I'm glad to see him dc
any thing" said Ethel.
lizard down with your helm" en-
claimed Der Alte Chaperon. MRS.
Bisbee, you and Miss Sybil please hold
che wheel there q minute. Now. lad,
main sheet; in with I'll"
Collie anu tho boy got the main boom
trimmed fat as the yacht came up into
the wind The jib tapped madly.
Fright your helmp' cried Collie.