Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-02-06
LOVE ATTHE SHIP"
Continued from Second paea.


self with her face to the window and
her foot nervously tapping the sanded
floor.
"It's this" said Shelah, and his voice
shook little; eve ha' been sweet
heartin' for long time, and l want to
know when we are goin' to get mar
ried, Jen?"
Never" she said softly.
"Never?" he replied, huskilv.
81 should only make you wretched.
want you to give me up, to forget
me, Shelah."
"Give you up. Jen! Give you up,
lass! Give up my life-ask me for
that, Jen, but don't ask me to give
you up. sweetheart, for | do so love
you, my dear"
Jenny's lips quivered and her eyes
began to ill with tears, but she kept
her face to the window. ut would
break my heart to marry you, for
love some one else"
"You love some one else?" said She
lab, mechanically.
"Yes, and he is going to marry me.
So you see, Shelah, it would be wrong
for me to marry you. | should be
always miserable and wretched and /
should make You miserable and
wretched, too; so please, dear Shelah,
let me 60 and-and forget me-" She
| ended with sob.
White and still sat Shelah; then
heavily and YEARLY he rose. Jenny
uncovered her face for a moment. At
the sight of his she hid it again. For
get you, lass, he said, Il never can"
Moved perhaps by the thought of what
might have been, he leaned down and
gently pressed his lips to her forehead.
But if giving you up, lass" he pro-
ceeded, huskily, will make you
happy, why. Jen"-thcre was an agon-
izing ring in his voice-"why, l give
| you up"
When she looked round again he was
gone.
All that night it froze hard and the
| calm sea lay moaning like dog on its
| chain. Shelah heard il as he stood in
| the lonely sentry-boX of the life-boat
lookout In the morning the FROST
| bowed blades of the sea-grass had
changed the dunes into great glisten-
ing bed of white coral. As usual She
| lab called at the "Ship" for Tom Reeks.
| He had barely entered when he heard
| horses hoofs on the hard road. A
horseman refined up at the inn, and
| Shelah drew back into the shadow.
"Shelah!" 1t was Jenny who spoke.
She stood white and trembling on the
cellar steps. "Will-will you take him
this?"
Strangely fascinated at being called
upon for such an act, Shelah took from
her the measure of sparkling ale, and,
like man in a dream, carried it to
the door. With his head down he
walked up to the rider. A loud Hem"
caused him TO start and look up. In
stead of the young brewer he was
facing the old one. The elder Riving-
ton looked at the ale as a doctor
might look at his own medicine. NO,
my man." l don't care for anything as
early as this. If you'll have the good
ness to hold my horse while | dismOunt.
Thank zee. Tether him there-will
YOU? | want to see the landlord. Is
he IMP"
Before Shelah could answer Reeks
gave evidence of his bodily presence
By appearing at the doorway. The
brewer walked in, followed by Shelah.
RivinotOn. senior, was a pleasant,
chattv old gentleman. and he soon dis
closed the object of his visit. 4 bal
was going to be held at HerringbournC
town hall, and he was distributing in.
vitations to such of his tenants n:
chose to attend. As he was passing
quite by accident, he assured them
he felt he ought not to miss the land
lord of the ship" There were the
tickets and he hoped that Reeks anC
his daughter would attend.
i forgot to mention" he said bland
", as Reeks, after expressing hi:
thanks. took them up, that this bal
is to be held in honor of my son Cyr
IFS marriage. He is to be married
this week to the daughter of yer,
old friend of mine-a man of Kent.
As he finished, low sobbing or,
startled all but Shelah. A beer
warmer had ratified to the floor, AM
= Jenny stood vacantly staring int
T.. little lake of the split liquid at he
feet.
"Whv. what's the matter, lass?" sal
Reeks. "vou look as white as a ghost.
Nothing, father" she answered
family, nothing only the neat of tn
fire"
THAT is what it was" said old Riy
| innton, "the neat of the fire, no doubt
have experienced the same sensatio
myself. Well, good-day. Reeks,
! hope You will find it convenient
| attend"
He nodded pleasantly, untethere
his horse from the palings and mounte
it. AS he rode away he smiled softl
and patted his horses name. Shela
- Baxter came out of the Ship" an
}. walked simlessly down to his boa
The serf was boiling on the Scrobl
and great rollers with foaming crest
, were racing in and tumbling upon til
sunliohted beach. He stood awhi
absently watching the little salt -four
tains which their recoil left bubbliu
m in the sand. then mounted the tall hi
lock to look for Reeks. On the top /
started and his tanned cheeks gre
IL L Z L. hrr