Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-10-14
HIS JEN.

There had been a fog in the early
morning, but the sun, gathering
strength, burst suddenly from behind
a black and indigo cloud and streakeo
the sea with a copperish hue, say:
Chambers Journal. Far down the
beach were two men and boat
They were stalwart men, and the
eldest was busy shaking from the
mesbes Of a drawnet entangled tufts
OF maroon and brown seaweed.
Poor draughts, Shelah." said the
netshaker, looking philosophically
into the basket that held the fish.
"POor enough, Master Reeks. Is
it home now"
cay lad; home it is. Get in the
boat, Shelah."
The young man jumped into the
boat and took the oars; the other
showed of, and when he was knee
deep in the salt water clambered in
after him.
"Shelah," said Reeks, speaking of
a sudden, ''when are you going to
marry my Jen?"
There came little extra color into
Shelah's smooth. tanned cheeks.
81 don't know, MASTER" he said.
All" said Reeks, with sigh, II
wish her mother was alive"
why, Old Tom?" asked Shelah.
"Why? 10 sheer her, lad. I'm
altered my hand is a bit too heavy on
the tiller for dainty craft like my
Jen. She wants woman at her
hellum-or huSban'."
what makes you say that" asked
Shelan, resting on his oars.
IN tell We, lad," he said, slowly;
tits been on my mind a long time,
an now I'll tell We. l don't like the
comin'S an COINS of that young
brewer Of our'n, Cyril Rivington.
Now, in my farher's time an in my
time the old Ship might ha' tumbled
about our ears for all the brewer
cared or troubled. But since this
here young chap ha' come from abroad
an his father ha' taken him into
partnership things ha' altered. Nigh
on every day he's a-ridin' up to know
If we want anything done. Is the
beer all right? Are there any re-
pairs needed: An all that. I
shouldn't care how many times he
come, Shelah, if it warn't for Jen.
I'm afreed that his fine boss an his
velvet coat an his leggins an watch
cham may dazzle her, lad. It's pre-
cious little company we see at the
Ship an it may make her dissatis-
fed with the life she's leading"
"Jen is all right" said Shelah,
firmly.
so she is, my lad; but she'd be a
lotsbetter married. An so, between
man an man my lad, wants to know
when you are goin' to marry herr"
'.I'd marry her Tomorrow" said
Shelah, wistfully, ''if she'd ha' me-
master"
Reeks looked at him steadily for a
moment ''Shelah Baxter" he said
solennlN you put me in mind of
that song the Scotch packman was
Singin' in the Ship the Jother night.
You sit on a stule an look like fule,
with your hold jaws newly shaven.
You amt got the pluck of mouse.
q Shelah looked dreamily at the pur-
ple-feathered arrows and silvery spear
tipped shafts Of cloud over the sea,
but gave no contradiction.
"Wf wimen, l mean" pursued
Reeks There amt no man in the
whole village, Shelah, that could put
you on your back. But wi wimen!"
he snorted. ''WhY, man alive the
holder you are with a woman the bet.
ter she likes We. See how they run
after a soger's coat. Now, ha' got
a bit and you ha' got boat of own,
and what's to prevent you two set
tim down together? Pluck up, She
lah, says ], ha' no more shilly-shal.
lynn"
I'm think on it." said Shelah,
slowly.
do" said Reeks, refllling his pipe.
<'But to act upon it would DC better"
Shelah's suspended oars fell splash
upon the sea and for moment the
boat seemed to raise up and fly bodily
over the top Of wave, so hard did
he pull.
Master" he said deliberately,
+'can you read writin'?"
No" said Reeks, II can't WhY?"
Because. if you could, / wanted
you to read this, He held out
sheet of pink notepaper 1t was
sUiled with fish scales aud tobacco
dust, but even now retained a sweet
and subtle perfume.
Reeks took it-gingerly. held it in
three different ways ard narrowly
scanned it. "All l can make out,
lad" he said, sis these here
What are they?l cried Shelah.
eagerly
"Kisses" said Reeks, solemnly.
'sTen on 'em."
''Klsses?" repeated Shelah, va.
cantly. In sudden fury he snatched
The paper and, doubling it in a ball,