The midland journal., 1896-11-20
A FEMALE CREW.
BY ARDEN.

She was short Polly, and the mantel-
piece was a high one, so that there was
no other thing to do than to stand ON
tiptoe while she gazed at two faces
and wondered: (Which one?"
They were not female faces, but Polly,
though young, was old enough to take
very positive interest in masculine faces.
She had already decided which one she
would like to marry, and would she have
been surprised if some day, out of that
surface of paper on the mantel-pieces
had broken a voice: 'Polly, my dear, as
l love you, will you marry me?'
But he had maintained grave silence
because only picture, for which reason
nobody could claim credit for unusual
discretion of speech for man. Yes,
dumb, dumb, and that gave Polly's
warm affection a chill. Then he was
her "first cousin Joe," and Il kind of
brother, was he not? That gave her
marrying fever still colder chill. This
young man was very handsome. His
eyes were as expressive as Polly's, and
that is saying good deal. Her eyes
were black, soft and loving. Anyone
Rickers owned an excellent piece of
property. His features were very reg
ular. The lines of his mouth showed
firmness, vet tenderness, and Polly,
first looking round to see if Aunt
Nabby were "peelin'," had kissed the
picture the very day of our story
Aunt Nabby was not given, though, to
"peelkin'" That very moment she was
frying douehnuts because Polly liked
them. The other picture on the mantel-
piece was that of an honest, reliable
soul; but Polly had no affection for him.
She was visitor under the roof, and i'll
the two weeks that her visit had
stretched across, she had learned very
much about the history of beings whose
only presence was that of pictures. Had
not Aunt Aabby said that this plain,
sensible face belonged to sailor,
young captain?
"Oh, the other is a seaman only; put
I had rather marry handsome sailor
than a homely, stiff captain" was
Polly's opinion.
She sighed.
She was thinking that the handsome
sailor was only Cousin joe. She hesl-
tated a moment, kissed the photograph
again, and then went downstairs to look
out of a window fronting the sea and to
pity sailors. ..
Everybody in the neighborhood had
something to do with the sea, which was
only bit Of q way off, and kept pound
ms night and day on the rocks, making
all the fuss it could to attract as much
attention as possible. To keep this un-
ruly sea in any kind of subsection every
one must do something. Uncle Ronald
Kicker was the keeper of the yellow life
saving station on the, rim of the gray
sands.
Uncle Ronald was big. bArly, good
natured kind of fellow. Aunt Nabby
was slim, slender woman, whose
thoughts were quick moving, darting
out like swallows wings, and her eye
sparkled like q run of brook water the
day the spring has lifted the lid of ice
covering it.
Said Uncle Ronald 10 aunt Nabby, in
the hearing of Polly at the window:
..Id like to have you, Nabby, clean up
at the station, if you will, sweep round
and so on. Nothin' doin' there in sum-
mer, but want to keep things sort of
slicked up, and I'll 'low you the pay for
it. I've got to be off to my tater=patch
t'other side of the back pastur'."
"I will, Ronald"
Ronald Kicker left the room.
"Polly, soon as 1 have finished these
! ere oughnuts-then-com on!" cried
Aunt Nabby. eve will run that life
savin' STATEN this forenoon. They shall
have female crew to-day, You get the
brooms ready. 1t is worn-out thing
| down at the station. Well be lively and
| start soon."
A small but sprightly broom-brigade
soon charged upon the station and cap
tured it without difficulty. Windows
were threwa up, the brooms set to
whislling, and the dust routed.
The living-room below, the mems
headquarters by day, speedily was
swept. The boatroom, with its appara-
tus of surfboat and breeches-buoy, life
car and Lyle gun, rockets and signals,
received prompt attention, and this floor
also was thoroughly swept. Aunt Nab
by remained to do some "cleaniag OUT
behind the door where one of the other
but less particular crew had left heap
of dirt. Polly, singing away, went up
stairs hopping like n robin from STEP
to step. landing on the threshold of
the masculine crew's quarters by night.
"The beds look all right" said Polly
eying six iron beds, neatly covered with
bedding and set in two prim rows along
the northern and southern walls of the
room. "Yes, they look all right, but
know those men didn't sweep under the
beds. No, before l sweep, I'll take a
looll-eff from the lookout on the roof
This was piatfrom on the roof, rallied
about. and supporting flagstaff; Here
on clear days watch was kept by the
surfmen. If need be. signal could be
run up to the top of the staff, and any
needy craft on the water promptly in'
Structed.
"Guess women's eyes can see as quick
as men's," murmured Polly, "and we
will have it so to-day"
!; On her way up short fight of steps
to the lookout she halted in a little re-
cess and examined the box of signals
kept there. Since her arrival she had
been very much interested in the signal
, department., and, instructed by Uncle
Ronald, felt that she could now handle
those signals as readily as the keeper
himself.
Don't wish that Cousin Joe, whom