The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-08

bright as when painted, but stiii clear
ly legible. on the stern. "Ihat LOOKS
very natural" she said. "Poor
Their: nothing would suit him but 70
have that name, though / didn't want
him to-" ,
ats a very pretty name. I'm sure"
responded her c~ompanion, rather from
n desire TO say something agreeable
than from any deep conviction.
"Do YOU think SOP" size tarncd to-
ward him with n smile. SIN afraid YOU
inst saw that TO be flattering, MIR.
Quimby."
"why. no., ma'am," answered honest
Oo,imby. II am not a good judge or
names-women's names, i mean, but
/ thought that name had a sort or
pleasant sound. as il IL was the name
OF somebody hat the captain cared
considerably about"
81 thought you knew" she repeated
Though why she thought so was a
mystery, that is my name"
Quimby's heart inside of him gave a
decided jump, and TO the very center OF
il he rejoiced that he had praised the
nome. Molly-Molly B-Molly Il.
Martling-suddenly it occurred to
him that he had been an unobservant
fool not ( o have discovered long ago
that il was not only a very pretty, but
an entirely fascinating name. Molly
b., of Bangor" he read again, in a
voice that unconsciously tried to pro-
nounce the words so 81 to bring out
all their latent music, and the effort
must have been partly successful, for
.he real Molly at his side blusbed, and
then Quimby blushed between all his
freckles, and thought that she must
think him a very rude and familiar
fellow.
Silence between them now till they
reached the cabin hatch. Quimby
stopped there and pointed down. II
guess you'll find everything below
bout as we found il. I'm afraid you'll
he disappointed some, for the things
were ratified around a good IDEAL. 1
don't think you "a make much out OF
the papers, but / had 'em out in the
sun to kind of dry them. You don't
want that / should GO down with you,
/ Judge, but if you need anything or
want to know about anything, just call
cut and I'll be around here some
where"
With a look of gratitude for this deli
cate courtesy, Miss Martling went below
and Quimby took up his station on the
sunny sand beside the hull. But there
was no call for him and an hour went
by. during which the young woman
was having a quiet cry over the wreck
of those simple things which had once
been her fathers, and Nathaniel was
having a somewhat stormy session
with his own conscience. He had told
his guest hat everything in the cabin
was about as they found it, but there
had been a mental reservation, for the
portrait that vas ever now reposing in
his inner coat pocket. He had sorrow
fully resolved TO make a clean breast of
it when Miss Martling came out, a lit
tie red about the eyes, and, after a few
additional words Of thanks, started
villageward. He had not found an OPP
portunity to tell her.
She came again-to look at some pa
pers, she said, and yet again, upon an
equally important errand. Each time
the litigants became better acquainted
and a mutual esteem and liking devel-
oped, which in no way checked the prog
ress of the suit which Miss Marling
had brought ''for the principle of the
thing" /.
In all their conversations there wal q
tacit understanding that this subiec.
should not be discussed. There was
something entirely impersonal about
the litigation. 1t was simply a ques'
ton of rights which was to be decided.
At last the day of the trial arrived,
when the momentous question of tho
ownership of the schooner should be
settled by the court. Popular interest
in the matter did not extend TO Middle
town, the county seat, but most Of the
inhabitants Of Taggert's Station, es'
pecially those who had lent a hand al
moving the hull, felt a personal con-
cern in the decision.
Quimby came, attended by Moses,
Miss Martling vas there in company
with her lawyer, but she sat apart from
her adversary, and, beyond a friendly
nod, they held no intercourse together.
One case in court is very much like
another, and tlH case of Mnrtling ver-
sus Quimby I'd not offer any remark.
able features till the very end, when
n decision in favor Of the plaintiff was
given and Nathaniel's counsel asked, in
an audible whisper, IL he should give
notice of appeal.
"No," answered the client. II won't
fight il. She car have the ship" Then,
without waiting for the commiseration
CT the landlord of the tavern OF any of
his Taggert Station friends, he set off
for the Neck. attended, as usual, by
the faithful Moses.
Miss Martling was congratulated. but
she was not satisfied. She had won
and was not triumphant. She tried to
tell herself that justice had been done,
but all the time she seemed TO see
Nathaniel Quimfy sitting disconsolate
under the crooked tree, and looking at