The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-09-04

SSo L u,
don't play any tricks with Nell
Goodeve
TIN not going to, ," rejoined Ber-
tie and no doubt he meant it.
Because, Captain Davidson
went on, you're not married yet,
not by no manner of means"
You're not thinking that she
won't have me, are your" cried
BERTHE in alarm.
There's no knowing. She has a
lot of chances. I'd have liked your
chance better if she'd been bit
sweeter just now
But she has promised. She has
my ring on her finger this minute. :"
AYE, aye. That sort of knots s
easy loosed. If you'll take my ad-
vice, you'll crowd on every bit Of
sail you can carry and steer for a
safe harbor."
II don't quite understand you,
said BERTHE.
Marry herr cried the old man,
humping the table with his gnarled
fist. Marry her right away-to-
morrow if you can persuade her to
have you.
But I've no home to take her to. "
Bring her here. You've no need
to make a home. Here's one ready
made, next door to her own fathers
and she can spend half her time
there and half here while you're at
sea. I've set my heart on it," he
went on earnestly. "lf you marry
her, this house and all there's in it
shall be yours when I'm gone, and
what money I have left shall be
equally divided between you. She
won't come to you a beggar neither.
Goodeve has put money by, and
Nell'll have her share"
IN ask her to fix the day next
time 1 see her." said BERTHE, with
decision, and the old man growled
approval.
1t was odd perhaps that Nell,
who during her lovers prolonged
absence had been quite as faithful
as most engaged girls similarly cir
oumstanced, should find on meeting
him that the chain CALLED her At
that time she did not know why
exactly, but it was So On returning
home she took off her ring for al
mpsf tho frct fi,,, q -, 4y,vo ,,aa,,
II don't think love him." she
said to herself, land l don't think
can marry him.
When BERTHE called after tea, she
was in the same mood. Mr.. Goodeve
very considerably left them alone
together, and the young sailor lost
no time in coming to the point.
Uncle wants me to get married
at once" he said. He has promised
to give us the house next door and
the furniture when he has done
with it, and he would like us to
make it our home now"
1T is very good of him." said
Nelly, the red blood dyeing her
cheeks, "but II would rather have
home of my own, and | couldn't
leave father yet. l would much
rather wait until you have ship"
He tried hard to shake her resolu-
tion, but the more ardent he became
the colder she grew, so he returned
to his uncle and reported the fail
ure
1.-The worst of it," he added, sis
that I've only fortnight's leave.
After that's over l shan't see her
again for year, and nobody knows
what will have happened by then"
That's true enough" said the
old man thoughtfully. II was
afeared she'd go astern. There's two
or three smart fellows about here
ready to eat her, if looks go for any
thing Ii you don't marry her now
or make her fast, you never will"
How can make her fast q" asked
BERTHE gloomily.
''I've know'd," said Davidson,
"when l was young chap, a good
ish many seafaring men as had to
leave their sweethearts a-drifting
about at the mercy of any privateer
as CHANGED to sight 'em. Some of
'em-wide awake, they was--put a
mark ON 'em afore they sailed. That
held 'em as fast as if the parson had
spliced EN-
Il never was a good hand at rid
dies, said Bertie.
Chuckling, the old sailor rolled
up his sleeve and unbuttoned the
wristband of his shirt From the
wrist upward the arm was tattooed.
Captain Davidson passed the palm
of his right hand up and down the
pictures.
Pretty, amt theyl" said he.
My fingers wasn't so shaky when
l did EN- as they are now, but l
reckon they'r re steady enough to put
mark on Nell's arm as'll hold her
till doomsday, always providing as
she can be persuaded to consent"
What is it you are proposingf"
asked BERTHE.
just the tattooing of few let
ers on her arm, nay lad, answered
the artful old fellow. Il wouldn't
bother her to marry you any more
vet awhile If Was Won Re as sweet