The Ravalli Republican., 1898-10-05
chance better if size L been

chance better II she y Dee1 q 91t
swaeter Just now
But she has pro:-c;zsed. She has
my ri-g On he1 finger tl1s minute,
AYE, ave. That sort Of knots
easy loose,l. # you'll take my adj
vice, youn crowd Oh every bit Of
sail you can carry arl steer for q
safe harl9or -
II don't quite understand you,
said Berrje,
"Marry hoz!" cried the old man,
thunping the table With his gnarled
fist. Marry her right away--to-
morrow if you can persuade her to
have you
"ButI'ven no home to take her 70. =
"B1jng hey here. You've no need
to make home, Here 8 one ready
made, nextioor to her own father S,
and she can spend half her time
there and lalf here while you're at
Sea. I've set my heart on il, he
went on earnestly. "lf you marry
her, this house and al there's in 1t
shall be yours when I'm gone, and
what money / have left shall 'oe
equally divided between you. She
won t come to you a beggar neither.
Goo(leve has put money by, and
Nell'll have her share. y
Sl'll ask her to fix the day next
time l see her." said Berthe, with
decision, and the old man groWled
approval ..@-
It was old perhaps that Nell,
who during her lovers prolonged
absence had been quite as faithful
as most engaged girls similarly cir
cumstanced, should find OH 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
most the fast time in two years.
Il dont think l love him, . she
said to herself, land I don t think I
can marry him.
When Eertie called after tea, she
was III tacaa mood. Mr. Goodeve
ve1y considerably left them alone
together, and the young sailor lost
nc time in coming to the point.
"Uncle wants me 70 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 lie would like us to
make il our home now. F"
1T is very good Of him, said
Nelly. the red blood dyeing her
checks, but ii would rather have
a home Of my own, and ] couldn t
leave father yet. ! would much
rather wait until you have ship"
He tried hard to shake her resol1l
ton but the more ardent lie became
the colder she grew, SO lie returned
to bis uncle and reported the fail
uTe.
THE WORST Of it, he added, lis
that I've only Il foltnjght's leave.
: After that's over / sl1a11t see her
again for q year, and nobody knows
! what Will have happened by then, .
! "Ilat's true enough said the
old llt>n thoughtfally. II was
! afea1e(l she q 60 aste1n. There two
or three smart fellows about hore
, ready to eat her, il looks go for any.
, thing. Il YOU don't marry her now
or make her fast, you never will. "
) How can I make her fast?' asked
Ber1ie g]oonily.
) I've know d, said Davidson
! "when was a young chap, q good
isl many @eaGaring men as had t
; leave their sweethetIts a-jlriftine
! about at the mercy Of any privateel
) as chanced to si@ht 'em. Some Q.
tem-wile awake, Jhey was-put {
; mark On 'em afore they sailed. Tha
: Lel,i EN- as fast as if the parson hat
spljcel EN-.
Il never was q good hand at rid
, dles, said Bertie.
Chuc]3ling, the old sailor rollec
4 up his sleeve and unbuttoned til,
: vristbaDd Of his shirt From tn
5 writ upward the arm was tattoOed
: CaNtain Davidson passed the palm
: Of his right hand up and down tn
: pictures
, Pretty, amt they?' said he
;, My fingers wasn't SO shaEy whe
4 | did EN- as they are now, but
: reckon they re steady enough to pu
, {, mark on Nell. arm as il hold he
e till doomsday, always providing q
she can be persuaded to consent. "
! "What is it you are proposing:
II asked Berti9.
e Just the tattooing Of a few le
:" ers Oh her arm. my lad, - answere
/ the artf1Il old fellow. Il Wouldn
e bother. her 10 marry you any mon
II yet awhile if Twas you. Be as sWet
/ as you know how, though. A day {
two afore you sail you'll show he
be- name, tattooed OR your arm
a keep you true, and between us ma,
4, be wei persuade her to let me pl
L the same sort Of hOldfast Oh her
Now, dye see?'
ld Il think do, said Bertie.
L. IhencGforth he treated Nell rat
i. ~