The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-12

not for nothing that you burst in upon
me. What did you wish?"
ITO ask if we might go down to the
cove. A schooner has just come in, and
we are dying to see it."
"Gertrude?" said Mrs. EllertOn.
Eyes, mother" replied a soft voice
behind her.
You startled me, child" said Mrs
Ellerton, petulantly; you entered SC
noiselessly. There, there. / did not
mean to wound you. You may go to
the cove, but keep Ruth out of mis-
chief"
Gertrude, the elder. was pale and
shy; but Ruth. the baby. was chubby
and strong. with restless feet that
carried her with the rush of a romp-
ing lomboy. Their father was their
favorite playfellow. and they grieved
at his absence through the week, for
the cottage was lonely one; save for
a fsherman's hut. it was a mile TO
their nearest neighhor.
Mrs. Enerton watched the children
depart; then her gaze wandered over
the view beyond; the cove, where lay
q small schooner and, nearby on the
shore the fisherman's solitary hut; the
silvery bag which the cove gave on;
ard the long beach running out TO a
point. on the tip of which stood a light
house.
An hour later Mrs. Enerton was
again disturbed by the chatter of chill
drsen; and. coupled with Ruth's high
treble, she distinguished an unfamiliar
note. CHANGING through the window,
she saw Ruth entering the garden,
bringing with her-WaS it posSiblei
Mrs. Ellerton opened the window.
"Oh. mamma" cried Ruth, we've
had such fun. and
Ruth" interrupted Mrs. Ellerton,
severely, "who is that with you?"
why. Mary; and She
Mary who? Mary what?"
Ruth looked puzzled. She turned to
the little stranger, who replied timidly,
please. mum. Mary Bethel"
"Yes: Mary Bethel" Ruth echoed.
And who is this Mary Bethel?'
Mrs. Ellerton's severe manner, which
had been steadily growing colder, now
dropped below the freezing point. Ruth
felt her ardor chilled. while poor shiv-
ering Mary Bethel. the innocent cause
of such a change in the temperature
OF the superior Mrs. Ellerton, felt her
self turning to ice.
who is this Mary Bethel?" Mrs.
Ellerton repeated.
Why" faltered Ruth, she lives at
the cove, and
And if so, she had better return
there. How often" continued Mrs. Ell
lerton. pitilessly, how often have l
warned YOU never to pick UP acquaint-
ancesl And these fsherfolk, of all
people. ! am more than surprised,
Ruth: 1 am
But Mary Bethel heard no more.
With a sob of heart-anguish, she burst
through the gateway, and. her patched
skirts fluttering. ran wildly down the
road toward her home.
IT was not much of a home, this ref
11ge of the Bethels-a two-room hut,
with brown sods banked around it, as
an anchorage. Even with this, some
times the wind swooped down so vio-
lentlv that the little structure would
creak and groan, as if in fear of being
demolished.
AS Mary reached the beach, her
father came from the hut, and lifted
her UP and kissed her.
Were off agin. little gal" he said.
s.I'U be away a couple of days, may
hap. Mind the home, and-why, what's
the natter
Mary hid her face in his blouse.
"'Tain't nuthin', dad she sobbed.
"There, therei Don't take on said
her father, consolinsly. "Ye've bin alone
over night afore-' He kissed her again
and left her.
The motherless child went into the
lonely cabin and, stationing herself by
the window. watched the schooner fade
into the distance.
Presently down the hillside came her
acquaintances OF the morning. dressed
jn white and blue boating suits. She
envied them their pretty rowboat, and
turned a glance Of contempt upon her