Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-06-02

mind you that such behavior distresses
mel"
'sPm always forgetting!" said Ruth,
penitently rubbing her pink cheek
against her mothers pale one. For
give me, won't you?
cit was 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."
| 'sGertrude?" said Mrs. Ellerton.
"Yes, mother" replied a soft voice
I-behind her.
"You startled me, child" said Mrs.
Ellerton, petulantly, ''you entered so
| noiselessly There, there! 1 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 car
ried her with the rush of a romping
| tomboy.
| An hour later Mrs. Ellerton was
| again disturbed by the clatter of chill
dren; and, coupled with Ruth's high
1
lar note. CHANGING through the win
dow, she saw Ruth entering the gar
den, bringing with her-was it posi-
Bile! Mrs. Ellerton opened the window.
30, 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, timid-
| ly: "Please, mum, Mary Bethel"
Eyes, Mary Bethel Ruth echoed.
| "And who is this Mary Bethel?"
| Ruth felt her ardor chilled, while
poor, shivering Mary Bethel felt her
self turning to ice.
'Who is this Mary Bethel?" Mrs. FL
lerton repeated.
why" faltered Ruth, ''she lives at
| the cove, and"
And if so, she had better return
there. How Often" continued Mrs. FL
lerton, pitilessly, ''how often have L
| warned you never to pick up acquaint
| ances!A 1 am more than surprised,
Ruth; L am"
But Mary Bethel heard no more.
With sob she burst through the gate
| way, and ran wildly down the road to-
| ward her home.
1t was not much of a home, this ref
| uge of the Bethels; two-room hut,
| with brown sods banked round it.
AS Mary reached the beach, her IA
Their came from the hut and lifted her
up and kissed her.
Were off agin, little gal" he said.
''fn be away couple O. days, may
hap. Mind the home, and-why, what's
| the matter?"
'Tain't nuthin, dad,'' she sobbed
There, there! Don't take on" said
| her father, consolingly. we've bin
alone over night afore."
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
| in white and blue boating suits. She
envied them their pretty rowboat, and
turned glance of contempt upon her
| fathers numbering dory.
Time passed unheeded, until the sun
| light was suddenly dimmed She
| glanced out; the sky was overcast,
with blacker clouds to the southwark,
while beyond the cove danced small
| boat-could it be that of the two girls {?
What could have tempted them to ven
| ture so far?
There came an impatient knocking,
and Mary opened the door. Before her
| stood Mrs. Ellerton-not the naughty
woman of few hours before, but
| mother with cooraI fooo
'My girls!" she gasped. ''Where is
your father?"
| To the fishin' banks"
ST thought-his boat there
Mary shook her head: Father uses
that for near fishin'"
us there no one?" pleaded Mrs. Ell
| lerton.
| There's no man about; but 1 dun
no." Mary said, obviously. 81 reckon
I might row the dory that fur. but I'm
'fraid I couldn't bring both boats back;
| the tide is runnin,out now"
80 could you-could you row out to
| them?''
| "'Twould be tug. / might have to
let the dory go-'nd don't know what
father d say
Don't mind the boat-I'l pay for
that. But, o, hurry-do. do hurry!"
| ''Fll go, num- Mary said, quietly.
ST will go with you," TREMENDOUSLY ex-
claimed Mrs. Eellerton.
Not less N you kin row. Mary an
| swered. Reckon I'll have my hands
| full 'thout any extra ballast"
The tide carried the dory along at a
rate which quickly overhauled the tru-
ants. But the wind was swifter than
the tide. It came along in fierce puffs.
with short intervals of calm between.
/ The black rim of the ocean broadened.