The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-11-03
Miss Bee, if cared to-" he said, calm

hlsS Dee, II cared 10, he SAID, calm
ly.
You must not call ME Miss Bee
the girl corrected, haughtily. fire flash
ing from her clear brown eyes; that
name is only for the friends in my
own station. And do not smile at me
in that way, Kennedy! Your very look
IS presumptuous."
Kennedy bit his smiling lips under
Ills heavy moustache and turned his
gaze scaward
Miss Beatrice" he said gently; "you
are very fortunate lady, as proud as
you are happy. Pray heaven that you
may always rule asroyally IN your king
dom as you do now. You think me
! presumptuouS. Your fathers skipner
daring to touch tress Of your love
ly hair. l am quite innocent of pre-
sumption. Except in pccuniary way.
am the peerof any man on this vessel.
/ Proud as YOU may be, my little queen,
hennedy dares to love you with Il love
that will never die.'
Turning his eyes once more upon her,
he saw that she was trembling. and
that she seemed powerless to move.
with her wide"eyes fixed upon him In Il
sort of fascination.
The night breeze was blowing up
cool. Kennedy let the wheel slip about.
ana taking a wrap from the seat.
folded 1t deftly about her.
There he said soothingly. 1T is
70 Pei
Kennedy will trouble you no more
do not fear"
And he returned to his post, not
again looking toward the slender fig
ure which moved slowly away from
him.
The next day Beatrice. with great
assumption Of carelessness inquired Of
her father where he had found Ken
nedy. and who the skipper was.
why. l thought you know" was
the ready response. Kennedy Is the
son Of old Lady Kennedy, down at
Birch Landing. two miles below our
place. She is reduced gentlewoman.
and her son is fine fellow-vcry much
above his present position. He was
Wild boy, however; ran away to sea,
and learned navigation in hard
school. He might have sailed master
OF large steamer to China. but his
mother. to whom he is quite devoted,
is growing old and feeble, and he
would not leave her, although he could
find no employment suited to his ca
pacity. He applied for Dawson's
place. and l was glad enough to get
him. for he is a thoroughly good sail
orr
Beatrice was very quiet all the rest
or that day, and watched Kennedy
shyly from the corner of her long
iashed eyes. But to all appearance, he
had quite forgotten the little episode
of the preceding night. meeting some
chance remark Of hers with a grayely
respectful salute. and Immediately af
ter requesting her in the most mat
ter OF fact manner to step aside. as
the great boom swung about.
There were no more coZy chats with
Kennedy. Beatrice was angry with
herself to find that she missed them,
for the man could be most delight
full and entertaining companion.
Somehow his passionate words. so
different from any she had ever list
cned to, haunted Beatrice The sense
less compliments of the young gentle |
men on board the yacht wearied her. |
Kennedy had told her wonderful
stories of the sea and strange coun
tries. She longed to be again on the |
Old, pleasant footing with him, but she
was too proud
At last, when they were nearing
home, came terrible gale, when the
heavens were black above them and
the sea black beneath, and all pande-
monium seemed to be let loose, as the
storm shriekcd about them.
Beatrice, half dead with terror, felt
the Spray crash upon rocks, and was
presently Of Kcnnedy's voice
in her ear, and Kennedy's strong arms
bearing her across the deck.
She clung close to him, not too proud
now to hide her wild, white face
D gainst the coarse blouse.
1.-The others first" she said, when
she became conscious that he was
making preparations to send her
ashore in one of the boats with the
rest Of the party.
SO she remained with her father and
Kennedy. Then a line was r.gged to
help them over.
You 60 first Mr.. Grant" said the
skipper. "and I will bring Beatrice.
1o." he insisted. gently. as the old
nan hesitated; Il will surely bring
Beatrice" ard he smiled a strangely
grand, fearless smile into the fathers
yes as he drew the girl toward him.
Yes, papa" said Beatrice. do not
ear; know Kennedy will save me-"
She clasped her hands about the
mans neck, and stood so. looking back
It her father as he swung himself over
he side of the vessel.
And Kennedy did save her. They
.ame ashore, Beatrice half senseless
n his arms. but alive and unharmed
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