The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-01-10
WRECK OF THE CATTLE BOAT
Continued from fifth page

changed a bell in the alleyway and then
came back and stood swaying in the
middle of the cabin. armed with a
large tin teapot, all ready to commence
business. SO heavy was the roll that
at times he had to put his hand on the
floor for support.
Captain Kettle watched the door
with a haggard face. He was begin
ming to realize that an emotion was
stirred within him that should have
had no place in his system. He told
himself sternly that he was a married
man with family; that he had deep
affection for both his wife and chill
dren that, In cold fact, he had seen
Miss Carnegie In the flesh but once be-
fore, but there was no getting over the
memory that she made poetry, craft
that he adored, and he could not for
get that she had already lived In his
mind for more months than he dared
count.
His conscience took him by the ear
and sighed out the word love. On the
instant all his pride of manhood was
up In arms, and he rejected the imputa-
ton with sc0rn and then after some
thought formulated his liking for the
girl In the term interest. But his chest
heaved when he thought Of her.
Then In the distance he heard her
approaching. He wiped the moisture
from his face with the mates pocket
Above the din of the
seas and the noises from the crowded
cattle pens outside he could make out
the faint rustic of draperies and the
Uncertain footsteps of some one pain
FULLY making way along hand over
hand against the bulkheads. A bunch |
II fingers appeared round the jamb OF
door, slender white fingers, one of
hem decked with a queer old ring
which he had seen just once before
ind had pictured a thousand times
'ince. And then the girl herself step
'ed out into the cabin. swaying to the
oil of the ship
She nodded to him with instant rec
ignition. 1T was you they picked I'D
'ut Of the boat? Oh. am SO glad you
ire safer
Kettle strobe out toward her on his
teady sea legs, and stood before her.
till not daring to take her hand.
You have forgiven me?" he MUIR
cured. What did was a liberty, I
now, but II had not liked you 80
yell. should not have dared to do It."
She cast down her eyes and flushed. \
You are the kindsst man l ever met"
he said. The very kindest.' She
box his hand In both hers, and gripped
with nervous force. II shall never
orget what you did for me, captain"
The grimy steward behind them
oughed and ratified the teapot lid, and
they sat themselves at the table and
le business of tea began. All of the
hips officers were either looking after
,e work entailed by the heavy
Gather on deck or sleeping the sleep
utter exhaustion In their hunks, and y
none Joined them at the meal. But
le steward necessarily lowered at I
'eir elbows, and It was only during e
ntful absences that their talk was <
lything like unrestrained. .
You said you liked poetry" the girl II
INSPIRED shyly when the first Of these b
portunities came. II wrote the most
artfelt verses that ever came from 1
over that noble thing you tried to b
for poor stranger like me-" f.
Captain Kettle blushed like maid. :
or one of the magazines?" he asked. o.
She shook her head sadly 1T was I'll
published when left England, and ~