The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-03
Copyright 1901 by the National Press
/ Agency.
CHAPTER I.
JACK ASHORE.

anyone comfng?'
| az see mist and a grey sea, a few fish
ing boats, a squadron at anchor, and a
launch with young man on board. He
/ is a good-looking young man. He smiles,
! he waves his lily hand, he"
( 'She grins nervousiy.'
HE chucks his arms aloft, oh, my
Eoul!'
/ IF you two don't behave yourselves 1
shall leave the pier,'' cried the pretty,
Iblushing girl against whom this chaff
was directed. Teddy, Fancy, it's posi-
lively .disgraceful! Everybody is looking
at you"
what. IN this smoky fog? It's preciouo
little they can see, then" said the youth,
'stroking an imaginary moustache. Fan
cy, beloved of my heart. just ask that
pirate what he's dcin' in British waters,
will you?''
Fancy, a long school girl with flowing
hair, and the awkward limbs of her
awkward age, giggled in appreciation of
this wit, and made trumpet of her
hands.
"Ahoy! What craft is that?"
AS the launch came up with the pier
the MILDLY in charge took long, long
look at the blushing girl. He did not
think that the photograph in the cabin
of his superior officer did justice to the
original, apart altogether from the fact
that the sun cannot yet he cajoled into
reproducing for US the colorng of ma
ture
Hair of the true ripe corn hue, azure
eyes. complexion of the most delicate
sea-shell pink, and the splendid vitality
of the opalescent blonde TRAD a ting from
the body as fire from the somewhat but
the most inadequate suggestion of them
all could be hoped for in mere black AMI
white? The MILDLY hunted his vocabulary
for adjectIves of the superlative degree.
and yOuthfUliy envied TIE lieutenant who
was the man in posses ion of such
charms. For the rest lie had only to
obey orders and maneuver his launch to-
wards the Shiny green STEPS.
The grey November mist shut down on
the sea and land, transforming FLEET
mouth pier into a wooden island, inhab-
dted apparently by two girls and a youth.
But the fog lifted every now and then
and showed them they were not alone.
that there We're others there, too, eX-
pectant of naval young men of various
ranks. The shadowy forms doomed up
one by one at the sound of the steam
whistle.
Norah Wharton, dreading the sportive
wit of her juvenile companions, did not
at all approve of this congregation being
witness Of her lovers landing; and it
was, perhaps, to that mat ne might have
attributed the somewhat cold handshake
with which he was greeted as he sprang
up the steps. With a grin on his freckIcd
face. Teddy seized Fancy's umbrella and
begun to unfurl it with embarrassing
EloWncss.
IF the mist isn't thick enough" said
he, anSiOusly, Il can"
Leonard! Leonardo This was an
agOniZed whisper from Norah. Come
away quick! Those. awful children"'
Moment, dear; must get my bike
Clarksonv'
Where's your kit, Mr.. Jayne?" asked
Fancy, in a painfully loud voice.
The naval man shook his head and
No Kit Only ashore for an hour or
..ohr'
Norah Showed disappointment, but in
the presence of observing eyes and Cos
siping tongues she stopped short at that.
She had a great idea Of the proprieties,
had Norah. The gloss applied at Miss
Prim's Establishment for the Daughters
of Gentlemen" had not vet worn off
With promptitude the machine was de-
livered into Jayne's hands, and the
launch went astern and slipped back into
the fog. The MILDLY still grinned ap-
provingly. Then Miss Wharton walked
off with her lieutenant.
IS that am asked Fancy, ever so
lugubriously.
It's a way they have in the navy" re-
marked Teddy, who knew more than was
good for him. But if you like"-affably
done"
pig!'
She followed the very undemonstrative
and to those around Disappointing
Vol mo 11eA1
THIS Jargon which he supposed was meant
70 resemble his native tongue, and made
towards the lovers, who were now at the
FurnsuIe OF the pier. Fancy and Teddy.
each endeavoring to obtain from the
oIher the larger share of the umbrella
pald no attention to him, and he glided
IKE snake into the line of Jayne's eve
slsnt "hen the lieutenant's gaze fell
upon the wretched, shivering creature he
started and involuntarily slipped his hand
round TO his breast pocket. The China
mans eye-he had only one-shot fire
ana he moved forward; but suddenly
checking himself he smiled and cringed
and ended by darling through the turn
buie and vanishing into the mist. Lieut.
S Sn seemed inclined to follow, but
nnaliy fell back with a shrue
Ever seen that pigtail before, Norah ~,
he asked, carelessly.
Plgtau? oh, the Chinaman? No T
never saw him before. He seems to
know you, Leonard"
traid he doesn't. HIM! No doubt
mes heard were just home from Chinese
tons" IL" ques-
Now in the open, the voung MO-,
searched the mist with an anxious air
"hch altogether beled his yerv casual
words and again he patted his noclnt
But catching no further sight of tho
him. INC sIrI pesiue
Where's your bike, Norah?" he ask
ed. Il want to get under cover a,6 S'S IA
properly welcomed home anu Nc
Haven't 1 welcomed Won nronor,,, ~,
sald MISS Wharton, demurely.
Oihclaily Is the word But wbe, wo
!etch Trafalgar Villa Abov w.
orlng that machine here! Where's vonr
Teddy and ride tandem" sbrie,,ed
Fancy, steering complicated roeoI,o11io7
towards the group Heads or teiIs o'S IN
Tails, of course" sail Tediv 11roI,,,.
~. Ihey wouldn't thank us n obi, :,
them all the way to OIiport ,St5oS
SIDES they'll want to-ouch!; for 80
ara suddenly sweeping his legs froro 80 ~
Ger him. had seated him on the ero,,nG
am my soul here's treatment for the
OldpOrt millionairer' 0i tie
You haven't bought manra-. ,4,,
your !.G dt money yet Said Jayne. grimly
49, n nee snip al your parasol Norah. Wen
push OH. These sbrats can 70, low"
"Brats!" echoed. Fancy. and fc,tb,,-,4,,
became speeches. with wrath. Not nm
III the lovers had wheeled off did She ~ a.
cover her tongue. and then 1t wa e.
Iash Teddy for not having defend@d 10
BUT OF course. you're only a civilian {.
she finished, after a witler.ng diatriba
AT an events I'm more ardent love,
than the sailor-man'
The idea?' exclaimed feminine fifteen
a child like you to ta.k of love- A.
twenty tool" g IA