The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-04
CHAPTER L.
ASHORE
copyright
Agency.

Sister Anne! Sister Anne! DO You see
anyone coming?"
Il see mist and a grey sea- a few fish
ing boats, a squadron at anchor, and a
launch with young man en- board. He
is good-looking young man He smiles,
he waves his lily hand, he-1"
She grins nervously."
"He chucks mis- arms a,oft, oh, my
soul!'
IF you two don't behave yourselves /
shall leave the pier,' cried the pretty,
blushing 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 preciou9
little they can see, then,' said the youth,
strokng an imaginary moustache. Fan
cy, beloved of my heart, just ask that
pirate what he's doin in British waters,
illyOu?"
Fancy, a long school girl with flowing
hair, and the awkward limbs of her
awkward age, giggled in appreciation of
this wit and made a trumpet of her
hands.
Alloy! What craft is that?"
AS the launch came up with the piec
the MILDLY in charge took long, long
look at the blushing girl. He did not
think that the photograph in the cabin
original, apart altogether from the fact
that the sun cannot yet be cajoled into
reproducing for us the color.ng of n2-
ture.-
Hair of the true ripe corn hue, azure
eyes, complexion of the most delicate
sea-sheu pink, and the splendid vitality
of the opalescent blonde, TRAD ating from
the body as fire from the somewhat but
the most inadequate suggestion of them
e. l. 1,a a. ~ :
white? The MILDLY hunted his vocabulary
for adjectives of the superlative degree
and youthfully envied the lieutenant who
was the man in possession of such
charms. For the rest he 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 Flet-
mouth pier into a wooden island, inhab-
tied 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 sportivc
wit of her juvenile companions, did not
at all approve of this congregation being
was, perhaps, to that That he might have
attributed the somewhat cold handshake
with which he was greeted as he sprang
up the steps. With grin on his freckled
face. Teddy seized Fancy's umbrella and
begun to unfurl it with embarrassing
slCWness.
If the mist isn't thick enough" said
he anXiously, Il can
Leonard! Leonardo This was an
away quick! Those awful Children
Moment. dear; must set my bike.
Ca ksOn!'
Where's your kit, Mr. Jayne?' asked
Fancy, in a painfully loud voice.
The naval man shook his head ard
laughed.
No kit Only ashore for an hour, or
So"
oh"
Norah Showed disappointment but in
the presence Of observing eyes and Cos
siping tongues she stopped short at that
She had great idea of the prophecies,
had Norah. The gloss applied at Miss
Prim's Establishment for the Daughters
of Gentlemen had not yet 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.
rs that all?'' 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'-aftably
I'll shew you how it ought to be
done
Much you know about it. Get away
pig!''
She followed the very undemonstrat.ve
and to those around Disappointing
The yellow man listened impassively to
TINS Jargon which he supposed was meant
TO resemble his native tongue, and made
towards the lovers, who were now at the
turnstle of the pier. Fancy and Teddy,
each erdeavoring to obtain from the
other the larger share of the umbrella.
paid no attention to him, and he glided
IKE a snake into the line of Jayne's eye
sight. When 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,
and he moved forward; but suddenly
checking himself he smiled and cringed
and ended by darling through the turn
stile and vanishing into the mist. Lieut..
Jayne seemed inclined to follow. but
nnaily fell back with shrug.
Ever seen that pigtail before, Norah? ''
he asked, carelessly.
''Pigtail? Oh, the Chinaman? No I
never saw him before He seems to
know you, Leonard"
F1aid he doesn't. HIM! No doubt
he's heard were just home from Chinese
waters, and wants to ask a few uues-
TONS"
Now in the open, the young man
searched the mist with an anxious air
which altogether belied his very casual
words, and again he patted his pocket
But catching no further sight of the
Chinaman he turned to the girl beside
him.
Where's your bike, Norah?" he ask
sd. Il want to get under cover and he
properly welcomed home"
Haven't [ welcomed you properly?i
said Miss Wharton, demurely
"Oficially is the word. But when we
fetch Trafalgar Villa. Alloy. WISE
bring that machine here! Where's youl
own?"
Teddy and I ride tandem" shrieked
Fancy, steering complicated mechanism
towards the group. Heads or tails?"
Tails, of course" said Teddy promnt
ly. They wouldn't thank us to chiv,
them all the way to Oldport. Sides
Sides, they'll want to-ouch!' for Leon
ard, suddenly sweeping his legs from UNI
der him, had seated him on the ground
'tOh my SOUL here's treatment for tn,
Oldport Yill;onaire!'
"You haven't bought manners witt
your money yet" said Jayne, grimly
Let me ship your parasol, Norah Wei
push off. These brats can follow"
"Brats!" echoed Fancy, and forthwith
became speeches. with wrath. Not I'm