Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-08-30


that Ann was mighty chilly to young
men-that she was too steady to ever
fancy a man that wasn't grown up ana
sensible? Lyle knew that this was per-
verse, and its painful inadequacy as a
generalization of her wounded him How
sure he was that those yelled eyes could
burn into utter eXpression And he felt
that the fire to kinde them must lie in
the heart of a young man.
These feelings developed into strong
emotion at times, and the more rapidly
when he tried to bring his fancy down
to concrete details What sort of
lat does She Wear?" he asked Forbes one
evening
Hat! ! reckon a caps more likely
her headgcar. Maybe she does wear a
hat"
How does she do her hair?' Lyle went
on. with some diAidence
Forbes looked ut him blankv 70 the
young mans senses there was an implied
lebuke, a hint that he vas plying into
the secrets of modest girl. Eut this
notion fled when the answer cane with
futile poverty of suggestion: Why. I
suppose like all women do They ali ID
it the same way"
And 50 their conversation ran, the elder
harping on his proud memories of father
hood the inpatient lover trying 10 hIild
up for himself shrine in which to wGl.
ship his first love. Naturally. il VAS
only here and there that their thoughts
met; and Just when the lover caught
fair glimpse of her, the clumsy words OF
al understanding, generalized paterai
ty botted out the image
Little prone as Lyle was to mental or
emotional activity, he steadily progressed
to u state where certainty was the one
cry of his heart. 70 look at the picture
on the bulkhead was good To have that
picture above his own bunk was infinitely
preferable TO hear about her was a
delight. But TO speak with knowledge
and the full sense of possession was heav-
emily.
SO, one right after a long. uncasily
meditative communion with the moon and
the dark sea, Edward Lyle sought the
chief fireman. Mr. Forbes" he com
menced awkwardly. we know what
What-an interest | take in Her"
The father nodded kindly. and he went
on: well, sir. I'm getting pretty well
hXed-youVe said yourself | was a good
fireman and | want to marry
Forbes looked at him with a CLINT of
understanding in his eyes, but made no
response. Inc Young man took off his
greasy cap and crushed it in his hands
What | want, sir he saids quietly, us
to marry her
There was no answer, and he added. as
though it n Sht be taken for granted;
4 love her"
He waited a long time. but Forbes
made no reply, even by gesture. Around
them were all the rough sounds of the
main deck, the stamping of cattle for
ward, the rattle Of the cooks pots and
pans, the pervasive tones OF careless men
From the next cabin came Il harsh laugh
and an oath. Lyle dared not look at the
photograph for fear he should make her
conscious of the unworthy surrounding,
SO he went out. unanswered.
The next few days the two men did
not talk beyond what was ordinary and
necessary. Nct Lyle frequently felt The
elder mars gaze measuring him. and he
squared himself to his work-for her
sake. Whether he was wrctched or not
it did not occur to him to ask All he
was distinctly conscious of was a vast.
unsatistied love, a love 30 sure Of itself
and SO lmitlcss that it included in itself
a return.
They ncarcd San Francisco, and Forbes
insi~tence upon economy in coal became
almost unbearablc. 1t was always so
when they drew near to theig home port,
hut this time he seemed to he unjust ii
sin never before imputed To this chief
fireman. However, amid all his cross
" ords and angry seedlings, he said moth
ing to Lyle, who, indeed, lahored as he
had never done before
Tine Sunday evening they expected 10
reach san Francisco the next dayl Ed.
ward Lyle went wear to his bunk in
the starhoard alcyway. Usually he
dropped around to see Forbes but he did
not feel equal to il nov, though he was
hungry To talk of Her.
His bunk was dark. ana he fumhlod
uuder the mattress for matches. When
he found the box he struck Il light and
lit the little bracket ON the buikhead.
AS it burned up his eve caught a new
thing. lie looked again, long and earn
g>tly. Then he blew out the lamp ani
pressed his face biiudly against the bulk
head. On his searching lips lac felix two
! flaming. loving. quivering woman'~ hips.
and the young fireman gave ana took Ms
FIRST kiss
But it was einply photograph auk-
Nardly pinned there by John FORBES
san Francisco ArgonaUt
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