Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-06-23
c.* Storyette
A STEAMER WOOING.
John Fleming Wilson in the San Fran
cisco Aruonaut
Life.

CISCO ArgonduC.
John Forbes, chief fireman OF the
steamship Emperor, had a reputation
on the Pacific for making ton OF coal
go almost as far as owners demand
that ton should. With this reputa-
ton back of him, he took frequent oc-
casion to talk confidentially to his fire
room crews on stocking as an art III
one OF these lectures he most unex-
pectedly descended from principles TO
example II tell ye," he was saying,
$50 long as we are in an American
line, and they don't save in wages to
Cinnamon what they lose in extra coal
from unskillful handling, it pays to
have head on yoYr shoulders. When
the emperor's watches wear pigtails
and answer to numbers instead OF
names, then leave the headwork to the
engineers. But in my private opinion
and I've handler shovel 20 years
a man like Lyle is money to owners at
four times a heathen's wage"
Edward Lyle looked gratefully at his
chief, and a slow flush mounted under
the SCOT on his cheeks. 1t was very
sweet to be held up as an example by
her father; he even somewhat self
consciously felt that Ann Forbes was
a little closer, that she had approved OF
him To tell the truth, the young man
had never seen Ann Forbes in the
flesh.
Months ago when he had joined the
emperor in San Francisco, the chief
fireman had tried his strength, his en-
durance, and his temper; approved
them, and afterward taken the clean
mounthed youth into his confidence.
That confidence consisted in unpub-
lished opinions on every engineer in
the ''line;;" in forcible deductions
about life as exposed in the writings of
Bulwer-"The Caxtons" was his favor
ite-and lastly, in talking about his
daughter, Ann.
Many a night the burly Forbes and
his heavy-limbed subordinate leaned
over the bars around the forehatch,
and spoke to each other of Her. If
the elder were satisfied with the
youngsters attitude, he took him quiet
ly to his little cabin and let him look
ar the picture of Her on the bulkhead.
These were moments unforgetable and
utterly delightful to Lyle. He dimly
felt, as he gazed on that picture stand
ing GU. so purely and Clearly amid the
murk of the room, that in some way
she was drawing him nearer to herself.
The sordid means of his livelihood
grew more honorable in his own eyes
in that it was also a way, indirectly
to Her. In Cnese moments he was
That hOarse words should play with
her name or describe her life seemed
inharmOnious, and the very fact that
they were proud and loving words Of
Tended him.
In a most mid and reverent fashion
he ae,empted to show himself worthy
of her. He worked steadily; he saved
every cent of his wages; and, when in
port, he took a delight in letting the
chief fireman know where he spent his
time.
To his disappointment, Forbes took
everything in a very matter-of-fact way.
He praised his work sparingly, nodded
his head kindly when he displayed his
savings, and simply took it for grant
ed that he behaved himself ashore.
Then, very gradually, it dawned on
Lyle that the father never gave him
any share in this sentiment about his
daughter apart from that Of a mere
listener. He saw, indistinctly, in his
somewhat clumsy mind, that Forbes
had never incorporated into his con-
versation about her any of his youth
full suggestions, and he also felt that
his own conception was little finer
and more truthful than the fathers.
Why, otherwise, did John Forbes say
that ANN was mighty chilly to young
men-that she was too steady to ever
fancy man that wasn't grown up and
sensible? Lyle knew that this was
perverse, and it's painful inadeQuacy
as a generalization of her wounded
yelled eyes could burn into utter ex-
preston! And he felt that the fire to
kindle them must lie in the heart of a
young man.
These feelings developed into strong
emotion at times, and the more rapid
ly when he tried to bring his fancy
down to concrete details. What sort
of hat does she wear?" he asked
Forbes, one evening.
. HAT! I reckon caps most likely