The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1902-02-21
HE SAID "G'WAN!'

+ SYH r. leducu upon the RAN OF tus
! lr7I boat as she swung away from
I her pier and headed clumsily
I for the distant. hazy shores OF StateI
Island His bare feet gripped the low
err rail. his backing box was swung
across his shoulder. The box was
studded with brass nails In a rude pat.
tern, for according to his lights Its
owner had an artistic eye. 1t had been
busy day for him, and he jingled his
profits with one hand and reflected
upon the extravaganza Of allowing
himself TO spend 20 cents In sail
down the harbor and back. With the
fine superiority OF a moneyed man,
too. he surveyed his fellow craftsmen
who piled their brushes on the boat
For once he was above them. passen-
ger of equal rights with the trim col
lege man. smoking cigarette few
feet away. and he was conscious of a
regret that he had not worn his shoes.
so that he might have had them black
ed and tasted the delights OF paying
for service instead OF being paid Be
y
evltable return to Hester street. and
the beating that would follow his con
fession. For he had dim recollectious
OF honesty. and would acknowledge his
stolen holiday and receive full value
for the squandered 20 cents from the
over his destinies with a stick. Retri-
button hung red handed above him. but
he resolutely put away the thought OF
It, For the time being there were the
breeze and the blue water and the
sound of music from a passing excur-
drew In the salty air. and sent II forth
again In the form Of popular melody.
shrilly whistled The college man
turned to his companion and laughing
ly indicated the boy. -Profuse strains
of unprecedented art" he said
This was beyond the boy. but be de-
tected slur. He regarded the critics
pondering which OF his
stock Of explosives would best meet the
Finally be compromised
on '.Ah. g'wan." and turned his eyes
once more TO the harbor's shifting pan
Drama
Then for the first time be saw the |
girl. She was bending over the rail Of /
the upper deck. and-could 1t be-yes. /
she was watching him and listening to /
blue eyes and long golden curIs and |
pink and white muslin. The boy shift
d his position uneasily, and once more
wished he had worn his shoes. But
never for moment did he check his
music. He changed the tune, to only
ion all the runs and trills Of which
lie was master. directing covert
dances upwards to see IL she was still
istenlng.
Being out Of breath for the moment,
he paused at the end of an extraordi.
AIRY trilI. and calculated: "Crackey,
he's a fairy quite audIbIy. This
eemed to amuse the college man. He
rev near and inquired, who's
airy?' with suave civility.
'Oh. g'wan," said the boy. The in
eruption disconnected him. and he
topped back from the rail- "Oh. g'wan
nd femme lone. will yeri" he reiter-
ted.
And then. all In moment, there was
flash Of pink and splash, the tramp {
hurrylng feet on the upper deck, f,
nd a woman's cry: "Marionw
"Jovew said the college man. some
mes overheard and he stripped of :
is coat. But the boy was quicker.
lis box raped smartly on the deck.
nd be was over the rail and swept /
ON view In the backward swirl Of the I
'ater In
"Jovew said the college man again.
The bootblack's overheard. tooY
Coming TO the surface with a gnsp.
10 boy thought Of the words Of his !
lend, the attendant at the public r
aths: Keep your chin up and your
outh shut, and breathe deep" Before b
IN, 70 yards away, WAS . terror