The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-13

:
Dan. the lover Of a lifetime, appeared but a
stumbling block IN the road TO her happi-
ness with this wooer Of a few weeks.
The young fisherman. too, was troubled
and mystiied by his sweethesrt's strange
manner, and day and night puzzled vainly
for an explanation OF It, until one evening.
returning from the town by the cliff path
that led along above the cove where Guy
Russell painted, he CHANGED to glance down
and saw artist and model standing side by
side near the neglected easel the one evil
IDENTIFY repeating that oldest Of old stories,
Il love you" the other listening half will
ing half shy.
Only minute he fingered there and then,
with mUttered oath. STROBE on through
the village and down to the straight stone
quay, where already his comrades were
busily preparing to sail, and where the
boats lay alongside. Into the one he shared
with his father and uncle he sprang, pull
ing at seines and ropes with such vicious
hand that the older men expostulated in
surprise.
''whatever's the matter with zee, lad?'
they said. BE careful. do zee, or you'll cap
size the boat, sure eggs"
But Dams Cornish blood was up and
through that starlit summer night, on the
silent sea, ne worked like one possessed !;
and when the fish was all landed and
packed off TO the town. after the return OF
the fleet in the morning he made direct for
Phoebe's cottage.
A long string OF pilchards split and hung
up to dry in the sun previous to that mys-
terious process known in the vernacular as
"marinating," adorned the house front, and
through the open door he saw the girl, fresh
and fair as a flower, ironing some snowy
linen at the table equally spotless, and he
called in:
Il want zee a minute. Phoebe
The harsh tone in his voice made her turn
| quickly.
Cant zee see I'm busy? Come in and say
what you want TO. can't 'ee?'
Are zee all by yourself?"
Eyes. And if 1 wasn't what would 1t mat
ter L should like to know?"
He stepped into the little kitchen, with
the yellow-eyed china dogs on the shelf
above the open fireplace, the grandfather
clock ticking in the corner. the great brass
warming-pan hanging on the wall. and the
dresser gay with row upon row of gaudy
crockery-the ''cloam" of the vernacular
81 seed you down upon the beach with
that painter chap last evening"" he began
Her face, flushed from the heat of the
irons over which she bent. suddenly paled
We'll. and what of that7' she cried, de-
family. ut isn't the first time, is it?''
NO. But it shall be the last he shall
make love to you while you are promised
to me. for won't have nothing at all to dc
with zee no more, so there!"
She laughed. and her heart beat with q
| quick thrill of joy. Now she would be free
"An right. don't care. 1 don't want to
have nothing more TO do with you, no more
than you with me, I'm sure if IL comes &c
that. I can have a fine gentleman for the
matter of taking him, so there's your ring
back, and go along with 'ee." And she drew
the little gilt circlet from her finger and
| flung 1t scornfully across the table to where
! Dan stood.
He put it in his pocket. lone day you'll
be sorry for it." he said, when that there
painter chap have deceived ZEE. as I'll BET
| he have half a score other maids" and
turning on his heel he walked away.
That afternoon as Phoebe posed for Rus
sell, his quick eye noticed a certain new
| shyness in her manner, and missed the
| CLINT OF the familiar trinket from her hand
Where is your ring. Phoebe?" he asked
'Have you lost it?''
NO" she answered, 81 have not lost
it, I-I-Ive gived it back to Dan"
Given it back to Dan?'' he echoed. "You
don't mean that you have broken off your
engagement
Yes, do. He began it and finished it
| nd Ifvo xuif t,a for -
ALL"
But I thought you and Dan were the
most devoted Of lovers, and that you never
quarreled?'
Nor we never didn't afore only he
| He what?''
"Well, it seems he coined home alonf
over cliff last evening, and he seed me and
you down there upon the beach, and he
he
IT see. He objected to our familiarity,
suppose, and you put an end to the whole
thing?"
Exactly"
"Then. darling. now you are my promised
wife"
He had crossed the shingle to her side anC
slipped an arm about her waist She looked
up into his eyes, where cleaned the love
light that held her in it's thrall, and Dams
parting words flashed through her brain.
Dan said 1 should be sorry for 1t whe1
you had deceived me as you have half &
score other maids" she whispered.
do you believe him, dear? Do you thinl
I could deceive your"
mo, I don't. Only it all seems too goot
to be true. can't think you love rue sur,
enough" and she buried her blushing fac,
in his velvet-coated shoulder.
Nevertheless 1 do, darling. But yoI
must not say a word to any one about il
until give you leave, for when have fin
ished my picture 1 must go back to town
and work hard to get home ready fol
you, and in the spring 1 will come dowr
| and fetch you, love"
But so marvellous are the methods Of
Cornish village that although neither of tn,
trio most closely concerned breathed a syl
liable on the subject before nightfall it wa.
common gossip that Phoebe Tregelles wa.
off with the old love and on with the new
and public opinion by no means favored hel
conduct.
after keeping company with Dan Pol
whele ever since they was children and h,
saving UP every farthing 10 get married
to throw him over like that there for z
stranger what will make her wish she'C
never seed him at ell, why the maid mus
be clean off her head-daft," said the ole
wives as they trudged along IN tho tom,