Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1902-12-26
g E O. Q. %
His Unique PropoeaI Was Understood
When She Had Learned the
Code.

The first mate Of the bark Eda, ni
Aberdeen. walked bTiskly up the main
street of Lorwick, his feet wide apart,
as though there was need to balance
himself
The Eda had encountered a head
wind and very dirty weather coming
up the channel, and it tak.s the smart
est sailor a month or two en- land 10
realize that cobble stones and pave
ments do not roll
Half way up the street he turned of
and stopped before one of the small
gray stone houses. A woman sat with
her back 10 the window knitting =
white shawl with marvellous rapidity.
VIII Allen watched her for a lew
minutes. Her fair hair, knotted neat
", her broad back and nimble fingers
had cheerful, friendly sort Of lock
TO the casual passerby. but an express
sion of doubt crept into Wills bronze
face.
"I'll never say it." he muttered, 'Id
{ best go straight up to mothers"
He was turning back into the main
street, when a small boy. swinging his
satchel on the way home from school,
accosted him.
why, it's Will Allen back again!
That's grand! Have you brought me
anything this time, Will? Jeanie,
jeanne, here's Will Allen back"
Toonio IonlxnJ nm Fr0v, har
as the boy dragged the half-reluctanr
Will into the little kitchen.
Why, WILL" she said, "how's all
with you? / saw the Eda was safe
In Aberdeen, but we did not exp sct
you here just yet! Your mother must
be pleased to have you back"
VIII made no reply beyond an in
articulate sound, which might mean
yes or no. He sat and solemnly stared
with his clear sailor eyes at Jeanne
as she put away her work end made
preparations for tea.
She chatted gayly all the time, Civ
ing MIN various pieces Eof .IerwiclI
news-of the births and deaths and
marriages which had taken place since
his departure ten months ago. II was
on the tip of his tongue to say, You're
still single, Jeanie?P But there the
words stayed.
Man." he said solemnly that night
to a reflection of his handsome, wind
roughened face in the small glass in
his mothers parlor, didn't l tell you
you'd never say ftf'
The Eda made a quick run south
on her next voyage During the dog
watch one evening, when nothing was
doing, and the youngest apprentice
could be trusted with a wheel that re-
Quired no turning, the mate picked Up
the book containing the code of sig
nails which the captain had left on
the deck, and idly turned the leaves.
Suddenly the boy at the wheel was
startled by seeing the usually impas-
sive flrst officer throw down the book
and beat his leg, with look of glee.
Man, man, thatll do it," he .ex-
claimed aloud Then his professional
instincts aroused by a puff Of wind on
and went for'ard.
jeanne was half expecting him a few
months later when the step, well
known, though rarely heard, sounded
with more decision than usual on the
fagstones outside. The Eda had been
five weeks in Aberdeen and it was
time the mate had his holiday.
Come right in. she called. "T've
an order to finish tonight, so sit down
and tell me all the news"
But, of course, it was jeanne herself
who supplied the news as her quick
fingers finished the delicate web of fine
wool. which was fit to- adorn the
queens shoulders.
3 VIII sat and looked at her in sill
ence as usual, but a broad smile on
his face was not SO familiar, and once
or twice he passed his great rough
hands over his mouth as though some
thing that might otherwise burst out
must be suppressed.
1t was easier TO chuckle over to him.
self, though, than to utter, and habit
was so strong that VIII had said
Good night and left thu house with
cut giving vent to his feelings. with
q great effort, however. he thrust his
head in at the door again.
"B @ G, Jeanie?" he said-"B @ CT"
And, leaving her thoroughly mystihed,
he turned up the street.
He met her the next morning out
marketing, carried her basket, and
walked home by her side without a
word. On the doorstep, instead Of
bidding her good day, he gave utter
ance again to the mystic letters:
'B @ g, Jeanie?"
What ever do you mean with your
B @ @. Will Allen? 1t puzzled me all
last night. B Q stands for bark, but
the @ beats me-"
Will looked exceedingly foolish, and
hurried away.
What could he mean? B @ G didn't
spell anything-could not be the begin
ming Of word. What did the letters
mean?
That VIII Allen loved her was a
matter OF no doubt; that he would tell
her so seemed unlikely; and Jeanie,
with jamie yer on her hands, and the
beridden mother upstairs, had no
thought to spare from her knitting for
matrimony 3
jamie was doing wen at school. One
evening. with his schoolbooks. be
brought stout. weathcr-beaten vol
ume. which he studied witt great dill
gence whiie Jeanne got tea. There
were colored plates at the beginning
and JeanieA came to look over her
brothers, shoulder and see whats was
Interesting HIM SO deeply.
The cploral plates were flags Of all
nations, and part OF the alphabet de-
picted I'm Tags according TO the signal
code