The Lambertville record., 1903-04-29
CABRIELLE'S
WO0ING
E, IzoLA FORESTER
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Copyright, 1909, By McCiure's
Newspaper Syndicate

straits from Chicago way, every girl
from Mackinac To Moose island sent
out her heart to greet the dirty gray
sails of his schooner
Not to greet Put; no, indeed For tif-
teen years he had passed through the
vember, and not girl had waved her
hand to him except Joe Nevaire's Ca
brielle. She had watched for him from
the first year when he had swabbed
the decks of the Bon Ami, and now the
last year he returned her master, steer
ing her as captain and owner both.
The word had gone before him like
silver tongued herald that with the
schooner had also come To him us an
Inheritance from old Scott Mandego.
his father, the little house down on
Mandeso point and matter of $1,000
or S3,0U0.
SO Put sailed as Il Conqupror, ana of
MI the bright eyes along the shore that
glanced TO greet him the only ones
which lured him on belonged To Gay
Nevairc and We're the only pair that
had no welcome for him.
II WAS the first time In all the fifteen
years. As II hoy he had rowed over to
the island to chat With Joe and watch
him mend the great sails that were
sent TO him from the twin shores and
weave and knot his fish nets. Joe's
deft fingers We're as noted along the
straits as the black eyes and red lips
Uf his five daughters.
And Gay was the youngest, She was
eighteen now, slim and dark eyed with
the poise and step of demolselle of
Gascony and Il wondrous trick of the
eyes. sidelong look between narrowed
lids. with long curved lashes to east
shade All of Nevaire's girls had It,
but little Gabrielle had II worst, and 1t
took the heart out of "A man.
Only Il mile To the southeast of
Moose island lies Mandego point. From
his shore OH "A sunny day Put could
catch the flash of a pink pettlcoat here
and there around the old weather
beaten cabin. but the courage never
came to him 10 seek her and tell her
What had been in his heart all the way
from Chicago.
You forget old friends when the
good luck flies your way. Is ii not 50,
Putt laughed old Nevaire when they
met at the half breed Petit Jeans
place on the mainland. 'Is it Marie?
Fanchon? Babctte? Elscf No? Mon
Biou, II is the little one, them"
"lt is Gabrielle" said Put stolldly.
However he might fear his love, he
had no fear for Nevairc himself nor
ten like him. "But she has no smiles
for me this year" he added moodily.
Joe laughed more. Did the wild duck
dutter near until she heard the decoy?
Was Gay girl to lay her heart bare
before she WIS woocd?
Put listened and smiled as he awal-
ened to his folly.
Il will WOO her" he said, and he
kept his word He sent Danny Der
mot his successor to the deck swab-
bing question on the Bon Ami.
Danny was blue eyed, the best
dancer along the shore and still win
ter's length from twenty. He listened
TO Puts Instructions of what he should
tell his love and stralghtway forgot
Put and all else as he leaned across
the open window sill ut Nevnire's chat
ting with Gabrielle and catching the
trick of her long dark eyes.
The dreamy golden days of summer
passed. and the sumac Haunted scarlet
banners on every hillside that dipped
to meet the straits, and still the Bon
Ami swung idly on her ropes at the
old half STINK landing ut Mandego
point. Puts pulses leapcd every time
he looked from her to TIE broad sweep
of blue water that called to him to
come back, but every breeze that cir
cled around the point bore the love of
his heart to Gabrielle as II danced
on down to the island, so he stayed on
and trusted his fate to Dannys soft
tongue.
Under the rose vine Gabrielle would
listen, a rose stem between her teeth.
while Danny spoke Of Mandego point.
Hes too old for you, Gay, darling.
It's thirty-two he Is II he's a day, aud
the old devil thinks you'll fly like a
bird to him If he only whistles, And
it's lonesome down there on the point.
You can't see the Mackinac lights
dancing n jig with themselves In the
water the way you can here. And II
isn't a thousand at all. Gay. darling,
It's only hundred or So aud the old
man Will soon drink that up over at
Petit Jeans. So you see 1t won't be
riches at all that Mrs. Mandego VIII be
getting. but old Put himself Do you
mind me, Gay, darllng?"
Gabriellc's white teeth closed over
the heart Of the rose and she ate Its
sweet petals in silence, but her eyes
looked sidclong at Danny.
And the Tidy ABLY Of Petoskey
sails on Tuesday, Cay" Danny reached
up and pluolied rose that touched the
girls bowed head 1--WE the promise of
berth on her at the wheel. 1t Is bet
ter than the deck on the Bon Ami,
Gay, and If you say the word you can
kiss your sweet hand to Chicago as
Mrs. Dermot In a week. Could you be
ready by Tuesday, Gay. hearth
Gabrielle looked off up the straits to
where Mandego point lay like an
amethyst shadow at the curve of the
Michigan shore line, and her eyes were
tender and dreamy,
TEL Put Mandcgo to come for his
answer himself like man, Danny"
she said. TEL him that from me to-
day, and If he Is not here on the island
by Monday night then | will sail on
the Tidy ABLY"
It's at sunrise I'll come for you
Mrs. Dcrmot,' laughed Danny, aua
Gabrielle SMILED and waved her han0
TO him as he passed jauntily down the
clover bordered path to the beach.
But she was thinking OF Put-Put In
his strength and shyness-and Of how
he would come that very night for his
answer.
Put the twilight passed ana tho
moon rose above the pines on tho
headland. and no boat put out from
Mandego point until daybreak. when
Put pulled over to the mainland with
mayor a ha I'd s,lnpca of