The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-10-29
CHAPTER V.
Ringwold and Sankala.


1 am kind to Hazel. do not antago-
nize her intentionally, and yet she
seems to Gispise me. She faunts the
fact in my face that her father owns
many fshtraps and has cannery and
that they are rich, while my father is
a common fisherman, is old and poor
and lives in cabin, and they live in a
big house with glass windows, and have
a piano.
"Father, don't care for this. ]
am happy with you. l don't envy
Hazel, and why should she dispise me
above all others?"
"My child, there ia an intuition
sometimes that tells us more than we
know. There is often guilty con-
science that is handed down to posterity
and while the posterity knows not
what it is, it feels it keenly. In the
case between you and Hazel her intu-
ition tells her that something is wrong !;
that your existence is dangerous to her
welfare and yet she does not know
why. If you knew the facts, child,
you would understand, you would un-
derstand!"
"Tell me, father. Why does Hazel
feel this way toward me-
81 will not tell you all now, but l
can tell you much. | have a long
time contemplated telling you about
yourself, but you are yet young-too
young to grasp the meaning of the
things OF a wicked world.
"But you are old enough now to
know who you are, who | am and what
the future may be to you
"Why, father, | know who | am.
void and my future shall be devoted
10 my dear father. You know you are
getting too old to pull the boat, father,
and they say it does not look so well
for girls to mingle with the fishermen,
but shall help you at the oars and
nets until have completed my educa-
tion and then 1 will teach school Or
keep books or do something that girls
should be respected for doing and take
care of my dear old father"
There was long pause. The griz-
zled old man sat in one corner of the
cabin gazing into an open fireplace fed
by pieces of dritfwood CT various sizes
and length. These had been gathered
from the beach by the girl upon her
arrival from school.
AS the child busted herself with the
dishes and light housekeeping the old
man sat deeply absorbed. He was
thinking of the past. An inky dark
ness prevailed outside. A stiff wind
hurled sheets of mist upon the roof
which fell from the caves in heavy
drops.
As the wind arose and whistled
around the corners of the cabin the
old man startled as if awakened
from terrible experiences of the past.
1t was small structure nesting in
the tall timbers near The beach, scant-
lily furnished. A few cooking utensils
on the open fireplace were used for pre-
pairing the meals. A large bed and a
small couch furnished the sleeping
quarters in the same room. Though
the place was much crowded. every
thing was kept as neat as pin.
The man was nearing his four score
and ten. The girl was few days
past fifteen. She bore a refined air in
spite of her surroundings Her cloth
ing was of the cheapest kind. yet il
was clean. Her garments were not
made in the latest style. still they were
neat. Her hands and feet were small
though the former showed the mark.
of toll. Her eyes were older thar
those of most girls of fifteen, but they
were no less beautiful. They looked
deep into things with an intelligence,
and innocence that commanded re
spect.
eyes, Sankala, told you I woult
tell you some but not all. The Seadog
do not like us. They do not know
why, but there is an intuition tina
tells them we are dangerous to thei
welfare. Those letters you hav
brought me from the postoffice al
these years are bringing to consum
nation the plans which have go Ion
occupied my time. 1t has been
long and tedious duty but it shall b
performed ere the last spark shall leav
me.
"Sankala, you have been told th
story of the shipwreck by the oil
women time and again. have seldor
spoken of it. 1t is link in the stor
OF your life that is of the greatest in
portance to vou
81 am the only person living tbs
knows you. / am the only perso
living that knows the facts which sha
some day make you free from poverty
Which shall enable you to live the lii
that you deserve-will enable you I
complete your education and to GU
: shine Hazel Seadog and all of the Sc,
dog family.
"They are sailing under fall
plumes, Sankala, they are sailing III
der false plumes. They are wearir
that which of right belongs to others
"Sankala, have always passed
your father. / love you better than
father ever loved his child. The id,
prevails among the fisherman that on
your mother was drowned and that
your aged father, who had taken
young wife at the age of three score al
ten had clutched you in my arms