Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1904-10-29
CHAPTER V.
Ripgwold and Sankala.

JUST me, except that Hazel SeadO;
was more rude than ever. My father
am kind to Hazel. | do not antago
nize her Intentionally, and yet sh,
seems to 6ispise me. She faunts tn,
fact in my face that her father own
many fishtraps and has cannery ant
that they are rich, while my father il
common fisherman, is old and poo
and lives in cabin, and they live in
big house with glass windows, and hav,
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 VIZ
know. There is often a 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
deTstand!"
"Tell me, father. Why does Hazel
feel THE way toward me-.
81 will not tell you all now, but |
can tell you much. | have long
time contemplated telling you about
yourself, but you are yet young-too
young to grasp the meaning of the
things OF 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.
| am Sankala, you are Father Ring
void and my future shall be devoted
TO my dear father. You know you are
getting too old to pull the boat, father,
and they say it does not look so we'll
for girls to mingle with the fishermen,
but | shall help you at the oars and
nets until | have completed my educa-
ton and then | will teath 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-
Eled 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
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 a few days
past fifteen. She bore a refined air in
spite of her surroundings Her cloth
ing was of the cheapest kind yet it
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 marks
of toll. Her eyes were older than
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 l would
tell you some but not all. The Seadogs
do not like us. They do not know
why, but there is an intuition that
tells them We are dangerous to their
welfare. Those letters you have
brought me from the postoffice all
these years are bringing to a consum-
nation the plans which have so long
occupied my time. 1t has been q
long and tedious duty but it shall be
performed ere the last spark shall leave
me.
"sankala, you have been told the
story of the shipwreck by the ole
women time and again. have seldom
spoken of it. 1t is link in the story
of your life that is of the greatest i'm
portance to you.
81 am the only person living tina
knows you. I am the only person
living that knows the facts which shall
some day make you free from poverty
Which shall enable you to live the lif,
that you deserve-will enable you tC