The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-05-07

fairly quivered. All that day she had
stood over an ironing board-sLe,
whose father had owned his own yes
sci before ne went down with his ship
off the coast OF Greenlaiid her deft
hands bringing to state of laundered
perfection the costly lawns and laces
of a girl no better born than herself.
who could go sailing in Angus Rowe's
boat at any hour Of the day she chose.
No wonder life looked all distorted to
her tired eyes.
And if we're ever to be married.
Capt. Angus broke in.
1T doesn't matter much" the girls
voice was choking, lin losing in
terest in the whole thing anyhow"
Angus Rowe stood up slowly and
the dying sun seemed to hold out sym
pathetic arms toward another death
that of mans happiness. His face
was very white, although his voice
when he spoke sounded fiat, even cold,
to Bills ears.
You don't need to say that sec
ond time, Wiihemina," he said, and
her full name was as a death knel, tC
the girl The way out was always
open to you. l don't blame you that
you've taken it.
Was he relieved by the breaking Of
their engagement? 1t almost seemed
so to the girls distorted senses. She
had never had ring. With trembling
fingers she unfcstened the one pledge
between them-his only gift to her
the little silver chatelaine watch, and
laid it on the bench beside him. Pit
cously loud its protesting tick pound
ed on the hard wood as Angus turned
upon his heel, while with blinded eyes
Bill stumbled to the little cottage
above.
Kitty Armstrong was walking be-
side a broad uniformed shoulder two
hours later, watching the searchlight
from the Kearsarge play on harbor and
shore
Kitty, dear" Lieut.. Ross Dunster
bent over her, trying to corral the
wandering attention.
90 See there"
She sprang quickly forward. The
white streak OF light which her eyes
were following rested for a moment
on something-something almost hui
mana tiny silver watch ticking away
on a rough bench.
"Why, it's a watch! And it's going.
Some child"
Kitty reeled back against ann uni
formed shoulder, her speech brc'>en in
two by the force with which i was
plucked from her hand. tall figure
which had been crouching near the
bench lowered above her. Then she
had a vision of it huddled on the
rough wooden seat, while the search
light rested on a head Of c0ppergold,
and Bill held the tiny timepiece to
cheek and breast as though it were
indeed living thing.
There were tears in Kitty's eyes as
she turned away, and the lieutenant
drew her hand, unresisting. through
his arm. Once she looked back, for
the thought Of that covering figure
hurt her woman's heart, but it was
standing now and another loomed be-
side it.
lin not-losing interest-in it,
Bill was sobbing with Capt. Angus
arms, "'twOuld mean death if | did. "
His lips did reach the glistening
nair this time
Never mind, grille" he patted her
quivering shoulder. And say, Bill,
there's lots of business ahead of me.
I heard tonight, that the warships
aren't going out till the end of the
week, and for the next three days
visitors will be allowed on board
That means that l must be hard at it
from morning till night putting folks
of to the ship. But with good luck
ought to clear the price of the naph-
tina engine. Think of that, sweet
heart"
Half way up the cliff they paused
hand in hand. A rich baritone voice
was rolling joyfully out on the night
air.
The sailors wife the sailors star
shall be,
Yeave no! mlads- -
It was Lieut.. Ross Dunster stridine,
down to the gig which waited to carry