Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1906-05-10


seat.
Now every place was filled but the
Miller pew, and seeing this, the late
conner coolly stepped inside 1t. and seat
ed himself by Elizabeth.
The girls began to stare and whisper,
and turn their behowered and berib-
boned heads. Cindy nudged mother,
and dropped our Bibles with disgrace
full noise. But Capt. Rolfe seemed I'M
aware OF the sensation he was creating.
He listened soberly to the minister III
the high pulpit, found all the hymns
for Elizabeth, and joined his deep bass
to her clear treble when the congrega-
ton sang. AS soon as the bcnediction
was pronounced, | leaned over to speak
TO the Millers. but Rolfe was ahead oil
me-he already had Elizabeth by the
hand.
DO YOU remember the morning !
went away?" heard him ask.
Eyes" answered Elizabeth. and she
colored beautifully. II stood at the
gate and waved you good-by as you
walked down the street.
You did" said he; land you wished
me good luck-you, little thing, Win
your curly head hardly above the picke's
of the fence! And good luck followed
me throughout the voyage. Eiizaoe'h'
| think owe 1t all to you"
Cindy was bursting with wrath ana
envy. ,
"Did YOU ever see the beat OF THAR?
said she, as we pursued our home
ward way together. And Elizabeth
Miller was the only girl in church whc
didn't wear a new bonnet"
"And who didn't need one" I an
swered, gloomily. The rest or you
can't hold a tallow dip to Elizabeth.
That night Cindy returned from
prayer meeting, and told us that Roife
had been sitting again in the Miller
pew, and that he had gone nome
through the moonlight with Elizabeth
NV heart burned like a hot coal. For
hours / tossed sleeplessly, thinking OF
that whaleman. The next morning he
walked into our store, and laid white
bearskin on the counter before Cindy.
Il promised you a present from
Greenland. you remember" said he
"and here it is"
/ | bore my torment for awhile, then
took the old gun that | had offered
Cindy as part payment for her bonnet.
and started for the beach, where the
sea-faring folk were usually TO be
found.
AS / went plunging through inc
wood, stumbled against man VIC
was cutting letters on the trunk of q
tree and singing softly to himself as
he worked.
Hello, joey" he called, gay as a
lark. Looking for squirrels?"
At once | felt like fool. | tried ia
slip the old gun into the bushes.
"Of course" answered, glibly;
have you seen any hereabouts?"
NO" said the captain. He finished
the last letter with flourish, shut
his jackknife and put it in his pocket
sided up to the tree, and 10! he had
hacked Elizabeth's initials in the green
bark.
Come down to the beach, Joey" said
Capt. Jack, land have sail with me
There's no wind stirring, but III whis.
lie for a capful."
4. And whistle he did, as we strobe
down the path-the sweetest, clearest
notes | ever heard. And presently
something rufiled the water, the little
waves began to leap; a cool murnur
came up, as it seemed, from the heart
of tffe sea; the captain made the boat
ready and We jumped in.
AS he trimmed the sail he fell to
telling me about his voyages in the
South Pacific and the awful white
North of doubling the black preci-
pieces of Cape Horn, with floating ice.
beTgs threatening the ship on every
side | forgot Lizbeth and the old
gun, and when | trudged home my
head was full of whaling stations, and
blubber, and big fish, and sharp, elm.
built boats, and ! acknowledged liz
my heart that Jack Rolfe was the fin.
est fellow in the world.
But presently the spell which he had
thrown upon me passed away, and my
jealousy revived. Though | no longer
wished to harm the captain, saw that
must steal march upon him. AT
nightfall | went to Elizabeth's house
and found her leaning on the gate
She wore muslin gown that looked
like white cloud, and some blush
roses were dying in her bosom
Was it here you stood" asked
sulkily. when you wished Capt Rolfe
good luck. as he started on his voy.
age?"
Yes, Joey" she answered, in o.
dreamy voice; Just here
Elizabeth" ! said, Il want you tc
promise TO marry me when grow up.
She opened wide her beautiful eyes
THAT is long time ahead, joey"
"only five years." | urged ''You
and ! are of the same age You ought
TO be willing TO wait for me five years
for l love you tremendously, Eliza.
BETH"
Somebody came up to us on the
other side OF the gate and, leaning
over, put an arm around my compan.
ion.