The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-05-11
When G. ptain Jack
Game Home
BY Eta W. PIERCE
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80 HSoh' oAC WdE All PINK ana WulUt,
Ike Mayfowers under the pine needles
In spring. Her brown hair curled thick
ABOUT her shoulders, and her eyes we're
dark like the sea III a storm. | wasn't
ten years old when | fell in love with
Elizabeth. My head is white now, but
love her memory still.
Besides keeping the village store, my
father made fish lines and sold them
at different places along Cape Cod,
where, naturally, they were in demand.
One day a lot of new scoop bonnets
were spread out for sale in our store
window, and that same day Capt. Jack
Rolfe came home from sea.
Perhaps you don't see the connection
betwixt the bonnets and the captain.
But my father saw it, when all the mar
~riageable girls in town came hurrying
to our store for the latest fashion in
scoops.
1t was of a Friday, | remember, and
the rush for the bonnets continued till
the last n was sold. My sister, Lu-
cinda, had the first choice. She took
a black and white straw, and loaded 1t
with flowers and ribbons till it looked
like nothing earthly
when he was last In Manomet," said
she, Jack Rolfe used to see me home
regularly from singing school; and
when he went away he promised to bring
me a present from Greenland
About noon the door of our store
opened again, and a new customer fut-
tered in, 1t was Elizabeth, painting
hard, and grasping a silver piece in her
hand. Father was at dinner, so he sent
me behind the counter to serve. Eliza
beth and l were of the same age-16-
but her shining head stood an inch or
two higher than mine.
Joey" she said, breathlessly, 81
want to buy one of the new bonnets."
They're all gone | answered.
Mother sold the last before the clock
struck 12."
Her face fell.
ooh, Joey, are you sure? Haven't you
one left?"
| made a pretense of rummaging
through the window, though | knew no
bonnet was there.
Mother can't afford me many new
things" she explained in a trembling
voice, "but this time she said | should,
for once, be like the other girls. My
old hat is very shabby not fit for Sun
day wear any longer. oh, | suppose
you haven't overlooked one bonnet In
some corner, Joey?"
She was awfully disappointed.
Never mind" she tried to say, thank
you, Joey" But she choked up sud-
denly, and hurried out of the store. |
looked through the window, and, as she
went down the street, | saw that she
was crying. | waited till heard Cindy
rafting the dinner things In the kitchen,
and then l sneaked out I'd her.
Say, Cindy, what price did father
put on them Cape Cod bonnets?"
"A dollar each" said Cindy.
give got two silver dollars, and some
tame rabbits, and an old gun-iIl give
the whole business for that coal scuttle
of yours, Cindy."
The dish cloth dropped from her hand.
E'The boy is clean crazy said she.
"Oh, come nowl" I urged, you'll
never get another offer like 1.-TWO dol
lars in money, and the rabbits, and the
gun"
Cindy skipped to a cupboard and, be-
fore | was aware, whipped out her new
headgear, and pumped it squarely on
my shock head, tying the ribbons tight
under my chin. was a brawny, freckled
lad, and there was cause no doubt, for
her shrieks of laughter as she danced
around me.
ooh, Joey, you are a showl" she cried.
would you like to go to church in 1t
Sunday morning? You must have my
pe~tticoat, too, and my new mantle, and
my turkey tail fan! Father, father!"
raising her voice to a terrible pitch,
come quick, and see III Joey!"
This was too much. The kitchen door
stood open-with a leap l gained tho
garden, My first thought was to strike
a Decline for the Miller house and give
my prize openly to Elizabeth; but Cindy
was close on my heels. AS | lodged
through the currant bushes and bean
poles, and trampled mothers sage bed,
I found that pesky girl gaining on me.
| tugged at her Internal bonnet, but the
ribbons were in a knot and | couldn't
loose them.
At the foot of the garden was an old,
disused well that father had partly COW
cred. The curb was gone, and the mouth
mostly concealed In ~brushwood. In my
haste l forgot the thing, and Numbered
straight into 1t. The water was like
ice, and | gave a yell as l went down,
striking knees and elbows on the messy
stones. Cindy flew for a rope and a pole
and fished me out of the well, and when
she had taken off the scoop and rolled
me on the grass she cuffed me hand
somely.
Hang your bonnet" said I. IN its
present state, C1ndy, | would MT give
more than the gun for It,"
Cindy scurried back to the house 70
dry the scoop, and | was forced to aban-
- Il further attempt to console Eliza
Beth.
Sunday came. The Manomet meeting
house was a sight to behold. All the
girls wore the Cape Cod bonnets--all
but Elizabeth. She appeared in her old
hat, with eyes cast down, as though
ashamed of her own shabbiness. But
her face was like a white rose, and her
brown curls tumbled. thick and fine,
about her neck and shoulders. As she
slipped into the Miller pew. which was
next fathers, Cindy, in a lot Of new
finery, Uttered contemporary behind
a hymn book.
Service began, A tall young fellow
entered the church and walked down
fho picla glapcinp around for q vacant