Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1906-05-10
When Captain Jack
Came Home
BY ETA W. PIERCE.
ss0c6. GOO :I:,.I.(. 800.
Copyright. by Joseph b. Bowles)


ing book She was all pink and white,
like Mayflowers under the pine needles
In spring. Her brown hair curled thick
about her shoulders, and her eyesswere
/ lark like the sea in 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 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 one was sold. My sister, Luz
cinda, had the first choice. She took
a black and white straw, and loaded il
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 present from Greenland"
About noon the door of our store
opened again, and new customer fiu.-
tered in. 1t was Elizabeth. painting
hard, and grasping silver piece in her
hand. Father was at dinner, so he sent
me behind the counter to serve. Eliza
beth and were Of the same age-16-
but her shining head stood an inch or
two higher than mine.
Joey" she said, breathlessly, u
want to buy one of the new bonnets. "
They're all gone" answered.
Mother sold the last before the clock
struck 70"
Her face fell.
"Oh, Joey, are you sure? Haven't you
one left?"
made pretense OF rummaging
through the window, though knew no
bonnet was there.
Mother can't afford me many new
things" she explained in trembling
voice, but this time she said should,
for once, be like the other girls. My
old hat is very shabby-not At for Sun
day wear any longer. Oh, I suppose
you haven't overlooked one bonnet in
some corner, Joey?"
She was awfully disappointed.
Never mind, she tried TO say, "thanl;
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 sneaked out to her.
Say, Cindy. what price did father
put on them Cape Cod bonnets?"
"a dollar each" said Cindy.
1--WE got two silver dollars, and some
tame rabbits, and an old gun-Ill give
the whole business for that coal scuttle
of yours. Cindy."
The dish cloth dropped from her hand.
1.-THE boy is clean crazy" said she.
"Oh, come now" ! urged, you'll
never get another offer like 1.-TWO dol
lars in money, and the rabbits, and the
gun"
Cindy skipped to q cupboard and, be-
fore / was aware, whipped out her new
headgear. and pumped il squarely on
my shock head, tying the ribbons tight
under my chin. was brawny, freckled
lad, and there was cause, no doubt, for
her shrieks of laughter as she danced
around me-
"Oh. Joey, you are a show" she cried
Would you like TO go to church in il
Sunday morning? You must have my
petticoat, too, and my new mantle. and
my turkey tail fan! Father, father"
raising her voice 10 a terrible pitch.
come quick, and see our joey"
This was too much. The kitchen door
stood open--with leap gained the
garden. My first thought was TO strike
a Decline for the Miller house and give
my prize openly TO Elizabeth; but Cindy
was NiOot VII my AS Il uOuStI
through the currant bushes and bean
poles, and trampled mothers sage bed.
| found that pesky girl gaining on me.
| tugged AZ 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 we'll that father had partly Gov
cred. The curb was gone. and the mouth
mostly concealed in brushwood. In my
haste forgot the thing. and blundered
straight into it. The water was like
ice. and gave yell as went down.
striking knees and elbows on the mossy
stones. Cindy flew for rope and 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, Cindy, | wouldn't give
more than the gun for IT,"
Cindy scurried back to the house 70
dry the scoop. and was forced TO aban-
don all 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