Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-10-04

just see what you meant"
But sitting down was the fartherest
from Bonie's thought just then.
'Ill not sit down." he cried. IAN ]
want of you is to know what you mean
by hangtn' around Peggy Ann like this
Now open your mouth and tell me true"
John Layton was an honest man, and
he knew something about men. He was
not blind to the love this simple fisher
youth had for his sister. He had learned
about it from the folks along the coast
| Peggy herself had told it to him. He had
read it in the look on the face Of Bonie
himself whenever his sister was near.
And he realized what a love this was
He could not be untrue to his knowledge
But somehow It did come a little hard
to tell just what was in his heart to
| Bonie, DO you suppose John had really
ever told himself the exact truth about
his feeling for Peggy Ann? / do not
know All his life lay along lines so diff
ferent from that which the footsteps OF
Peggy Ann had been following. 1t would
cost him something to let the world back
yonder know what had come over him
He was not yet ready to do it. Why
should he open his heart to this man who
was so short in mind?
While he was thinking this over and
studying up some plan by which he
might throw Bonie off the track, the
fisher youth was glaring into his eyes
and misunderstanding his hesitancy more
and more. The grip on Johns shoulder
grew tighter. He felt himself being
forced back toward the sea which Tapped
the sands just at his feet
81 have been looking for YOU these last
two days to tell you just this one thing!
Peggy AIMS mine You can't have her!
You will get her II you stay here! You've
got to get out! Will you do it?"
John Layton was not baby in strength.
He stood six-foot- in his stocking feet.
I mn x2.uc 4
he was not afraid of many men. Now that
1t had come to a place where he need
ed to use his strength he had little doubt
that he could get out of the hands of
this man OF the sea But when he tried
to throw off the clutch which was maxi
ing deep ridges into his flesh he found
that he was as helpless as a child. The
more he struggled. the tighter became
the grip. Back and forth he was press
ed
will ye promise to go?" Will ye?"
He never would say the word, Never.
Out of the mist which had hung about
his soul there had come one thing which
stood higher than all else He did love
Peggy Ann, and he did not care II all the
world knew It,
Then came a flutter Of white from
somewhere. 1t pushed on till it was
between Bonie and the man he hated so
without cause.
"Bonie Bonie! Stop
Peggy's hand was stronger than
the hand Of John Layton. The grip of
the giant gave up its hold. Why?
Because he saw in the eyes of his sis
ter something that let light into his
heart. 1t was the something woman
waits long to tell in words. 1t is the
story she cannot hide from her face
when love shines into the soul.
He knew he had lost Peggy Ann.
Tossing the one who had robbed him
4
| his boat and pushed out to sea.
There came up a storm that afternoon.
Bones boat was among the ones far
thest out. He did not look up to see
that the wind was coming. If he knew
about it he did not care. What did it
matter? He had lost Peggy Ann,
John Layton watching from the shore
saw Bonie when at last he did arouse
TO the fact that he was out in the worst
tempest of his life He saw the little
craft when the wind took it and whirled
! it about like an egg she'll Before Bonie
had gained possession of himself suf-
| fciently to lay hold upon the edge of
the boat as it trembled under the shock
of wind ana wave, John had hurried
down TO the water and found a light
shell.
Springing in, he showed off and pulled
with all his might for the spot where
Bone was battling in the water. He
.
to be aware that If he could keep the
nose of his boat straight into the eye of
the storm he could reach Bonie; but
would he be in time? He could see
that he was having a hard fight and
he bent to his work with every nerve
taut.
Bonie was we'll nigh spent when nelp
came. Something must have struck him
on the head, for the blood was running
down his face and he felt as weak as
| a cat.
He was not so far gone, though, that
| he did not recognize the man who had
come to his assistance. He wondered
about it. He felt himself lifted over the
side of Johns boat, and for a moment
resented it. He almost wished he might
have gone to the bottom, rather than be
saved in that way.
But he had to lie there in the bottom
OF the boat and think 1t over in a vague
way until John had pulled back through
the storm. Then he tried to draw him
self up. 1t was hard work, though and
he did not resent 1t when he felt himself
being carried across the sand into "a
vacant cabin. Then John wiped the
blood away and loosened things about
his neck. What struck Bonie was that
| his touch was as tender as a woman's.
Peggy Ann could not do a better job
than that.
BY and by Bonle felt impressed to
speak.
You'd better go now. I don't see
why-in a minute more, I would have
| been out OF the way?
| "Bonie, you have never been in the
way! Get things right in your mind
| lad"
This was a queer way of putting IT,
why did you pull me out, I'd like
to know?"
John brushed away a little river Of
red that was trickling down Bonie's
cheek. He felt that he must be honest
now. 1t was man to man, even II one
OF them were a trife short
Because I love you, Bonnie"
Love me! Don't tell such lie as
that! There's nothing about me that
anybody should love!"
"Oh yes there is, Bonie! Peggy Ann
is about you a good deal of the time"
Bonnie studied over that for a long time
And it's because of Peggy Ann.
then"
That's it, Bonie-just it,!
More study.
"An' you're goin' to take her away
from me, then?"