The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-06


sea. but no sou'wcsters for me. cap
tain. You ask me some time when II
isn't rough and ri 90 with you glad
ly"
"You wouidn't--you wouldn't Oh
easy therer' Captain Ebenezcr thrust
hand inside the collar " bis flannel
shirt and jerked Il fretfully with
sudden evaporation be jumped 10 bis
feet and extended one hand plendlngly.
"You wouldn't marry me. Miss phoe'
be. would your be shouted desperate
W.
Miss phocbe's tinkllng laugh died
nway as pink flush rose to her dell
cate cheeks Il might II you asked
me. captain she said demureIy.
II thought mebbe you wouldn't want
to leave this pretty house Of yours
Phoebe said the captain tenderly al
later be occupied a place on the sofa
beside his fiancee.
II figured" began Miss Phoebe
dreamily. and then she stopped. with q
sudden shocked expression In her mild
eyeg-T mean" she went on hastily
II should think we could move this
house right down the bluff and fasten
It on to your cabin. you know"
"surest way, my hearty sang Cap
tain Ebenezer bllthely. "And now
you better be going along. captain
interrupted Miss Phoebe briskly. u
SEQ the widdcr going down the road
and you don't want to keep her wait
ing"
Captain Ebenezer stared. aghast. He
had forgotten the Widow Banks and
the proposed trip to Bar island.
I'm an engaged man now, Phoebe. :
he said, mopping his forehead and
looking at her out Of troubled eyes.
"oh. go along, Ebenezer. dol" she
said, with playful lmpatience. II ain'l
mite jealous. You wasn't engaged
when you asked her to go. Bring me
a mess Of blues. and You can come %
ten and eat EN-"
Captain Ebenezer's blIssful smile
faded from his face as be proceeded
down the road to the beach. where he
could see the red knitted Jacket Of
Myra Banks moving toward the land.
ing where the Saucy Liz dragged at
her anchor What the Widow Banks
might expect from him as result Of
this marked attention he could not.
dared not. imagine. II he had only
gone to Miss Phoebe's first! He tried
to recall II be Ind ever uttered re-
mark TO the keen witted widow which
might have committed him In any way
to an avowal Of love. There was none
that he could remember He had been
wary indeed
Here | be a-waitin' for you." began
Myra Banks playfully as she deposited
a heavy basket on the landing. II ex-
pect we'll have to eat up all the vic
tuals SOS can put the plums In the
basket Where's Phoebe?"
phoebe. she - Miss Phoebe aln't
a-comin'. She thinks It's too rough
for her." exclaimed Captain Ebenezer,
reddening under the keen gaze OF the
widow. 'Now. Mrs. Banks, Jest step
into the dory. your foot right In the
middle-thafs lt--easy nowAumph--
so! With surprising agility the big
captain took his place In the rocking
boat and with few quick. long
strokes brought them to the side Of the
Saucy Liz
II is needless to record this voyage
over the careenlng seas, for neither
one Of the occupants of the sloop cared
to remember the unpleasantness Of
that day. To the widow II was one
long, nauseous period Of terror. To
Captain Ebenezer II was dark and
gloomy passage. The successful out
come Of his woolng was counterbal.
anced by the fear OF what the widow
might expect from his marked atten-
tions In the past. He trailed his lines
and pulled in myriads Of shining.
steely bluetish ere they grounded on
the pebbly beach Of the quiet cove.
The widow tottered ashore on Cap
tain Ebenezer's arm, and they sat
down, and while Myra Banks languld-
ly discussed the contents of the lunch
basket, which the captain attacked
with right good will. the widow
seemed to be revolving some weighty
matter within her mind, matter that
might excuse her want of appetite aft
er the braclng voyage.
"rll help you get your plums. Mrs.
Banks said the captain, looking kind
ly upon the pallld face and disheyeled
hair Of his guest.
Myra Banks turned gloomy eve
upon her host and then looked back
over the tossing sea Of green water and
shuddered.
Il guess 1t was little too rough"
ventured Captain Ebenezer uneasily.
The continued silence of the Widow
Banks was dlsconcerting and some
what alarming,
Suddenly the pent up wrath of Myra
Banks found vent, and she shook quiv-
ering fingers In the air before the as
tonlshed visage of the captain.
y Rough, indeed! And what do you
mean by a-askln' frail wimmen off on
voyage like this, a-temptin' them