The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-05-29

49,
Ned Singleton put his hands on the
sides of his skiff, and, leisurely raising
himself into a lifting posture. looked
around. While he had been lying at
the bottom of the boa absorbed in
thought and landed by the gentle
| swell. the tide had carried him at least
n couple of miles below the Dip
ping his SOULS into the water, Ned be-
gan TO pull slowly back to his starting
point. AS he neared the town AGAIN
most of the passing boats We're gay
with brightly colored sunslades. under
which reclined girls dressed In cool
looking cream and white. A few OF the
fair visions We're rowing, but the ma
tority seemed quite content to occupy
the stern of the craft. where they could
display their latest CONNECTIONS for the
admiration of their escorts and criticiSe
at their ease the toilettes of the other
ladies.
ON the right. the sea, sparkling under
the sunbeams. stretched away. a sheet
of molten silver. till it reached the hoi-
ton. while a thin hue of smoke, hardly
visible TO the eye of q landSman. be
trayed the presence of some outward
bound steamer On the left, beach and
parade were gay with bright dresses:
while the stirring strains of the Sol
dier's Chorus played by the military
band. soanded pleasantly across the
water.
Ned's serious face was rather a con-
trast to all the gaHety around him.
For some time he had been trying TO
decide upon making n proposal of mar
riage. Though ne preferred to think
that there was little doubt of his suit
being favorably received, the lady of
his choice being of humble birth. where
as his father was a high dignitary of
the established church, there We're sew
eral circumstances in connection With
the affair which caused him anxiety.
Their first meeting occurred during
the summer Picturing it to himself
for the hundredth time, he again mar
veled at its strangeness. Early one
morning, as he was strolling through
some of the narrow streets Of the older
part of the town he had lighted upon
the fish market. 1t was a queer little
place, consisting of four or five stone
slabs upon which the fish We're exposed
for sale. Noticing some fine soles. he
had gone closer to look at them, when
q young girl came out of a sort of little
cupboard behind the stone Her
face was not exactly beautiful; she had
no classic regularity of feature; but her
keen. intellectual eyes, her dignified
carriage and the refined tones in
which she asked him what he wanted.
Immediately struck Ned as being Curl
ously out of place in such a situation.
Upon hearing what he required. she
called out Dad" but receiving no reply
said: He'll come and serve YOU in a
minute" and was r%etreating into the
by some medieval "Reminiscences out of
an old French book he had been read
ing. DOTTED his cap, and, bowling low,
exclaimed: The fish were worth four
times the price. fair maid. If 'twere
served by thy w fair hands"
Ch- -1r@ ~ h;r,, ~, ,or{f n Tod
a moment, then, catching his humor.
replied in the same strain: I'm sooth.
good sir. thou valuest my hands right
royalty. TO auadruple the price of the
fish We're we'll worth a washing. yet
will l charge you but another moiety
for your compliment" Taking up those
he selected, she spoke a few words to
a weather-beaten old fisherman who
came up Just then. and smilingly hand.
ed the fish to Ned.
Undaunted by his expensive expert
encc. he found himself strolling in the
same direction ON the following morn
ing. and, indeed, for many mornings
afterwards. She was not always there,
but the old salt who took her place
seemed henevolently disposed toward
Ned. and quite willing to ak abou.
the virtues Of his daughter. When he
got to know her a little better. Ned
found his first impression had been cor
rect. She was far better educated thar
IL wv III NiIoliSsll. tIlo Stcllltu Il ltuN III
every respect. CHANGING from the rough
coarse featured old man, whose speech
and manners We're those of his class
to the refined, neatly dressed girl beside
him. it seemed incredible that he could
be the father of such 81 aughte
Whether Influenced by Ned's lavish
presents of tobacco. or his extensive OF.
ders for fish, which the young fellow
had a good deal of trouble to dispose
of. the old man began to grow increas.
ingiy friendly toward him. and afforded
him eNer.!' opportunity of making him.
self agreeable to the young LADY,
privilege Of which Ned was not slow te
take advantage.
During the rest of his holiday he saw
her almost every lay. Soon she seemed
to expect him. and they went about a
good deal together. The more he hac
OF her company the more he admired
her; and. by the time his holiday wa.
over. he was as much In love as q
man could be.
All through the winter Ned took grea,
care to keep in touch with his new
friends. sending the old mar tobacco
and the girl little knick-knacks: Will.
he got them more orders for fish tina,
they We're able to fulfill. He had asket
Ella for her address. but the most hi
could obtain from her had been a prom
Use to keep him next summer. Sum
mer had come again; she had kept he,
promise. and. in his eyes, she seemed
more beautiful and desirable than ever
He had made up his mind that tomor
row he would ask her to become hi.
|, wife. Hitherto she n fenced witt
him. and in some way or other pre-
vented him from coming to the poin
!. whenever he preached the subject; bu,
this time he was determined not TO h,
put off.
I'm sure she loves me-" he said t,
himself. and the thought sent the bloot
coursing through every vein. while tn,
vigorous strokes of his sculls drove tn,
little skif through the water like a tor
pedoboat.
Ned had carried out his resolution
The two were sitting on a grassy banl
shaded by stately elms. At intervals
the fresh morning, breeze, laden witt
the perfume OF clover and hay, made
gentle rustling overhead.
And you are sure-quite sure. Ned