Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-07-02

CO. of both are very fond and
very proud Of their singing. In Corr
vail they call it II gift" and gift Is
supposed to run In families. That was
really how the idea that he could sing
got SO firmly implanted In Bob's head.
He took his place In the choir Of the
little Wesleyan chapel, and no one
liked TO hurt his feelings or minded till
IIilda Trevena. who had been away
teaching In London. came home to
look after her widowed father. Quite
naturally she took command Of the
whole tiny fishing village as well as
her father and incidentally became or
ganist of the unpretentious choir.
Now. IIilda Trevena was very fine.
lovable Maid Of twenty-five. and Bob
Penselly was fine youth Of much the
same age. 1t was only to be expected.
therefore. that on summer evenings
they should fall into habit Of stroll
ing along the cliffs. 1t was only to be
expected also that one night Bob
should lind himself tongue tied and
yet madly anxious TO speak and should
finally blurt out:
'IIilda. l love 'ee!'
Two nights later, as they sat silent
for minute or two after n couple of
hours Of lover talk, IIilda. from the
hnSf of ,pntivaS l,luplaroI
Bob" she said, now we are en-
gagged we can speak plainly to each
other. Would you mind not singing in
the choir any more?"
why. what do zee mean?" he ex-
claimed In establishment Not sing I'm
the choir when I've sung there since !
were ten?"
you see. dear. l want to make our
choir special one. don't want any
/ but really good voices I'm IT.
Every one II tell zee as I've always
had rs fine voice as any hereabouts,"
he protested
1T may have been good once. Bob"
she said gently. but It's certainly not
good now"
He took his arm from around her
waist and sat up stitily.
Il certainly never spected to hear
from you. Hllda. that ! can't singw he
said.
Don't be angry" she pleaded.
The end of 1t was a quarrel-a real.
hot Cornish quarrel. in which each
said twice rs much as either meant, In
as nasty way as possible.
Ililda's father was undoubtedly the
leading man Of Polpenny, since he was
the owner Of the fish factory.
The news that his daughters engage
ment TO Bob Pengelly had been sud
denly broken Off came at n time when
he was too much perturbed to give 1t
much attention. A certain fishing
company. owning large steam fleet.
having glut Of pilchards, had tele-
graphed him an offer Of a cargo ut an
extremely low price. He had wired
back his acceptance. and the steamer
was due to arrive from Plymouth
about half past 10. And during break
fast. while Hilda was telling her news
and trying to pretend to him and her
self that she did not care. his thoughts
were mainly occupied with wondering
what the fishermen Of Polpenny would
say and do when the steamer appeared
They were all drift net fishers ut Pol.
penny. and the pilchard catch was
their principal means Of livelihood. A
bad season meant hard winter
pinched cheeks for the mothers, tight
ened belts for the fathers and no boots
for the children. The fish factory was
their only market All their fish were
sold for cash to John Trevena. II he
bought the fish he needed for his cus-
toners elsewhere at lower price,
what was to become Of the Polpenny
fishermen?
AS John Trevena drank his coffee
that morning he regretted that he had
accepted the steam conpany's offer
When the steamer hove In sight n
group Of highly indignant fishermen
were waiting on the quay of the little
harbor TO welcome It.
What's to do. ladsT" asked one
"Will ee stand quiet and see the bread
taken out o our children's mouthsY'
Remember the winter that's com.
ing" said another. and let's pitch his
hsh over the side dreckly he comes
Into harbor,"
Nay: lets prevent him landin' at
all. suggested II third. Lets out WI
the boom. SOS he can't get In"
The entrance to Polpenny barbor
vas passage between two rocky