The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-09-06
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lips closed together resolutely.
He was stepping past her, when
over the seaward edge Of the Cliff
there came a sound like the yell OF a
raging sea monster.
"Siren!" shouted Blake, whirling
about.
The cloud of smoke beyond the cliff
end was now rolling up more to the
left He dashed away towards the
north edge of the cliff as though he
intended to leap off into space. The
girl ran after him as fast as she could
over the loose stones. Before she had
covered half the distance she saw him
halt on the very brink Of the cliff
and begin to wave and shout like
mailman. A few steps farther on she
caught sight of the steamer. 1t was
lying close in, only little way on
the north point of the headland
Even as she saw the vessel, it's siren
responded to Blakes wild gestures
with series of joyous screams. There
could be no mistake. He had been
seen. Already they we're letting go
anchor, and there was a little crowd
of men gathering about one of the
boats. Blake turned and started on a
run for the cliff But Miss Leslie
darted before him, compelling him to
halt.
watt" she cried, her eyes spar.
king with happy tears. tom, it's
come now. You needn't"
Let me by. I'm going to meet
them. I want to"
But she put her hands upon his
shoulders.
TONI" she whispered, "let it be
now. before any one-anything car
possibly come between us. Let i
be part of our life here-here, where
I've learned how brave and true {
real man can be!'
and then have him prove himself
a sneak" he cried. mo; l won't
Jenny. I've got you to think of. Wal
till I've seen your father. Ten tt
one he'll not hear Of it-hell cut yOl
off without a cent. Not but what II
be glad myself; but you're used t.
Injuries, grille, and I'm a poor man
| can't give them to you"
She laid a hand on his mouth ant
smiled up at him in tender mockery
Come now, Mr.. Blake; you're no
very mplimentary After SURVIVING
my cooking all these weeks, don't yo
= think l might do, at a pinch, for
poor mans wife,"
mo, JENNY" he protested, tryin
to draw back You oughtn't to dc
eide now. When you get back anon
your friends things may look differen
Think of your society friends! Wal
till you see me with other men-ger
j, tlemen. I'm just a rough, unculturet
= ordinary"
"Hush!" she cried, and she agai
- placed her hand on his mouth. "Yo
. sha'n't say such cruel things about Tol
20 my Tom-the man | trust-that L
- Her arms slipped about his neck an
~ her eyes shone up into his with tende
- radiance.
- DON'T" he begged, hoarsel
"'Tain't fair II can't stand it,"
THE man love!~ she whispered.
- He crushed her to him in his gre,
- arms.
- MY little girl!-dear little girl
Ae he repeated. and he pressed his lii
- to her hair.
- She Struggled her face closer again
y his shoulder and replied in vel
,0 small voice: II suppose you kno
y that ship captains can m-marry pc
~ pie"
- But l haven't even job yeti.
fo
=, please listen." she pleaded. The
~. ~ was sound like suppressed sobbin
~ What is it," he ventured, and
~ listened, greatly perturbed. T.
~ muff1ed voice sounded very meek al
20 plaintive: 'I'll try to do my pa
uo Mr.. Blake-really l will! IL no
~ We can manage to struggle along
somehow. You know, l have lit
-, -, of my own. It's only three-three N
~, lion; but"
eu What" he demanded, and he he
70 her out at arms length, to stare at b
au in frowning bewilderment. IF
known that. I'd"
~. You'd never have given me
-. chance toto propose to you,
n' dear old silly!" she cried, her ey
49, dancing with tender mirth. IS
here,"
'"i She turned from him. and ba
-. again, and held up a withered, cru
". pied flower. He looked, and saw tt
~ it was the amaryllis blossom.
"You-kept it,"
Because = because, even tn
then down in the bottom of my hea
ns | had begun to realize-to know wi
ias you were like-and Of course Il
N meant Tom, tell me! Do y
80 think I'm utterly shameless? Do y
IVY blame me for being the one TOTO
'S0 Blame you'll" he cried. He paus
to put a finger under her chin a
raise her down-bent face. His e,
"s were very blue, but there was a tv
' 90, kle in their depths. "Oh, yes; it v
dreadful, wasn't it? But | guess |
no complaint to file just now"
THE END.
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