The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-24
CHAPTER XII.


 ~ HE nodded her head ruefulIy. N That's what 1 wanted to
 say. but it sounds different on your lips. 1t sounds as though you meant it yourself and that you meant 1t because of me. Well, I am going to bed. Let me be your partner and you'll see me rattle the dry bones of the SoIomons. Confess, I've rattled yours already"
 T should say so," he answered. Really. you know. you have. never received such dressing down in my life If any one had ever told mo that I'd be party even to the present situation Yes. confess you have rattled my dry bones pretty consider sbly."
 But that is nothing to the rattling they are going to get" she assured him as be rose and took her hand. Good night And do. do give me a rational decision in the morning"
 'I wish l knew whether you are merely headstrong or whether you really intend to be Solomon planter" Sheldon said in the morning at break fast
 'T wish you were more adaptable" Joan retorted. You have more pre- conceived notions than any man ever met Why in the name of common sense. in the name of-fair play, can't you get 1t into your head that am different from the women you have known and treat me accordingly2 You surely ought to know am different. I sailed my own schooner here-skip- per, if you please. came here to make my living. You know that; I've told you often enough It was dads plan, and Pm carrying it out, just as you are trying to carry out your Hughfe's plan. Dad started to sail and sail until he could find the proper islands for planting. He died, and I called and sailed until arrived here. Well." she shrugged her shoulders, "the schooner is at the bottom of the sea: can't sail any farther: therefore remain here. And a planter shall certainly be. Do you want me for a partner7"
 'But do you realize that would be looked upon as the most foolish jack anapes in the south seas if took a young girl like you in with me here on Berande?' he asked
 "No; decidedly not But there you are again. worrying about what idiots and the generally evil minded will think of you. I should have thought you had learned self reliance on Be- rande, instead of needing to lean upon the moral support of every whisky guzzling. worthless south sea vaga- bond"
 He smiled and said:
 "Yes, that is the worst of it. You are unanswerable. Yours is the logic of youth, and no man can answer that. The facts of life have no place in the logic of youth. Youth must try to live according to its logic. The facts always imash youths log.c. and they usually smash youths heart, too. It's like platonic friendships and-and all such things; they are all right in theory, but they won't work in practice.
 Suppose we do become partners on Berande," he said. 'either I'll fall in love with you or you with me. Pro- pfnquity is dangerous. you know. In fact, it is propinquity that usually gives the facer to the logic of youth"
 'If you think came to the Solo mons to get married" she began wrathfully. Well, there are better men in Hawaii. that's all. Really, you know, the way you harp on that one string would lead an unprejudfced listener to conclude that you are pru- rient minded"-
 She stopped. appalled,. His face had gone red and white with such abrupt ness as to startle her. He was pa- tently very angry. She slipped the last of her coffee, and arose, saying:
 ''I'Il wait until you are in a better temper before taking up the discussion again. That is what's the matter with you. You get angry too easily. Will you come swimming? The tide is just right"
 '1f she were a man, I'd bundle her off the plantation, root and crop, wnaleboat, Tahitian sailors, sover- eigns. and all," he said to himself after she had left the room.
 But that was the trouble. She was not a man. and where would she go, and what would happen to her?
 He got to his feet, lighted a ciga- rette, and her Stetson hat, hanging on the wall over her revolver belt, caught his eye. That was the devil of it.. too. He did not want her to go. After all, she had not grown up yet. Never aUafu wouId ha loSo bfa fornpor with her. She was q child; he must re