The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-12-21

perhaps 1 have been hasty," she
admitted "You see, am 1ntolerant Of
restraint II you only knew how have
been compelled to fight for my free
dom. 1t is a sore point with me, this
being told what am to do or not to
do by you self constituted lords of
creation. viabun! You stop along
kitchen. No bring IN Noa Noah. And
now, Mr.. Sheldon, what am l to do!
You don't want me here, and there
doesn't seem to be any place for me to
CO."
THAT is unfair. Your being wrecked
here has been a godsend to me. was
very lonely and very sick. ! really am
not certain whether or not l should
have pulled through had you not hap
pened along. But that Is not the point.
Personally. purely selfishly personally,
I should be sorry to see you 60. But I
am not considering myself. l am con-
sidering you. lit is hardly the proper
thing. you know. II l were married.
If there were some woman Of your own
race here-but as it is"-
She threw up her hands In mock de-
spair.
81 cannot follow you," she said TN
one breath you tell me must go. and
in the next breath you tell me there Is
no place to go and that you viii not
permit me to go. What Is q poor girl
to doY'
THAT'S the trouble" he said help
lessly.
And the situation annoys you"
"Only for your sake"
Then let me save your feelings by
telling you that it does not annoy me
| at all-except for the row you are
making about 1t. never allow what
| can't be changed to annoy me.
| can't go elsewhere. by your own
count. You certainly can't go else
where and leave me here alone with a
| whole plantation and 200 woolly can
nibals on my hands. Therefore, you
stay, and I stay. It is very simple.
Also, it is adventure. And further
more, you needn't worry for yourself.
am not matrimonially inclined. l
came to the Solomons for a planta-
ton. not q husband"
/ Sheldon flushed, but remained silent.
II know what you are thinking"
/ she laughed gayly. THAT II I were a
man. you'd wiring ny neck for me.
And deserve it, too. I'm so sorry.
I ought not to keep on hurting your
feelings"
I'm afraid I rather invite it." he
said. relieved by the signs Of the
tempest subsiding.
II have IT," she announced. Lend
me a gang Of your boys for today.
I'll build a grass house for myself
over in the far corner of the COM
pound-on piles, Of course. can
move in tonight. I'll be comfortable
and safe. The Tahitians can keep an
Il anchor watch just as aboard ship.
And then I'll study cocoanut planting.
In return, I'll run the kitchen end of
/ your household and give you some
decent food to eat. And finally,
won't listen to any OF your protests.
On the other hand, II you don't agree,
will go across the river, beyond your
jurisdiction, and build a village fol
myself and my sailors, whom l shall
send In the whaleboat to Guvutu fol
provisions. And now / want you tC
teach me billiards."
Joan took hold OF the household witt
no uncertain grip, revolutionizine
things till Sheldon hardly recognized
the place. For the first time the bun
/ galow was clean and orderly. NJ
longer the house boys loafed and die
as little as they could; while the cool
complained that head belong hin
walk about too much" from the siren
nous course in cookery which she pu
him through. Nor did Sheldon escape
being roundly lectured for his lazi
ness in eating nothing but timed pro
visions. She called him q muddlel
and a SLOUGH, and other invidiou:
names, for his slackness and his dis
regard Of healthful food.
She sent her whaleboat down thu
coast twenty miles for lines and or
anges, and wanted to know scathingly
why said fruits had not long since
been planted at Berande, while be wa!
beneath contempt because there wa!
no kitchen garden. Mummy apples
which he had regarded as weeds
under her guidance appeared as appe
tizing breakfast fruit, and. at dinner
were metamorphosed into pudding!
that elected his unqualified admira
ton. She or her sailors dynamitet
fish daily. while the Balesuna native.
were paid tobacco for bringing il
oysters from the mangrove swamps.
Among other things. she burned thu
pestlential hospital. Quarreled will
Sheldon over the deed and in ange
set her own men to work building {
new and what she called a decent hos
pital. She robbed the windows of theil
lawn and muslin curtains. replacing
them with gaudy calico from the trad.
store and made herself several gowns
When she wrote out list of good:
and clothing for herself, to be sen
down to Sydney by the first steamer
Sheldon wondered how long she hat
made up her mind to stay.
She was certainly unlike any woman
he had ever known or dreamed Of 81
far as he was concerned. she was no
a woman at all She neither languishet
| nor hfandishod M forr1n{po t,,ro,