The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1916-12-28

but there were two other hands"
| answered 1.-TWO small hands. and
don't say that was a phrase, also. of
your father"
She laughed and shook her head, and
held her hands up for inspection.
Il can never get them clean again. ;"
she walled, nor soften the weather
| beat"
Then dirt and weather-beat shall
be your guerdon OF honor | said,
holding them in mine: and. in spite
of my resolutions, would have kissed
the two dear hands had she not swift
ly withdrawn them.
Our comradeship was becoming
tremulous. | had mastered my love
| long and we'll. but now it was master
ing me. Willfully had 1t disc beycd and
won my eyes to speech. and now it
was winning my tongue-ay, and my
lips, for they were mad this moment
to kiss the two small hands which had
toiled SO faithfully and hard. And |.
too, was mad. There was a cry In
my being like bugles calling me to
her. And there was a wind blowing
upon me which | could not resist,
swaying the very body of me till
leaned toward her, all unconscious
that | leaned. And she knew it. She
could not but know it as she swiftly
drew away her hands. and yet could
not forbear one quick, searching look
before she turned away her eyes.
By means of deck-tackles | had ar.
ranged to carry the halyards forward
to the windlass: and now hoisted
the mansail. peak and throat, at the
same time. 1t was clumsy way. but
it did not take long. and soon the fore
sail as well was up and huttering.
I'VE can never get that anchor up
In this narrow place. once it has left
the bottom" ! said. I'VE should be
on the rocks first"
What can you do?" she asked.
slip it," was my answer And
when | do you must do your first
work on the windlass. ! shall have
to run at once to the wheel. and at
the same time you must be hosting
the jb."
This maneuver of getting under
way had studied and worked out a
score of times. and, with the jib.hal-
yard to the windlass, | knew Maud
was capable Of hosting that most
necessary sail A brisk wind was
blowing into the cove. and though
the water was calm. rapid work was
required to get us safely out.
Whap III h<,1
loose the chain roared out through
the hawse-hole and into the sea I
raced aft, putting the wheel up The
Ghost seemed to start into life as
she heeled to the first fill of her sails.
The jib was rising. AS II filed the
Ghosts bow swung of and ! had to
put the wheel down a few spokes and
steady her.
| had devised an automatic jib.
sheet, which passed the lib across OF
| Itself, so there was no need for Maud
to attend to that: but she was still
hosting the jb when | put the
wheel hard down. II was a moment
Of anxiety. for the Ghost was rush,
ing directly upon the beach. a stones
! Univ" tisAhill but Silt swung DDt'
| diently on her heel into the wind
| There was a great huttcring and flap.
| ping OF canvas and rccf.ponts. most
welcome to my ears. then she filed
: away on the other tack.
Maud had finished her task and
come aft. where she stood beside
me, small cap pcrchcd on her wind.
! hinurp In
| cNortion. her eyes wide and brigh,
! with the excitement. her nostrls
| Huiycring to the rush and bite OF the
! fresh salt air Her brown eyes were
| like startled deer's There was
| wild. keen look in them | had never
seen before. and her lips parted and
her breath suspended ms the Ghost,
charging upon the wall of rock nj the
/ entrance to the inner cove. swept into
the wind and FLIED away into safe wa.
ter.
My first mates berth on the scaling
grounds stood mo In good stead. and
! cleared the inner cove and laid n
long tack along the shore of tho
outer cove. once again about and
tho Ghost headed out to open sea She
had now caught the bosom breathing
OF the ocean. and was herself a breath
! with the rhythm OF Il ms abe smooth
~ mounted and slipped down each
, broad backed wave. The day had
been dun and overcast. but tho sun
now burst through tho clouds wei
come omen, aud shonc upon the curry
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