The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-07-31
of things.

of things.
you're in mighty good luck, Sue to
get a man like Dud" Dave told her
at dinner that night. you're not as
young as you might be, and there isn't
a girl on the Point who wouldn't be
proud to wear that ring on your
hand"
Susan turned the ring about
thoughtfully, looking at her other
brother 1t had always seemed as if
Clayton understood her better than
Dave, yet he, too. smiled over at her
and suffered gently.
It was raining after supper that
night, raining with light breeze blow
Ing in off the water, and all the gar
den lifting its burden Of sweetness
to the moisture. She slipped a long
cloak about her and went out softly,
down the back steps into the little
path that took the edge of the hill
above the shore. The tall spider lilies
caught at her thin dress as she pass
ed, and she stepped on wild roses
growing low along the path, and the
pink bouncing betsles.
And, oddly enough, she knew that
she was deceiying herself. 1t was not
the beauty Of the night calling her;
1t was the hope Of seeing the lights
on Neil McCloud's schooner, down in
the little crooked channel that formed
the harbor of Kittery Bend. Neil was
Il newcomer. lie had even trespassed
on that hill path up to the Rogers
place, not knowing that only the fam
lily ever took the short cut. And there
he had first found Susan, watching
alone from the little old pilot house
that served as a summer house, and
had come from her fathers first ship,
the Three Widows.
After that, every time he came to
the Bend he took the hill path, and
Susan watched for him, knowing in
her heart he was on forbidden ground
if the boys were to see him there.
Through Jimmie, the grocery boy, she
heard Of how he stood in the village.
"lle amt steady going, Miss Rogers,
they say. Sorter wild. Spends all
his money soon as he gets 1t. Says
he wouldn't live on land for anything.
He's been everywhere in that schoon-
er of his Says he'd just as soon 90
round the world in her as not. Amt
afraid OF nothing. Gee, like to hear
him talk"
So perhaps Susan had woven a ro-
nance about him because of his wan
derlng tendencies. Nobody ever long
ed to travel away from the Bend and
the vistas of Piney Point as much rs
herself.
She saw the schooner's lights as
soon as she came near the edge Of
the hill. and even while she held her
breath, one hand close to her throat,
she heard his voice singing as he came
up the path:
"Oh Billy was a bo'sun, bold and brave,
William was gay, young sailor"
How tall and straight he was beside
Dudley's rotund figure, how the rain
Clung In little diamonds of light to his
curly hair as he raised his cap to her.
Susan lifted her chin higher, trying to
Keep back the telltale culver In her
voice when he greeted her.
I'm hearing news about YOU Miss
Rogers" he said, with new ring in
his tone. after four months at sea
It's good to have news, and | wish you
all happiness"
News travels fast, 1t seems" she
tried to speak lightly. "Faster than
the Rambler"
I've been around the cape and
back" he told her CURLY. And l
saved enough to come up here and
speak freely to you. You knew I'd
be back, Sue"
She shrank back from the authority
In his tone. Nobody had called her
Sue IN years.
oh, | know I've no home to take
you to like bud Ames," he said. Il
was going TO ask you to marry me, and
we'd take the long trail of the sea
winds and 20 where we wanted 70.
Ana ! thought you were whiting for
me aud you knew in your heart why
IA come bnck. Don't you suppose 1
know whit they say of met But do
! carer The schooner's mine and no
man can say word against me- If
y wasn't for the ring on your hand III
take yon down now with me and we'd
be salllr anyone could stop