Evening star., 1931-12-20

n that he loved you, and he
\N/ wouldn't ask you to marry
The captain surveyed
his niece quizzically. Whit do you intend to
do, young lady?"
Anne paused on the snowy step and eyed
him with mock severity who said I had
anything to do with it?" she demanded.
The captains old eyes twinked. Maybe
I'd better come in and hear all about it,
The girl flashed a smile at him as she
opened the door. IF ycun promise not to
stay after f."
Who's coming at AZ"
The color famed into Annes cheeks and
the captain FASTENED to add: "Of course, I'll
promise"
Anne, with her coat off, showed a slender
ness that enhanced by her trim little
afternoon frock. She wore her hair in
FURNISHED coil over each small ear, which made
Of her face a delicate oval. She sank down
on a stool at the feet of her sailor uncle, who
had seated himself in an armchair before the
cracking warmth of log fire in the wide, old
fireplace
"oh, wise uncle" the girl began. Il am going
to tell you about the man"
Have I ever seen him?"
"No. met him in Naples last October and
well, you know what trip home ship
board means, with moonlight nights and
Shadowy decks?"
$50 it was affair of moonlight"
After pause: mo, it was an affair of the
only man in the world for me-"
MY dear girl"
nut of long silence she continued: He
thought was poor. You know how
quietly I travelled with Miss Craig. And he
didn't associate me with Anne Hartnel of
Boston and Rock Harbor. And So"
She drew long breath. When we landed
he found out who was and he wrote me a
y,nfn oufn hn
friendshp-and that's-all"
She finished drearily, and the bluff old
captain cleared his throat There was some
thing wrong with the scheme of things when
Anne couldn't have the moon if she wanted it!
what can do-what can any woman do?"
Anne demanded, turning on him. II can't say
to him please marry me-" And he'd die before
he'd say another werd
$50 I suppose that We'll grow old and I'll
grow thinner and thinner while he'll get fatter
and fatter. I'll be old maid, and he'll marry
some woman who's poor enough to satisfy his
pride, and-well, that will be the end OF It,
Uncle Dave"
"The end of it?" said the old seaman who
had once commanded Transatlantic liner
well, I guess not Anne, if you want him,
and he's worthy of ycu-"
Anne laid her head against his knee THE
question is not Of his worthiness, but of mine"
she said, family.
The captain gazed down at the dropping
head in blank amazement. Could this be Anne
confident, little imperious, the daughter Of
. confident, and imperious race?
He took refuge in the question, But who
Is coming at 4?'
HE is coming. He is passing through on
his way to visit his mother, who lives in
Maine. I asked him to come.
"I told him was down here by the sea, and
intended to spend Christmas at Rock Harbor
because you were here and because this was
the house lived in when was little girl.
I wanted him to it, and-I told him the
truth, Uncle David"
"The truth?"
THAT missed him. didn't dare say any
more, and I wish you had read his note of
assent Such stiff little thing. 1t threw me
back upon myself and wished that hadn't
written him-I wished that he wouldn't come.
"Oh, Uncle David, if I were man I'd give
woman the right to choose. That's the rea-
son there are SO many unhappy marriages.
Nine wrong men ask woman, and the right
one won't And finally she gets tired of wait
ing for the tenth right one and marries one OF
the nine wrong ones"
There are women today" remarked the
captain. "wno preach womans right to
propose"
Anne gazed at him thoughtfully. ITS easy
to tell another woman to do that but it's diff
ferent when you are the woman" she replied
THE captain stood up and paced the rug as
he used to pace his bridge There is some
way to make him see" he declared at last,
and halted abruptly. II think I'd better speak
to him and"
"And spoil it all oh, Uncle Davidr' Anne
grasped his coat lapels. "A man never knows
how woman feels about such things
And now will you please 60; and take this,
because love you," and she kissed him on one
cheek; "and this, because it's almost 4 and
you'll have to hurry" and she kissed him ON