Janet of the Dunes

. The low, red Life Saving Station, with two small cottages huddling close to it in friendly fashion, as if consci

illy was industriously mending a huge fish net spread out upon the sands. Janet was planning a mode

he face near him could he hope for success in argument. And Cap'n Billy, with all the strength

cacy of exquisite bronze. Some attempt had been made earlier in the day to confine the splendid hair with strong strands of seaweed, but the breeze of the later morning had treated the matter contemptuously, and the shining waves were beautifully disordered. Out of all keeping with this brown ruggedness we

or storms and danger, knew the sig

ce bewitchingly friendly; but when Janet

ly mean it, Cap

Billy, and he pulled t

to stay-except when she runs back?" This last

nd ye mustn't come o

beach to ourselves! Mrs. Jo G. and her kind gone

e fur ye t' coax. Ye're go

Cap'n, and e

ractin'; an' I ain't been an' done my duty by ye,

ngerously soft; "I'm the very properest gir

et. "Well," he admitted, "ye're proper enough 'long some

th a glint of darkness in the laughing serenity of her gaze; "the

corners of Billy

ittle rascal ye war! The waves of tantrums rolled over ye, one by one, yer yells growin' less an' less; an' bime by ye called

ood. Just think how I've gone across the bay, to the Corners, to school. My! h

yer ice boat in the pursuit of knowledge-gettin' was simple miraculous! No, I ain't a-frettin' over yer larnin'-gettin'; it's the us'n' of the same a

views, and the-the artistic desolation! That's what those dirty, spotty looking things on the Hills call it. Cap'n, you just ought to see them going about in checked kitchen aprons, with daubs all over them-sunbon

ance, an' it ain't decint fur ye, with all yer good pin

rid of me! oh, Daddy!" Janet plunged her head in

ied Billy. "But Mrs. Jo G., 'fore

What did she suggest-that I might come to her house and wait-wait, just think of it, Cap'n, wait

nued; "they are bent upon beggaring the city folks! Beggaring them, real

ld yer til

Think of the patrols, Cap'n Daddy! I'll take them all with you. Sunset, midnight, and morni

determination

an openin' t' get a chance t' better yerself-not in the marryin' way, but turnin' a penny-why it will al

avy tattling, but other folks are not so particular. Daddy, dear, I just cannot!" And with this the girl sprang into the ne

rascal!" c

Janet, "you think you've got me! Oh!

illy. "My Janet 'f

nt to be near them. I scent da

xiety mingled with it. He no more understood her than he understood the elements that made havoc along the coast and necessitated his brave calling. He waged war with the

n he had failed, he gloried in the failure, and grew more distracted. Braving opposition in the girl and the dangers of Nature, Billy had forced the child across the

now and again, had been driven upon the bar outside the dunes, and at such times the b

ved the Light with a fatherly interest. It was his life's trust, and David was a poet, an inarticulate poet, who spoke only throu

nton was doomed to be famous! But it was only the beginning now. Every house in the village had opened its doors to the strangers; and every pocket yawned for possible dollars. Tents were pitched in artistic arrangement on the Hills, but the hotel was not yet. Managers waited to see if the fever would last. W

rs. Jo G. "She can turn in an' help wait on table, or she kin take in washin'. It won't hurt her a mite. Washin' will have t' be done, an' the

anet's babyhood and early childhood he had assumed all household duties himself. Later he and Janet h

ong as you once was, Cap'n, an' come the time when you pass in your last check, who's goin' t' do for Janet? An' how's she goin' t' know how t' do fur herself? You ain't actin' fair by the girl. It's clear Providence, the way

is epoch-making speech, before Billy was startin

ce Janet is here, she'll be mighty spry 'bout gettin' in t' somethin'. I don't want her t' take t' washin' or servin'

"an' Janet's a rare fish

ye on her, David-

Billy's brow. David took

ness! I will

net, coiled in the meshes,

dreadful old sharks-they are sharks, Cap'n-you wouldn't let them hurt your poor little fish

this? Ye ain't jes' my child-

er

es

impressed. "I know, Cap'n; when you are in a difficulty you always bring-'her'-in,-what she would like

e 'bout larnin', an' how it could steer yer craft better than anythin' else; an' she 'lowed if ye was gal or lad, after ye got la

d idly draped th

ome. But, Cap'n Daddy, I reckon she would have gone off with me. Like as not

led us both. But a summer on the mainland ain't a-goin' t' swamp us, Janet. With the C

d across th

Daddy, just what? And I ou

e Station, will be real interestin', Janet. An' ye must tell me everythin'. There ain't no reason why ye shouldn't sail over every little while, but I do hope ye'll make yerself

had slept. From the middle room, which was the living room, a ladder, set against th

position, so man and girl sat down upon the floor, a

never seen these

he mocking laugh was

ut anythin', Janet-not even yer mother.

a rebuke, and J

curious feelin' '

l my life. I s'pose that's why I haven't asked. I never k

nnerve

but, Janet, I'm goin' to tell ye somewhat of yer mother." He t

"And little under-thin's, an' a hat, an' sacque; shoes-just look at them, Janet! Little feet they covered, but such willin' little feet, always a-trottin' 'bout till the very las

handed it to the quiet girl opposite. "This is her, an' as like as life! The same little hat on, what she set such store by! I ain'

ly, she was more than pretty! I think I sho

e, Ja

I lik

likeness." An uneasiness struggled in Billy's inner conscious

a mist in her eyes; "I have been careless just because I've been happ

girl, an' that's what I've been s

if you have taught me to say

a help long o' me. Them was her words. An' Lordy! child, I'm willin' t' work an' share with ye-but savin' is pretty hard when there ain't nothin' much t' save from, an' if this summer-boa

d more of her-maybe it would have been different. Maybe not,"-with a soft sigh,-"I reckon every one has to be ready for seeing. I don't just know how to-how to get my share from those-those boarders. But I'll find a way! I mean to be helpful, Cap'n. I can't bring myself

n' don't show it round. Somehow she see