Janet of the Dunes

on each landing and take a view of the land and water on his way up. As David got higher and higher, his spirits rose in prop

s the manner of the man to face life wit

not liv

come th

g prospect of his garden, edged around by summer flowers

s song. By the time the third landing was reached care and anxiety wer

ree shots in t

s for the w

tunefulness appealed to his state of feeling on the third la

he muttered, "an' I hope t' gum! the city fol

eams our Fat

lighthous

to u

pant,

ed the Light! He always timed himself to the moment. When the sun dropp

day of the year, was reluctant to give up his power; but David was patient. With hand upon the cloth covering he bided his time. It was a splendid sunset. Beyond the Hills the clouds were orange-red and seemed to part in order t

" Then the sun was gone! On the instant the covering was snatched away,

the keeper as if to a friend, "

the narrow balcony surroundi

ocean and the bay, seemed but weak bar

em dunes when once the Lord has set the limit. That looks like the Comrade off beyond the P'int!" he went on; "I'll take my beef without cabbage, if that ain't Janet a-makin' for the Li

eze. Its white wing was the only one upon the

rs! By gum! I wonder, knowin' what Billy knows, an' havin' the handlin' of a craft lik

ed a carpet-bag, boy-fashion, and came up the winding path toward the lighthouse. David watched

ity; the stars shone timidly as if apologizing for appearing

, are you on

ermission?" growled David. Janet came out of the narro

oom ready and pay Susan Jane two weeks in advance, but I've got business with y

as he went up

matter. Don't lay it up agin Susan Jane, girl, the conniverin' in money

ust waked up to the fact that I ought to be helping along, instead of hanging on Cap'n Billy. Seventeen, a

chairs. The two put their backs to the Light. David took out his pipe, and Janet, bracing her feet against the railing and

e table?" asked David betw

op

e, wa

op

in mind,

ep

ha

he Hills and learn

gu

are. All I shall have to do is to learn

gu

e. But you're all wrong! Cap'n Daddy and I haven't been wasting our time. We've got awfully close to each other while we've lived alone and had only ourselves. I've been thinking a long time of how I could help him best. I didn't want to

ough his smoke; "they know h

ey'll get something out of us for all the money they s

the railing and the sparks fell into the night

I'm going in with the rest. But I want to choose my own path. Davy, did you ever see my mother? Of c

t her, all?" Dav

he talked, and I hated to ask him particular

e skiff hove int' sight, hers set sail. Ye di

l me mor

ted out, he 'ranged that we should keep one eye out toward his cottage,-I happened t' be on that night,-an' if we saw a light in the lean-to winder, I was t' rouse Mrs. Jo G. 'Long 'bou

s about Mrs. Jo G. She didn't mind the storm

the winder. He was coated over with ice, ice hangin' to his beard an' lashes, but Lord, how his eyes was glitterin'! I couldn't say a blessed thin'. Gum! t

inclination to cry, "why didn't he?" David, fearin

She had you-we didn't know it then, fur ye was just a round bundle-in her arms. Mrs. Jo G. always speaks to the p'int

d Janet; "and only to-n

"It was because Billy hated any takin' on that he kept mum. Him an' me an' Mrs. Jo G. we have always acted as if nothin'

Never taking hold like the others! Just following Daddy about, and being a burden

ye ought t' be helpin' yerself an' takin' anxiety off o' Billy: but I do say that it ain't goin' t' ease

. "You mustn't think I care for my looks myself. I'd just as soon be as peaked and bl

" broke

according to how you use them. I'm

't much on looks, Janet, when ye come to that," he said presently. "Ye ain't tidy, nor tasty; ye ain't a likely p

d see how wise I am! Do you know why the city folks have come to Quinton? We never, at least n

t is, we

on, Davy; I know it way down in my heart. You won't catch me fixing up like city folks and looking queer enough to

to Billy to watch over this girl, he sighed agai