Show THE STORY FAR lark shan lion eon I 1 is la heartbroken when she be learns that her ber beloved belove d horse madoc Is to be sold but can do nothing about it 16 her father rector hector shannon known as tile riding parson had recently come logging jogging lionie home in a pony cart dead n mot north nearest neighbor nde libor to io the shan shannona Sh annons ile OTIS held ft note against rector shannon shann oil and the th sale of the horse the she said laid would clear the note lark now is 18 tells bethel she Is planning to leave england for america to marry david north bethels berthels Be son A lew few days later david arrives arrive from america a and ls d lark goes to see him jaggers berthels bethels no Be t ells husband offers to steil some money from in berthels bethels Be box under the bed to help lark CHAPTER III larks heart was thudding in slow heavy pounding beats david frowned im troubled about taking you on the long voyage over norfolk Is a great town for gossip and I 1 would not want to treat you in any way not right lark oh you I 1 know that david 4 lie he shook his head bead impatiently you know nothing of loose tongues here in this backwater back water it might be just might be the best for you to marry me lark I 1 must think about it 1 I dont want you to marry roe me david I 1 you will have to leave decisions like that to me david said sternly 1 I must judge what is right and best all ali right david dont you want to marry me lark I 1 thought but you act oh ob david no girl wants a man toto to to marry cherif he love tier her very much I 1 bear a thing like that david 1 I have said I 1 was fond of you they could hear boggers joggers coming down the stairs 1 I think it would be natural even seemly lark tor for you to for me to kiss you lark warm quick with love lark lifted her face to david her lips tremulous against his firm straight mouth she opened her arms to him drew herself into his arms clinging to him lovingly her eyes suddenly brimming over there there david said there now lark jaggers tiptoed in looking knowing and pleased bethel forgot her key ring he be said 1 I seen the inside of that box tor for years ashes got a sight of money I 1 found my own old money belt I 1 wore it in america americ its still filled with my bounty money my money theres no question of taking from bethel because it Is my own money lark and I 1 give it to you david left on the day of hs his arrival to see to the cargie riske affairs he was to meet lark on the tempera at the liverpool quay it was hard for lark to believe in his ever having been in this house to know she was set to go even to call up davids face clearly in her mind no word had come from dav david 1 d since the sunday visit and lark packing and re packing her things wondered it if there was any substance any possible reality to this plan for hir her going for her going with david david north to mar ry him in the new country to meet his friends the fine mistress hastings the gentlemen of the cargol riske perhaps jaxk sure whether or not david had actually proposed io her and yet she certainly remembered his saying maybe it would be westfor best for you to marry me she held firmly to that tried not to think lark closed and snapped edthe the little leather trunk that had beep been her he r mothers she said bethel youve been charitable to me andi and I 1 want you to have the things im leaving my furniture and lark thought greally I 1 beauy am going david will be at the ship and bethel after saying she know what use larks oddments would be to her broke into one of her fits of remorse you dont leave this house lark shannon without being married tight and proper to david A marriage knot Is a thing to hold to now to keep david from forgetting all about you in that savage america country hes got dot a head full of business now always has had its a penny here and a pound there and what hes thinking about he gets that fair nervous as a setting hen these days spoke up from you bethel you be thrifty jaggers stood silently by during these farewell threats and tirades of bethels berthels Be but he thought about them he and lark had barely started their drive to liverpool in the hired tra trap p when he said bethel do have some right to what she pointed out lark david was ever full of 0 business lie he was too busy to marry you proper at home because of that runny bunny meade ship he was searching what im thinking Is well 11 david will take care of me oh Jog jaggers gers im so happy so maybe I 1 ought to of let you buy madoc back with the bounty money 11 jaggers swerved the trap to pass a turnip cart on its way to market maybe ought to of stayed safe here till without the farm I 1 have kept hlin him lark said with no stable not even ground under my teed feet I 1 have no jaggers jaegers im set to go with david you were er right a little I 1 think Jog jaggers gers david Is I 1 know he Is fond ot of me for a long time lark just sat there on the deck ol of the tempora the ships bells marked the hours and still david did not come she shivered in the chill night wind and listlessly fastened her coat more snugly about her there was a great lot of running about and shouting of orders big dan the giant with the golden beard who was in charge of the stevedores rolled the final casks down into the hold and sealed them with a vast square of tarpaulin once or twice in passing lark he flung bung out a joke at her but the she turned her bead away and answer him presently dawn began to wash out the lantern and the moon david come not yet but there was still time there was a stir and bustle on the quay below and lark sprang to the deck rail with all her courage and hope hopa renewed A A middle aged man and a stylishly dressed young girl got out of 0 t a coach and came on board they stared at lark curiously as she turned and walked away from them trying to hide the tears of disappoint ment in her eyes the gangway was being drawn up now under the direction of the mote mate lark came to him and laid her hand on his arm impulsively we wait a little longer just a few minutes my friend mr david north has been delayed 4 trying to hide the tears of disappointment he here yet buthe but hes comin coming g im quite sure he aromi promised ed im sorry miss there was genuine U he concern in the mates voice but the old mans said the word weve got to take advantage of the tide you see maybe david bowl now larks straining eyes quickly seized on a figure running down the hill toward them mr Sw alters hesitated and after a moment motioned dig big dan and his 18 companion to hold the gangplank gang plank in readiness to be dropped for or the late boarder but it david lark could see that now this was a slighter figure a ragamuffin boy As tie he panted on to the wharf he shouted and waved a note high above his bis head mr Sw alters gave the word of command for the gang to be lifted and called out to the boy to toss the note to him its for you miss shannon he said catching it expertly and reading the address quickly lark tore it open her fingers shook and her heart was fluttering quick miss Sw alters said im patiently do you lantto want to disembark theres not a second to lose no time tor for your bag the anchors anchor a already weighed but I 1 could r send end you in a jolly boat no lark said in h a small tight voice no he says for me to go ahead he had to make other arrangements range ments lie he sailed last night on another boat hard luck a beastly shame clink Sw alters quite know what to say that was plain enough to lark it his fault the che said banged quickly jackiy ills his business plans changed at the last minute you see he was sent over by his company the cargie elske on an important mission naturally that had to come first fars with him 1 I see clink Sw altera alters said thoughtfully iso so be traveling alone not very pleasant sometimes tor for a lady 1 I dont mind lark said and now mr Sw alters it if tell ell me where ill find my quarters 11 not much in the way of quarters he said apologetically the only second class arrangement we have is a tiny curtained cubby cabin off from tile the main lounge where minnie buttree sleeps with her bound girls I 1 wish wed something better to offer yov you ill bo be comfortable there lark laik said easily id like to wash up before breakfast you look worn out my dear its been a long hard night for you clinks tone was sympathetic as he led lark through a passageway and pointed to a door marked saloon and lounge have to pass through there he ha said your cubicle opens off the big room in response to larks thanks clink said held hed see her at breakfast be fore long III his tone was cordial and distinctly hopeful entering the large saloon larks searching glance took in a strange scene A smoke grimed lamp burned in the dim morning light showing the recumbent figures ot of the dozen sleeping Ble women in the hammocks which lined the walls minnie was squeezed in the central hammock above her a cross stitched motto was tacked to the wall lark paused to read it it but who Is this what thing of sea lei or land female of sex it seems that so bedecki ornate and gay comes this way salling sailing like a stately ship lark chuckled minnies quota tion was so extremely apt her amused eyes caught those of a just awake awakened fied girl who was watching her this girl was more refined looking than the others she motioned for lark to wait for her its as she climbed down out of her ham mock and opening her portmanteau took out a bit of soap and a linen towel and pointed to the adjoining washroom with a nod lark drew bick back the curtain before her cubicle opened up her bag and got out her own toilet articles her nose wrinkled fastidiously in the airless stuffy room most of the bound girls she noticed even have on night robes but were lying in their homespun shifts half covered by the soiled blankets but the girl who had preceded her into the washroom was fresh and clean and her dressing had a breath of country lavender in its newly ironed folds my names clella clelia she whispered pouring water wate into the stoneware bowl from the crockery jug which stood on the shelf pretty name lark said eaid and introduced herself the only thing I 1 know much about is sewing clella confided im going over as an apprentice to a mantua maker in philadelphia 11 lark smiled at her companionably she felt as it if already she had found fod a friend she hummed happily as she unfastened unfasten edthe the little silver scotch brooch from the rumpled frill at her neck and laid it aside on the shelf while she fastened a bit of fresh linen about her throat delta clelia said that quite straight here lehme let me help lark as her deft fingers found the inside button at the back of the collar line lark gave a quick little tug to straighten the frill and the button popped oil of in chellas Cl elias ellas hand this was enough to send the two girls into peals of childish laughter in an instant the curtain burtain was wag flung bachand bac back kand and a kross cross and sleepy minnie stood there scolding them drat you two crowing roosters ro she said crossly waking a body out of a sound sleep were terribly sorry we J just think k Cl ellas voice was genuinely contrite minnie ignored her and stood watching lark thoughtfully youre th tha elass lass she said who wis was asking after david north aint ye well now I 1 know that lad well as the cola corn on my great toe tried to tell you that last night but you listen lark said you know david north my david north wondering if there might be another one one it was not st a too uncommon name well now I 1 know whether you might rightly call him yours or not maybe a certain young lady named mara hastings might have a word or so to say on that ever hear bear your david mention her of 01 course ive heard beard him mention mistress hastings lark said eald with spirit david eald said she he wits was a good friend of his bis and that she shed d welcome me minnie considered this for a moment TVS ive heard their two names linked in norfolk town she said aint often a woman ol 01 0 thirty cottons to a young skit from a mans home town wheres your fine david minnie asked with sly ly humor his plans changed lark said briefly ile he sail with me maybe he come ahead on the Runny mead minnie hazarded 1 I seen him in town night fore last with a huddle 0 heathen gipsies who was sailing calling on that ole tub he was dressed in pagan rags like them an jabbering their own gibberish to em cm I 1 hollered at him friendly like but a hed never passed the time 0 day with me meat at my tollgate toll gate house bouse to see gee him store stare roe me through I 1 make it out jor for a caution what tricks he up to now id give a mint to knowl P she eyed lark with sharpened inget interest and rank frank curiosity TO BE CONTINUED |