Show pi f 69 r I 1 A ft I 1 mcmeekin KIr 4 NU SERVICE cc 1 l M N V f 1 l 1 i THE STORY THUS FAR lark shannon Is heartbroken when she learns that her beloved horse madoc Is to be sold but c can a do nothing about it ft her lather father ree hector t 0 rn shannon known as the riding par parson s on had recently come jogging home la in a pony cart dead beth bethel I 1 nor north th nearest neighbor to the shannona Sh annons held a note against rector shannon and the sale of 0 the horse she said would clear the note lark now 18 tells bethel she Is planning to leave england E n 1 elabd for or america to marry david north N 0 r tb Be ethers son A few days later david arrives from america and lark goes to see him jag lers gets bethels berthels Be husband offers to steal some money from bethers Be box under the bed to help lark r CHAPTER III larks heart was thudding in slow heavy pounding beats david frowned III im m 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 ohl oh you I 1 know that david he shook his hii head impatiently you know nothing of loose tongues here in this back backwater 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 me david 1 I 11 you will have to leave decisions like that to me david said sternly 1 I must judge what is right and best dall all right david dont you want to marry me lark I 1 thought but you act ohl oh david no girl wants a man to to marry her if he love her very much I 1 bear a thing like that david 1 I have said I 1 was fond of you they could hear jaggers coming down the stairs 1 I think it would be natural even seemly lark 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 he her r key ring he said 1 I seen the inside of that box for years ashes got a sight of money I 1 found my own old money belt I 1 wore it in america its still filled with my bounty money my money 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 his arrival to see to the cargie riske affairs he was to m meet beet lark on the tempora tempera at the liv 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 lark closed and snapped the little leather trunk that had been he her mothers she said bethel youve been charitable to me and I 1 want you to have the things thing im leaving my furniture and lark thought I 1 really Y 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 a head full of business now I 1 always has had its a penny here and a pound there and what hes thinking about jaggers stood silently by during these farewell threats ind and tirades of bethels berthels Be but he thought about them he and lark had barely started their drive to liverpool in the hired trap when he said bethel do have some right to what she pointed out lark david was ever full of bus business iness he was too busy to marry you proper at home because of that runny runnel meade ship snip ne he was searching ne was what im thinking is well david will take car care of me ohl oh jaggers im so happy so for a long time lark just sat there on the deck 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 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 renewed A middle aged man and a stylishly dressed young girl got out of a I 1 coach and came on board they stared at lark curiously as she turned and walked away from them trying to hide the tears of disappointment in her eyes the gangway was being drawn up now under khedir they direction action of the mate lark came to him and laid her hadd on his arm impulsively we wait a little longer just a few minutes my friend mr david north has been delayed he here yet but hes coming im quite sure he promised im sorry miss there was genuine concern in the mates voice voice but the old mans said the word weve got to take advantage of the tide you see maybe that s david bowl larks straining eyes quickly seized down the hill on a figure running toward them but it david lark could see that now this was a slighter figure a ragamuffin boy As he I 1 t try trying ing i to hide the tears ot of disappointment panted on to the wharf he shouted an and d waved a note high above his 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 re reading ad the address quickly lark tore it open her f fingers ingers shook and her heart was fl uttering fluttering quick miss Sw alters said impatiently do you want to disembark theres not a second to lose no time for your bag the anchors already weighed but I 1 could send you ashore in a jolly boat no lark said in a small tight voice no he says for me to go ahead he had to make other arrangements range ments he sailed last night on another boat that s hard luck a beastly shame clink Sw alters did t quite know what to say that was plain enough to lark it his fault she said quickly his business plans changed at the last minute you see he was sent over by his c company om the cargie riske on an important mission naturally that had to come first with him 1 I see clink Sw alters said thoughtfully so be traveling alone not very pleasant sometimes for a lady 1 I dont mind lark said and now ow mr Sw alters if te tell 11 me where ill find my quarters not much I 1 in the way of quarters he said apologetically the me only giuy second class arrangement me giuy arrangement we have is a tiny curtained cubby cabin off from the main women I 1 S lounge where minnie buttree sleeps leeps s with her bound girls I 1 wish wed something better to offer iffe r you 11 I 1 ill be comfortable there lark said easily id like to wash bash up before breakfast you look worn out my dear its been a long hard night nig lit for you clinks tone was sympathetic he be as led lark through a passageway and pointed to a door marked saloon and lounge YOU 11 ll have to pass through there th ere he said your cubicle opens off the big roo room M 11 in response to larks thanks clink NU SERVICE cc 1 l M said hed see her at breakfast before long his tone was cordial and distinctly hopeful entering the large saloon larks aars b 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 women in the hammocks which lined the walls mm min file niebas was squeezed in the central ham mock above her a cross stitched motto was tacked to the wall lark paused to read it but who is this what thing of sea or land female of sex it seems that so bedecki bedeck ld ornate and gay comes this way sailing like a stately ship lark chuckled minnies quotation was so extremely apt her amused eyes caught those of a just awakened girl who was watching her this girl was more refined looking than the others she motioned for lark to wait for her as she climbed down out of her hammock 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 back the curtain before her cubicle opened up her bag and got out her own toilet artitles 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 c clean ean and her dressing had a breath of country lavender caught in its newly ironed folds my names clelia she whispered pouring water into the stoneware bowl from the crockery jug which stood on the shelf what a pretty name lark said and introduced herself the only thing I 1 know much about is sewing clelia confided im going over as an apprentice to a mantua maker in philadelphia 11 lark smiled at her companionably she felt as if already she had found a friend she hummed happily as she unfastened 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 clella clelia said that quite straight here 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 off in Cl elias hand this was enough to send the two girls into peals of childish laughter in an instant the curtain was flung back and a cross and sleepy minnie stood there scolding them drat you two crowing roosters she said crossly waking a body out of a sound sleep s were terribly sorry we just think clelian Cl elias voice was genuinely contrite minnie ignored her and stood watching lark thoughtfully youre the lass she said who was ask asking n g after david north aint ye well now I 1 know that 1 lad ad well as the corn on my great toe tried to teu tell you that last night but you listen lark said you know david north my david north wondering if there might be another one it was not 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 your david mention her of course ive heard him mention mistress hastings lark said with spirit david said she was a good friend of his and that shed welcome me minnie considered this for a moment ive heard their two names linked in norfolk town she said aint often a woman oman ol 01 0 thirty cottons t to a skit young from a mans home town wheres your fine david now minnie asked with sly humor his plans changed lark said briefly he sail with me maybe he come ahead on the Runny mead 11 minnie hazarded 1 I 1 seen him in town night fore last with a huddle oh 0 heathen eathen gipsies who was sailing on an that ole tub he was dressed in in pagan rags like them an jabbering their own gibberish to em I 1 hollered at him friendly like but you d a hed never passed th the I 1 time 0 day with me at my tollgate toll gate house to see him stare me through I 1 make it out for a caution what tricks he to now id give a mint to knowl know up she eyed lark with sharpened interest and frank curi curiosity Y TO BE CON CONTINUED ainu ED |