Blow the Man Down - A Romance of the Coast - Page 122/334

"Never heard of any college perfessers being raised on that island."

"I am going to take a vacation from the millinery-shop, now that I am

down here. I'll show those women how to sew and cook, and I'll teach

those children how to read. It's only right--my duty! I couldn't go home

and be happy without doing it!"

"Calling that a vacation is putting a polite name to it, Polly."

"If you could have seen their eyes, father, when I promised to help

them, you wouldn't wonder why I am staying."

"I don't wonder, Polly, my girl! If you had gone away and--and left

us--Mayo and me--I should have been mighty disappointed in ye! But I

really never thought much about your going--'cause you wouldn't go, I

knew, till you had helped all you could." He put his arm around her.

"I have been worrying about having brought you away. But I guess God had

it all figgered out for us. I didn't know my own girl the way I ought to

have knowed her. I'd been away too much. But now we're sort of growing

up--together--sort of that, ain't we, Polly dear?"

She put her arms about his neck and answered him with a kiss.