The Argosy — page 239: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

222 A Story of the Sea-shore. ‘I do wish it,” said Moncton, putting down his pipe to face Serena. ‘‘ You are the greatest coquette in Transea, and you'll be safer married than unmarried. And who is there in all the place that you’d like to mate with, save him ?” “Why, of course there’s no one, father. I should like to see any of the others dare to think of it,” added Serena, craning up her pretty neck. ‘You'd send ’em to the right-about. Just so. It comes back to what I say—there’s only Reece.” “Only Reece eve. But—I may go out into the world sometime - _ —who knows, father ?” ‘‘ Never !” emphatically pronounced Moncton. ‘* The world has not used me well enough to induce me to seek it again; and you may be sure I shall not let you go into it. It is full of naught but deceit, and fraud, and falsity. For your own sake, child, you must keep away from the world.” Serena sighed. A wish came over her to go out into this world that was so unknown to her: not but that she feared it too, for her father’s opinions and counsels held with her their due weight. ‘‘ Give ear to the wooing of Tom Reece, Serena. You can’t do better. He is honest, and kindly, and gentle, and would make any wife happy. Stay in Transea; trouble and excitement and sorrow won’t touch you here. If you must go a-roving later, ask your husband to carry you with him on some long voyage or another: he makes them, you know, in that big merchant-ship of his.” “Father, I do believe that you are tired of me !—that you want me gone from you!” exclaimed the girl. ‘““Not so,” he quietly replied. ‘‘I should like to know that you are safe in a husband’s hands ; one able and willing to take charge — of you. I could smoke my pipe at home here without care then, Serena, and be at peace.” Serena said no more. She went out to see the sick woman she had spoken of, Widow Janes, walking along with an unusually slow and thoughtful step. It was evident that her father wished her to marry Tom Reece; intended her to marry him; but something in Serena’s heart cried out against it. Eleven years ago a stranger had made his unexpected appearance at Transea; a pretty little girl of seven years old being with him, and also a staid and rather elderly woman, that the simple fisher-people set down as his aunt or mother. He settled himself in one of the prettiest cottages in the place, and he bought a small fishing-vessel, and made himself into a fisherman. That he was not a brother of the craft, his mistakes and his ignorance proved; and the hearty fishermen, after laughing good-naturedly a bit, showed him how to manage his vessel and what to do. He evinced his gratitude by making them a few useful but not costly presents: but he told them _ nothing about himself. Who he was, or what his station i in life had com ebooks com