WATCHING THE WHITE BLOUSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 69

WATCHING THE WHITE BLOUSE.

By The Pixetrees. "What is this. Alice? ' said Mr Dailton, "another new frock?" "I say, Piet.'" he continued, "this is what you will get for your haid-won money by and bye. A new top one week, new bottom the next." "Father!"' said Alice, "you haven't any eyes, ' really. Why, I've had this foi months. You don't know a blouse fiom a bonnet. And now. father, we are goaig for a walk. Will you come and see the Texel? You haven't been aboaid yet, you know, and Piet bails on Sundiy." But Mr Dailton was not disposed to be dragged from his chair so suddenly, nor was Alice inclined to coax very much So it was agreed that if he should go dow n in a couple of hotus" time he would find them on the quay. "And be sure and remember the blouse, father ; I'll be bound you won't know me. Take a good look. Piet snys it is just a cloud of white canvas abo\e fi e<.hly-biackcd topsides." With which playful admonition Alice left the room. Her father settled himself comfoit ibh in his great aimchair. He knew there Wn l--no huny ; the j oungster^ would be happ\ enough for an hour or ,< o w ithout him Piet was mastei of the Texel Light, which was leaving in a lew dajs, honiew.-id bound &o Rotterdam. Upon his next tup out there w_a§ to be a wedding ia DaUtoa's

[ house. 'JLhe evening woie on rapidly as Mr I and -Mr- Dailton talked o\ ci (he anange- | menta Mr Uailton had lather lela^tanllv consented to the v. eddmg. Some jealousy | ot foieigneib foimed part of his const ltu- { tion. The great iibboom of the r le>el Li_ht. reaching acio^s the v.lnif, at me time itemed to him like long nosed Impel- ■ tmence peeling in at the door. But h'S i w lfe h.ad softened his objections ; she was ' n skipper's daughter, m whom could lodge | no lubberly hatreds. And personal contact j with Pieter Olfant was resistless for friendliness. It was growing dark when Mr Dailton took his ftick from the hall to set off to the waterside. After a few minutes" walk he i cached the quay, and strolled dov. n between the piles of goods stacked in tieis at the sides. Looking down the jetty where ■ the Texel lay. Mr D. saw a white bodice over a black frock. "Ha! let me sit down, smoke a pipe, ard watch how the turtle cloves behave. Let me see if there is anything new in tli2 wooing of a pretty girl." So saying he sat down on a handy case, filled his pipe, and i smoked by long .'draws. In the -warm per-s-iiisiveness <?t the evening he felt very pleaded that his objections had been quickly i overcome. As he looked aloft at the Texel' s spars, declaring defiance to God and man, storm and billow, he felt proud of Piet, .and quite envied him his life and ship. The evening was dellgh'tiul, the pipe n^i extraordinarily sweet, his pulse throbbed to the memory of love-making -days'. He thought of long age — how long? it seemed ;,n eternity ; of when he sat with Alice in the window bay, w hispering out a plan to best approach hei father, and get his ct nsent to his girl's attachment. j Just at that moment an arm rose about '

the white, it Ml nnr-ertntc-ly ; then io--a;',un and lested affectionately upon tho \iliuc shoulders. "Ah, Piet!" Mr Dailton vi d aim \ ":h it i- exactly a-> I used to '-it w ith h~i mot her. She held up l.cr head for a kiss. — ;u£t ~c>. Yes, yes ' I must i^o and kn-ick their Le ids together This knobby *-Lck. -Mr Olfant, will give you the lovei's hump, and my hot pipe bowl on Alices chei.k ' D. niton stepped b' l'-kly acios^ tlu pier with aims extended, b^.. mstcr.d ofv gentle closing m he brought Ins stick down w ith all hih aim's strength. "You utter deception — who could have gue'-std it? That I should mistake a vhiteheaded post for my gnl, and the stunning h.iwsei of t lie confounded Te\el foi Pet's turn Cor. "' An explosion of laughter checker! him. The watchir had been watched, and from his wnids his blander understood. Alice and Piet, clinging to one anothei for support, laughed until her iather joined in as uncontrollably. Then said Ah:,.*, 'lather. I told you to take a good look at me "' Piet's great palm effectually gagged her banter as he. still panting irom laughing, paid. "Mhv I kiss her, Mi Dailton!'"' "Kiss her — ye.«. fifty- times. I see you know her better thin I do. Alice, mn home and spread some biead and cheete : 1 wish to talk with Pieter "

A Fijian chief, Ratu Epcli. Roko Tni Tailed, t 3 icd, at his home at Bau, Fiji, icccv.itly. UaUi Epeli was the Ron of the late Ki£g Cakobru, and consequently wv.s tho c hipf o 1 highe-t rank in Fiji. Fo: n feu ueek= his health was £i\ing way owing to gangrene in his leg, and ho refused to allow amputation saving he preferred to go before bis Make) a perfect man.