tion to be
avoided.

"Most men _are_ fools," she said, calmly. "A young fellow I met the
other evening--the night you couldn't come out--went on like a madman
just because I wouldn't promise to meet him again."

"Pity I didn't see 'im," said Mr. Walters, grimly.

"Oh!" said Rosa, losing her head. "Why?"

"I'd ha' give 'im something to make a fuss about," said the boatswain,
"that's all."

"It's not his fault," said Rosa, softly. "He couldn't help himself.
He told me so. Quite the gentleman--quite. You ought to see the way
he raises his hat. And his head is covered all over with little short
curls."

"Like a nigger," said Mr. Walters, with disappointing calmness.

He removed his eye from the window and, taking out his pipe, began to
fill it from a small metal box. Rosa, compressing her lips, watched him
with a sardonic smile.

"Got anything to do this evening?" she inquired.

"No," said the other.

"Well, I have," said Rosa, with a bright smile, "so I'll say
good-evening."

Mr. Walters rose and, replacing a box of matches in his pocket, stood
watching her with his mouth open.

"Don't hurry," she said, at last.

The boatswain sat down again.

"I mean when you get outside," explained the girl.

Mr. Walters gazed at her in slow perplexity, and then, breathing
heavily, walked out of the kitchen like a man in a dream. His suspicions
were aroused, and with an idea that a little blood-letting would
give him relief, he wasted the entire evening lying in wait for a
good-looking, gentlemanly young man with curly hair.

Miss Jelks waited for his appearance the following evening in vain.
Several evenings passed, but no boatswain, and it became apparent at
last that he had realized the perils of his position. Anger at his
defection was mingled with admiration for his strength of mind every
time she looked in the glass.

She forged her weapons slowly. A new hat was ready, but a skirt and coat
still languished at the dressmaker's. She waited until they came
home, and then, dressing her hair in a style which owed something to
a fashion-paper and something to her lack of skill, sallied out to put
matters on a more satisfactory footing.

It was early evening, and the street fairly full, but for some time
she wandered about aimlessly. Twice she smiled at young men of her
acquaintance, and they smiled back and went on their way. The third she
met with a smile so inviting that against his better sense he stopped,
an