GWEN," said Captain Wilson, as he was leaving the cottage the next morning, "don't wait dinner for me; I'm going to Milston Harbor on business, but come and meet me in the rye fields about four. I have something to tell you."
“Something to tell me, father? Is it a secret? Must I guard it as carefully as the bundles you keep under the kitchen floor?" she whispered.
“Hush! Hush! not so loud! “he answered, putting his hand over her mouth. " No, it's not exactly a secret, pretty one; but be sure and come, because to-morrow, if the wind keeps favorable, Deane and I are going fishing and I shall be away for a few days, and I shall be too busy to talk to you this evening."
“You’ll see me near the old gate, father."
Her father gazed fondly into her bright eyes and stroked her yellow hair. A heavy sigh escaped him as he turned away. The bare idea of giving her up to Deane made his heart ache.
“Would you like to come and see where the gulls build?" Gwen asked Alice when her father was out of sight.
“I should like to lie on the beach and watch the sea, it is almost too hot to walk," said Mice.
"That's because you wear shoes and stockings and a hat," laughed her friend; "still, if you'd rather rest, perhaps you would tell me about God as you promised."
So Alice fetched her Bible and read the story of the Baby King born in a manger. The fisher girl's eyes grew big with astonishment as she listened, and when Alice got to where Herod sought His life she could scarcely contain her anger. But when the end came—the agony on the cross—and Alice explained in a subdued voice that it was for her that He suffered the humiliation and pain, she sobbed out, with the hot tears running down her cheeks, “What an awful death to die! Is there nothing we can give Him or do for Him in return? Did He die for us all?"
“Mother said for all,' " answered Alice; " only they must ask God to forgive them and wash them in Christ's precious blood. Oh, how I wish mother were here! She could explain it all so beautifully.
"Tell me about Christ all over again, "said Gwen. Alice complied willingly, and answered to the best of her ability the numerous questions.
When at last they went in to their dinner, already an hour past the usual time, Gwen scarcely `'touched anything, and could talk of nothing else but the Baby King born in a manger.
“Oh, how wonderful it all is!" she cried for the twentieth time. “Do tell me just once more! Begin from the very beginning!"
Alice smiled and, opening her Bible, read chapter after chapter.
“I can't get over it," Gwen said at length. “I never heard anything like it before. No one ever told me I was a sinner. They always say I'm an angel. I do love Jesus for dying for us. It does seem wonderful that He is able to wash all our sins away and save us."
"Yes," said Alice softly to herself. “‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.' Do you believe on Him, dear? "
“Yes, indeed! now I've heard about Him. Doesn't everyone? Father and Deane 'll be so pleased to hear about it; I'm sure they don't know or they'd have told me."
“I’m not so certain," said Alice sorrowfully. "But isn't it time you started to meet uncle, dear?"
“Yes!" cried Gwen, springing up, "it's past four, I forgot all about it."
She ran up the path on to the cliffs above, and through the cornfields as fast as she could. Her father was standing by the gate watching for her. “Father! I've such wonderful things to tell you, about Christ who was born in a manger, and died to save sinners," she cried, panting.
A terrible frown gathered on her father's face. "I'll soon stop your cousin from such talking," he said. “Did she tell you that your father, who loves you better than all the world, was as wicked as he could well be?"
“Of course not!" cried the girl, as she threw her arms round his neck. “How could she, when you're always so kind and good? But even if you were ever so bad, you could still ask Christ to forgive you and wash you in His precious blood, because Alice said He came to save sinners. Did you ever bear anything half so wonderful before, father? "
Her father vouchsafed her no answer, but struck angrily at the unoffending rye that was in reach of his foot. At last he said, “I suppose you don't care to hear what I've got to tell you now?”
“Yes, I do."
So her father began in a hesitating and uncertain voice to tell her what was in his mind. He sighed as he watched her bright face and innocent eyes fixed expectantly on him.
“It’s some four years ago now," he said. “Picture to yourself a terrible stormy night, pretty one, and a little boat out at sea overtaken by a squall, most a mile from land. Two men were in her, an old and a young one. Well, the storm was so violent that the boat was turned bottom upwards, and the men were struggling for dear life in the water. The young man could swim, but the old one very little. But instead of the young man thinking of saving his own life and leaving the other to drown, he just swims up to him and pilots him with great difficulty up to a jagged bit of rock, and holds him there for nigh on five hours. If it hadn't been for the young man's strong arm that terrible night, the old man would have been carried back again by the fierce waves that broke repeatedly over them.
“When the day broke, and the gale had abated a bit, exhausted as he was, the young man managed to reach the shore and brought out another boat, and never left the old man until he was safe in bed, wrapped in warm blankets.
“Well, the next day the old man felt so grateful that he offered the young one anything he had in return. 'You shall have the smart little cutter that I've just bought,' said he.
"But the young one shook his head. I want something more than that.'
"The old one looked at him in amazement and thought over all the things he possessed. Well,' he said at last, thoroughly puzzled to think what the young man was after, `whatever it is you shall have it. Speak out, man.'
"But his astonishment knew no bounds when he heard the request, ‘I want your daughter.'
“I can't give her to you.
“I can bide a bit.' The young man pleaded so hard that the other gave way at last, for the five terrible hours in the water were fresh in his memory, you see. You'll be seventeen in November. Do you understand, little one?" the Captain asked, looking wistfully into her face “Yes, father, I think I do. I remember the night quite well, and how frightened I was. But I don't want to leave you an' live in Deane's cottage. Besides, he's so old. Why, it's only a little while ago that he gave me rides on his knee. Can't he marry Alice instead of me? "
“He’s not old, chick; he's only a little turned thirty, and can't endure the sight of Alice."
Thus her father talked and entreated her so that, at last, she unwillingly enough consented, but only on condition that Deane was to live in their cottage and not take her away from her father.
As they strolled slowly back through the cornfields, her father unfolded to her many little schemes he had planned for her happiness when she should be married. But so full was she of the wonderful story that Alice had been telling that her replies were vague. Her blue eyes wandered dreamingly over the fields of corn that looked so glorious in the rays of the setting sun.
“Christ walked in the cornfields. I wonder if they looked like these?"
“Can’t tell," Said her father, gruffly. “Oh! there's Alice yonder. What's she been in the village for? I won't have her go there gossiping. I wish I'd never brought her here, putting all this nonsense into your head. She's only been here two days and made all this mischief already."
"Don't be cross, darling," coaxed his daughter. "I should never have known about the Baby King born in a manger if she hadn't come; and if you'll only let her tell me more about the wonderful things in the Bible, I'll marry Deane and do anything you like."
Her father smiled at her beseeching manner, “Well, well, get supper ready, little one," he said; when they reached the beach, “while I say a few words to Deane. If the wind only keeps favorable we must be off. No fish, no money!"
Evil Deane was busy about the cutter when the Captain came up. “What did the little 'un say?" he inquired, eagerly; "did the news vex her?"
The Captain lighted his pipe and related the afternoon's conversation.
“Promised, 'ave she? “cried Evil Deane, with a beaming countenance; " that's somethin' like! Good!"
“The wind's a-gettin' up nice," he said as he followed the Captain in to supper; “everything’s in order."
When the Captain passed Gwen's chair he patted her yellow head with a more tender touch than usual. The girl hailed him with delight and began instantly to tell him about the wonderful story, much to Evil Deane's disgust.