Blow the Man Down - A Romance of the Coast

"That--that was only passing the compliments of the day as compared with

what I can do when I get started proper. Do you think I'm going to let

any snub-snooted wart-hog of a lime-duster sing--"

"Father!"

"What's a girl know about the things a father has to put up with when he

goes to sea and earns money for her?"

"I am willing to work for myself. You took me right out of my good

position in the millinery-store. You have made me leave all my young

friends. Oh, I am so homesick!" Her self-reliance departed suddenly. She

choked. She tucked her head into the hook of her arm and sobbed.

"Don't do that!" he pleaded, softening suddenly. "Please don't, Polly!"

She looked up and smiled--a pleading, wan little smile. "I didn't mean

to give way to it, popsy dear. I don't intend to do anything to make you

angry or sorry. I have tried to be a good girl. I am a good girl. But it

breaks my heart when you don't trust me."

"They were courting you," he stammered. "Them shore dudes was hanging

around you. I ain't doubting you, Polly. But you 'ain't got no mother.

I was afraid. I know I've been a fool about it. But I was afraid!" Tears

sprinkled his bronzed cheeks. "I haven't been much of a father because

I've had to go sailing and earn money. But I thought I'd take you away

till-till I could sort of plan on something."

She gazed at him, softening visibly.

"Oh, Polly," he said, his voice breaking, "you don't know how pretty you

are-you don't know how afraid I am!"

"But you can trust me, father," she promised, after a pause, with simple

dignity. "I know I am only a country girl, not wise, perhaps, but I know

what is right and what is wrong. Can't you understand how terribly you

have hurt my pride and my self-respect by forcing me to come and be

penned up here as if I were a shameless girl who could not take care of

herself?"

"I reckon I have done wrong, Polly. But I don't know much-not about

women folk. I was trying to do right-because you're all I have in this

world."

"I hope you will think it all over," she advised, earnestly. "You will

understand after a time, father, I'm sure. Then you will let me go back

and you will trust me-as your own daughter should be trusted. That's the

right way to make girls good-let them know that they can be trusted."