Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-02
off his hat and wipes his forehead with a

off his hat and wipes his forehead with a
blue handkerchief; then he goes back to
his cart and gets a lump of bread and
cheese and a draught of cider.
1t is his determination to work off his an
noyance; he has gone on overriding. lie
looks out over the shimmering, golden
waves, and is surprised to see how nearly
the sun has reached them. AS he stan dS
gazing at the strange color OF the waves
where broad lines of purple and crimson
show as if fishes had been having fierce
battle thereon, he fancies he hears voices
below; but the sea gets rougher every in
slant, and the waves come dashing up a
gainst the loose rocks scattering along the
| beach with so much screaming fury, that
it is difficult TO distinguish sound. But
! Reuben has caught laugh he knows by
heart, and now, in pause caused by the
retreat of the waves, he hears the laugh
answered in a deep mans voice. The
rush of the waves is over, they have just
gone back to kiss their advancing mates,
and then bring them on in triumph to
thunder at the base OF the precipice on
which Reuben stands-as yet they do not
quite reach it, though they send up shin
ing cloud of empty menace-and, as Reu-
ben leans over the tlowery hedge which
grows on the dizzy edge, he sees that
space of some feet is still dry. He looks
onward along the path. At some distance
halfway between him and the headland
are two figures-the girl is Rosa, and her
companion is a tall French fisherman,
named Jacques Gaspard. He is a stranger
who has been staying al the inn at Hook
ton for a fortnight past he spent his mon
ey freel, and is popular among the rough
er fishermen, but the quieter ones avoid
him; and tell one another that he is a
smuggler or spy. mo good either
y"-"Confound him." Reuben frown
ed heavily, and leaned over the hedge
watching, the pair. "She knows no bet
ter, poor little thing but Gaspard's not a
fit man for girl to trust hers lfalone with.
He leaned over. watching eagerly. Just
at this moment Gaspard stopped, looked
back, and Reuben imagined that he saw
a look triumph in his face. A path led up
the sheer face of the cliff at this point,
and the Frenchmen seeing the water al
ready dashing against the face of the
headland, seemed to be pursuading his
companion TO try and mount it. Reuben
saw the intention. 1" Come back, Rosa,
come backr' he cried, but his words were
thrown back to him by the furious wind.
Rosa seemed to be tying her bonnet more
firmly on her head, and then she turned
to mount the cliff; but she was evidently
fearful she cluRg to Gaspard's arm, and
presently he unclasped her fingers and
put the arm firmly rornd her waist.
At this sight Reuben lost his wits. He
leaned over the hedge and stretched out
both arms, as if he thought to reach Rose.
"Rosa-Rosa-com back!-ah-" There
came crash. frantic scramblng sound,
and Reuben disappeared from the landslip.
Martha Leir has had an unhappy day
it is so rarely now that the peace of her
life is now disturbed by strife. Five years
ago. before John Leir went to his rest,
there used to be frequent discussion
they were hardly quarrels-between the
blacksmith and his son-the father so
: greatly deprecated the sons want of ener-
gy, and his general easiness of disposition
J but when Martha was left alone, Reuben's
tenderness and loving care blinded her to
all shortcomings, and the mother and son
led a peaceful, and happy life, unclouded
by any quarrel. till some one told Mrs.
Leir that her son was counting Rose Nor
rison.
She had grown so accustomed to his
tender care, that at first the news came as
a painful shock then, when her common
sense told her that this was an event
!, which must be looked for sooner or later,
she began to study Rose Morrison, and
} found no comfort in the study either for
. herself or Reuben. "What can be hoped
} for" she said bitterly, from the daugh-
, ter of French lacies' maid P" and then
she spoke to Reuben but her speaking
only produced estrangement and GOODNESS,
and she avoided the subject, until her
sons frequent absence and silent moods
when at home created an irritation in her
mind which had at last found voice on the
previous evening.
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