Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-08-09


yoar bow, aud when Jake Hazard had to
20 blue-fishing in earnest, not for fun, and
She did not want to be crowded with dead
fish and wet lines, and two or three men,
into dirty boat all day long, there was
always Joe Tucker and Ephraim Conklin
to go after berries with her. or some other
Conklin, or Tucker. or Hazard to take her
grabbing. or shoot peeps for her, rewarded
thereafter by supper OF crabs or peep
pie, savory meats which Mary Ann per-
iectly understood preparing. So she real
ly never seemed 10 care about marrying
anybody. She had her father 10 look after.
and time enough to enjoy her youth, and
her beauty and her adorers. But all this
profted the adorers nothing. She eluded
any grasp that might fix her anywhere,
like n sagacious swallow that will wheel
and fit about your head if out sit still
enough, but il you move hand or foot darts
of into space with derisive twitter, and
is seen no more. So the lovers gradually
dropped off. They would have given
their very best possessions to move her
careless heart, but il was evident that all the
inducements they could offer was useless.
They were practical beings, men wanting
home and wife to keep the home and
Them tidy and thrifty. Sentiment being
put out of the question, they turned to the
creed OF 1.-THE tat-iaced curate Edward
Bull'':
pretty face is good, and this is good
To have a dame indoors that trims Us up,
And keeps us tight,
finding plenty OF good honest girls in the
scattered village, less coy aud scorntul
than the beauty OF Sandy Creek. But
Juke Hazard remained faithful his pature
was strong and true. The quips and
cranks OF his iun aud good-humor We're
but crest of foam bells on a forceful aud
persistent depth, a constant and mighty
tide setting toward one shore. Perhaps
Mary Ann did not perceive this fact; per-
haps she thought him gay and careless, as
young men are apt TO be. Ii certainly
never crossed her mind, as a real and ear
nest question, whether she meant to marry
Jake; or even if he meant to marry Ler,
but on his part the matter was thoroughly
settled, though till to-day he had never
spoken of it. Perhaps it was the brilliant
day, for it was June, and the air was vivid |
with sky above and sea below, and the |
cool salt breath OF the ocean inspired even |
languid lungs and tanting vitality like a
powerful elixir. The great green waves
reared up along the shore, shaking white
crests OF foam in splendid defiance, and |
dashing their mighty length upon the sand,
crumbled back with Kissing crush OF ten
thousand tiny bubbles on their line, only |
to rise and charge again with swing. and |
roar, and crush, till the shore trembled, |
Outside the long waves swung the old |
whale boat up and down with mad de-
light. The blue fish leaped at the bait
With eager. venomous heads, and tore and |
plunged when they felt the hook, showing
such fight that it was keen sport TO draw
them, cleaning and jumping, through the
water and over the gunwale, and throw
them onto the glistening heap that already
covered the bottom. Jake's grey eyes
glowed with excitement, the blood rose to
his tanned cheek, his white teeth showed
set and firm, under the hali-opened lips,
and his swaying muscular figure would
have been a fine study for an artist.
"Ginger this here's sport, amt it ?"
sung out Hosy Long.
Pretty good, pretty good - Jake shout
ed back TO him, setting his teeth together
in short, sharp contest with the biggest
blue fish Of the haul, who in another min
ute lay Tapping and bouncing at Hosy's
feet.
Dang it all that's most monsterous
fish, Jake"
That's the sockdolager, old Teller"
"Well, naow." said Hosy, keeping the
boat trimmed carefully while Jake rebait-
ed his line, THAT are one would be tasty
for supper, tell qou, Drilled on the Goals,
md buttered up, long O. some good short
cake md some store tea
Hosy paused and gloated on the fine fat
fish with blinking eyes and broad. red
face. that was the picture of good humor.
Then he took to speech again
''Ef you'd got an old woman now, Jake.
TO your house, 'xpect you an me would
have a tust rate supper for one time,
wouldn't we ?''