The Republican journal., 1877-09-06

|
ing. SO she really never seemed to care
about marrying anybody. She had her
father to look after, and time enough to
enjoy her youth, her beauty and her
adorers. But all this profitted the adorers
nothing. She eluded any grasp that might
Tx her anywhere, like sagacous swallow
that will wheel and fit about your head
| il you sit still enough, but if YOU move
! hand or foot darts off into space with
| tWltter, is seen no more so the lovers
gradually dropped off. They would have
| given their very best possessions to move
her careless heart, but it was evident that
the inducements they could offer were
useless. They We're practical beings, men
wanting a home and wife to keep the
home and them tidy and thrifty. Senti-
ment being put out Of the question, they
turned to the creed of ''tho fat faced
| curate Edward Bull':
"A pretty face is good and this is good
10 have dame indoors that trims rs mp
And keeps us tight"
finding plenty of good honest girls in the
scattered village, less coy and sc0rnful
than the beauty Of Sandy Creek But
Jake Hazard remained faithful his ma
ture was strong and true. The uiiilis and
cranks Of his fun and good -humoi' were
but crest Of foam bells on forcetul and
persistent depth, a constant and mighty
tide setting toward one shore. Pcrhaps
Mary Ann did not perceive this fact: per
haps she thought him gay and careless.
as young men are apt to be- 1t certainly
never crossed her mind, us a real and
earnest question, whether she meant to
marry Jake, OF even if he meant to marry
her, but on his part the matter was
thoroughly settled, though till to-day he
had never spoken Of it. Perhaps it was
a brilliant day, for it was June, and the
air was vivid with sky above and sea be-
low. and the cool salt breath of the ocean
inspired even languid lungs and fainting
vitality like a powerful elixir. The great
green waves reared up along the Shore
shaking white crcsts Of foam in splendid
defance, and dashlng their mighty length
upon the sand crumbling back with his
sing crush Of ten thousand tiny bubbles
on their line, only to rise and charge
again with swing, and roar, and crush
till the shore trembed Outside the LONG
waves swung the old whale boat up and
down with mad delight. The blue fish
leaped at the bait with eager, yenomous
litt'to- ttli't tbli tpllll1ttl NlItll lItN
1tlt the hook, showing such fight that it
was keen sport to draw them, cleaning
and jumping, through the water and
over the gunwaIc, and throw them on
to the gllstenng heap that already Gov
cred the bottom. Jake's grey eyes glowcd
with excitement, the blood rose to his
tanned cheek. his white teeth showed set
and firm. under the haf-opened lips, and
his SWayin@ muscular figure would have
been study for IN artist.
''Ginger, this here's sport, amt it 2"
sung out HOsy Long.
"Pretty good, pretty good" Jake shout
ed back to him, setting his teeth together
in q short, sharp contest with the biggest
blue fish OF the haul, who in another min
ute lay tapping and bouncing at Hosv's
feet.
Dang it all that's a most monster
ous fish, Jake"
''That's the soclilolager, old tcler"
'Well naoN, said llosy, keeping the
boat trimmed carefully while Jake rc-
baited his line, ''that are one would be
| tasty for supper, tell You, brilcd on the
Goals, nd buttered up, long o some good
| short-cakc nd some store tea
loSy paused and gIoated ON the fine
| fat fish with blinking eyes and broad.
red face. that Was the picture of good hu-
NOR. Then he took to speech again
''Ef you'd GOT an old woman, now, Jake.
to your house, 'Npect you nd me would
have a first rate supper for one time,
wouldn't we ~
II reckon answered Jake, feeling on
| his taut line to see if it were stretched by
hA "a, tInC L., ,,,. 4, Il,
An what's more, Ilosy, I'm goin to
hey a house N home afore I'm gray.
tell yc"
'Lor. now You be : What does Mary
| Ann say to thet sarcumstancc 2"
''Shc'S got to say som ethn' atore long
FIN tired o toolin', muttercd Jake be
| tween his teeth, giving a vicious jerk to
| his line, that was raging up and down at
| the mercy OF another fish, which, how
ever he speedily hauled in and added to
the Tapping heap. II say, IIosy, faint
no good to llounder round on hook. I'd
get off ont eff tore my jaw out, soon's |
found twas for sport folks was ketchin'
me; biZness's another matter"
"Wall wall, she's a Young cretur.
Nehbe she dono what she wants."
''That aint my sitovation. by the Lord
SIT | know what | want emmy way, and
III hey it or it go, smack and smooth.
atore Il new moon comes agin, or my
name amt Jake Hazard
llosy'S simple soul qUivered at the
stern and almost fierce energy of Jake's
| declaration. Not that he was afraid him
| self, but he saw breakers ahead as he
would have phrased it, storms of passion
and excitement. an end to quiet fishing
| bouts with Jake, lazy, pleasant strolls af-
ter blue berries with Mary Ann, and cosy
Suppers at sam fuckers. He was an
ease-loVing, weak -kneed brother, ready
to sell what he called his soul at any
time for peace OF pottage, the very type
of a man who wrecks his own life and
ruins others for the want of a little
courage and candor, whose cry was
always the selfish howl Of LET me alone"
''atter me the deluge." But Hosy's lazy
longing for peace could work no wreck or
woe in Jake's affairs, though he made Il
feeble effort to ''save the pieces in an
interview with Mary Ann that very night,
being deputed, us soon as they came in
with their spOils, to carry the big fish up
to Sam fuckers as a present from Jake.
Mary Ann met him with beaming eyes.
| wen, declare, tnat jest what |
wanted for Aunt Semanthy's come to
supper, md Uncle Royal, and hadn't
special thing for EN-, bread n butter, II
sass, II dried halibut, that's ALL
'This is the king O a crowd" said
Hosy looking at the beautiful silver bel
lied blue backed creature with honest
admiration.
II guess he made 'em fly down below.
He come up with a rush now, tell We,
but Jake was too much for him. Jake's
a masterful critter as | ever see. Say,
Mary Ann,' and here his voice fell into
an ominous whisper, ''You look out for
Jake. Counsel with me now. Ef | be Il
poor fellow I've got sense into me- You
let Jake hev his head giner'lly. Twill
be a vast better for you if ye do"
"What are you Il talkn' about, Hosy
Long?" resorted Mary Ann with an air
of genuine astonshment.