The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-07-10

rolling home from the "Oidi Ship Inn,
and did no good after Lucky for them
and for me, though it sounds queer to say
it, he did not live long to be burden; but
we had some hard times now and then,
when the weather was rough and there
was no fish to SELL Only for the bairns l
would have been housemaid at the vicar
age, for which Miss Ashford had had me
trained before mother died, but I could
earn more money doing as the rest did,
and look after the little ones at the same
time
The men favored me in the matter of
fish, because they thought L had a stifish
hill to climb; and 1 will say that nobody
was kinder than Edam Carr. l believe he
was really fond of me, and 1 often re-
preached myself that l could not help
shrinking from him. But I was not alone
in that dread. They called him "Black
Edam" for nickname, because he looked
so grim and sour None of the men ex-
changed greetings with him when he
stalked alone past their friendly groups
nor did any of the girls laugh and joke
with him. With one consent he was left
alone.
Well, you see, here was bond of union
between us in his eyes. They looked on
me as ON one doomed, and on him as one
unlucky, or unhappy, which means the
same to them. dts no use fghtin' fate,
Elsie |" he would say, looking down at me
with his great gloomy eyes; "we were
made for one another, we two
But I used to shake my head and run
away, though l dared not offend him by
contradicting him otherwise. He got
grimmer and blacker as time went on, and
1 did not forget my Willie, as perhaps
Edam hoped 1 should.
The weather was uncertain that autumn,
and there was little dependence on the fish.
Some days the boats were not off at all;
some days they had no fish when they
landed / got work where | could, but
those three mouths at home took lot of
satisfying, and often went to bed hungry
and cold along with them.
One afternoon [ was wandering rather
disconsolately on the beach, feeling low
and hopeless, wishing for Willie and better
days, when Edam, who was busy in his
boat, called to me as I passed by.
"Elsie, come here and tell me what you
think O my boat ?" he cried, in more
CHEEKY voice than usual, and, glad to be
good-natured when could, l stopped and
admired the fine new boat he had just
bought with the money an uncle had left
him.
aBut you've got no name for her," !
said at last; "what are you going to call
her? ?"
"That depends on you," he replied
looking up quickly; eff you don't object
would name her The Bonnie Elsie
That would never do, thought in a
minute, it would be all over the place at
once that Edam Carr had called his beat
after Elsie Wilson, and that she was ''ofi
with the old love and on with the new
''You mustn't do that" l demurred as
gently as could ''there's prettier names
and lasses, too, for that matter, in the
place !''
His face changed for the worse in a
moment, and an angry light blazed in his
eyes,
qI'm not to heve yer name, then, forbye
yerself?"
at wouldn't do, Edam; folks would
talk, and-and Willie might be vexed,"
went on hesitatingly. What coward
was, to be sure 1t was with the greatest
difficulty in the world l managed to bring
out my real objection. And yet L was Sc
Iroud of being Willie's sweetheart.
"He's not yer man yet, that he should
mind" Edam replied sulkily, and theI
under his breath: "Mayhe he never vii
be, either"
1 heard the end of the sentence, low a'
it was muttered.
can what's to hinder, if we're both Of
one mind about it ?'' 1 said sharply, losing
nv temper bit at his obstinacy.
aWho knows? He might get a wife
where he's gone, and he might never come
back at all"
"D'ye want to quarrel wi me, Edam Z
"No, no, Elsie, we Wilma quarrel, he
said at once. "I'm bit queer in the tenn
per, but wouldn't like to vex you.
"I'm goin' to try the new boat, will "
venture out wi me, lassie 2 he went OF
quietly after a moment.
did not know what to say. 1t woulC
not be wise to offend him more than L hat
been unlucky enough to do already
There was no harm sailing out mile o
so, providing he would promise to brins
me back then. But, could l trust him
His mother, old Mamie Carr, had COM
up while we were speaking, and she tool
part with him.
ats not much to ask ye, Else, and it'll
please him ever sol He's gey queer to d.
we Just now, lassie," she said aside to me
aif We can humor him bit, ye might TO
ma sake"
She was a kind neighbor, and often tn
BARNS got dinner from her when | wa
away, SO 1 did not care to refuse her. l
she saw no harm in it who else would dar
to talk?
Still I hesitated.
"D'ye think it's safe? The sea has bee
calm off and on all day. Listen
And in the hush which so often pre-
cedes gale we could distinctly hear tina
strange moaning, about which we alway
say ''The sea is calling"
Edam threw quick glance along tn
horizon,
aItll blow hard afore the morn, bu
there's time enough to be out and in agai
for all that"
There was something in the tone whicl
made me doubtful, but did not want t
seem coward; SO before long we wer
out in the open sea, tacking and turnin
to catch the breeze. There was more o
that further out than on shore, but stil
not enough to send us along merrily, al
though the new boat was as light AM
swift and easy to manage as any boa
could well be, and skinned the waves lik
bird.
"Shes bonnie one to go, Edani,
said after little, but / got no reply
Edam sat with his eyes fixed upon the dis
tant sky, and l could see he was thinking
something over very deeply. | followe'
the direction of his eyes, and did not lik
| tbo ,,rosvaot A olaam Of sioklv vallox