The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-08-27
10 voDture ont WI me. lassie?"h he went

We venture out WI me, ldSSle! TIC "1"'
o n quietly after a moment p
7 did not know what to say IL
would not be wise to offend him more
than Ihad been unlucky enough TO &c
already. There was no harm IN san
inc out a mile or so, providing ne
would promise to bring me back tnen'
But, could l trust him? His mother,
old Mamie Carr, had come up WhIIe
we were speaking, and she took part
with HIM. -
"It's not much to ask We, Elsie, and
it'll please him reverse! He'sgey queer
to do We Just now, lassle,' n saiu
aside to me; IF ye can humor him a
bit, ye might for ma sake"
She was a kind neighbor, ana often
the BARNS got a dinner from her when
was away, so | did not care TO re-
fuse her. Ii she no harm III 1t VINO
else would dare to talk?
Still | hesitated.
"D've think it's safe? The sea has
been calm off ana on Ill DAY. LIS
ten"
And in the hush which so often pre-
cedes a gale we could distinctly near
that strange moaning, about which We
ALWAYS say "'The sea is calling
Edam threw quick glance alonsthe
horizon.
"Itu blow hard afore the morn, but
there's time enough to be out and IN
again for all that
There was something in the tone
which made me doubtful, but did
not want to seem q coward; so before
long we were upon the open sea, tack
ING and turning to catch the breeze.
There was more Of that further CIT
than on shore, but still not enough
to send us along merriIy, although the
new boat was as light and swift and
easy to manage as any boat could
well be, and skinned the waves like a
bird.
"She's a bonnie one to go, Edam,"
Isaid after a little, but | got no reply.
Edam sat with his eye fixed upon the
distant sky. and | could see he was
thinking something over very deeply.
| followed the direction ofhis eyes, and
did not like the prospect. A gleam OF
sickly yellow light lay down to the
water, but above that were piled
masses of heavy gray clouds, without
break, save in n place, where 1t
was IS though a mighty hand had
them aside to make a space
for the tempest to break through. All
around this space was hurry and con-
while the rest OF the sky was
and quiet. Far out the sickly
gleam on the horizon was repeated on
a gray green sea; nearer, the dark
waves were beginning to show tops OF
did not like the prospect, nor did l
like the notion of being out there on
that angry-looking waste of waters at
the mercy OF Edam Carr and his ca
Don't you think we should 90 back
now, Edam?" / asked timidly; sit
doesn't look over we'll out yonder,"
and | pointed to the far sea.
"Leave that to me, Elsie, ma
darlin'!"
He had no right to call me his dar-
ling, but | was beginning to be very
much afraid, and so I'said nothing
about that.
But all at once a rush, a whirl, and
roar caused me to scream out as a
squat struck our little craft and made
it heel over, wetting me to the skin at
the same time. As o matter of fact,
we fisher lassies are not at all brave
upon the sea, though it may be al
most our native element. There are
very few Grace Darlings among US.
Indeed, we hardly ever venture into a
boat at all. So it is not to be won
dered at that my courage should fail
utterly when we began to ship heavy
seas.
"Oh, take me home, Edam, or ]
know we'll never win back at ALL"
But he took no notice more than to
put things right and tight in a skillfuI
way | could not but admire however
angry | I began to feel toward him.
care you never going to turn, Edam
CARR" | broke out at last.
A suspicion which / had often heard
breathed in the village came back to
me then, and / trembled for our lives.
They said "Edam Carr was gettin' the
same queer look his father had afors
he went out Of his held and drowned
hisself!" and remembering this and
the few words his motherhad whisper
ed, | inclined to think he was mad al
times. When / spoke he laughed out
loud. 1t was the first time that InaG
ever heard him laugh, and it gave ms
an odd feeling.
$50 you're afraid, ma bonnie Elsie
It's a long time since you and / wer,
as much alone together as we are now
nothing but the boat That holds Il.
two OF all that world o. waterl Eth
but its fine to have you all to mysel
like this!"
care you mad?". / exclaimed, ny
thought taking words all unconscious
ly,
Edam laughed again, that horrible
cruel laugh which had no mirth ia it