Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-04
often went to bed hungry and cold
along with them.

| enu Hopcicse, Wfe1'Bb ivs 'A>
better days, when Edam, who was busy
in his boat, called 20 me as passed by.
"Elsie, come here and tell me what
you think o. my boatY" be cried in q
more CHEEKY voice than usual, and, glad
to be good.nstured when ] could,
stopped and admired the fine new boat
he had just bought with the money on
uncle bad Ieft him. -.
"But you've got no name for her."
| I said at last; what are you going TO
call her?"
"That depends on YOU" he replied,
| looking up quickly if you don't OBJ
iect, | would name her The Bonnie
Elsie -"
That would never do, thought in a
minute, it would be oil over the place
at once that Edam Carr had called his
boat after Elsie Wilson, and that she
was of with the old love and on with
she new"
"You mustn't do,that," | demurred
as gently as I could there's prettier
names and lasscs, too, for that matter,
in the place +"
His face changed for the worse in
moment, and an angry light blazed in
his eyes.
"I'm not to heve yer name, then, for
bye yerGelf?"
at wouldn't do, Edam; folks would
talk, and-and Willie might be yexed,"
! went on hesitstipgly. What a cow
ard was to be sure! 1t was with the
greatest difficulty in the world man
aged to bring out my real objection.
And yet was so proud Of being Will
lies sweetheart.
"He's not your man yet that he
should mind" Edam replied sulkily,
and then under his breath, "Msybe he
never will be either"
/ heard the end Of the sentence, low
as it was muttered.
"An' what's to hinder, if we're
both of one mind about it?" said
sharply, losing my temper q bit at his
obstinscy.
"Who knows? lie might get a
wife were he's gone, and he might
never come back at all"
"D'ye want to quarrel wi me,
Edam?"
"No, no, Elsie, we Wilma QUARREL"
he said at once. "I'm bit queer in
the temper, but wouldn't like to yex
you"
"I'm goin' to try tn new boat, will
We venture out wi me, lassie ?" he went
on quietly after moment.
did not know what to say. ltwould
net be wise to offend him more than |
had been unlucky enough to do already.
There was no harm in sailing out mile
or so, providing he would promise to
bring me back then. But, could trust
him? His mother, old Mamie Carr,
had come up while we were speaking,
and she took part with him.
ats not much to ask ye, Elsie, and
it'll please him ever so He's gey
queer to do We just now, lassie," she
said aside TO me; {" il ye can humor
him bit, We might for ma sake"
She was a kind neighbor, and often
the BARNS got dinner from her when
was away, so l did not care to refuse
her. If she saw no harm in it who
else would dare to talk
Still | hesitated.
"D'ye think it's safe? The sea has
been CALM off and on all the day.
Listen ~
And in the hush which so often pre-
cedes a gale we could distinctly hear
that strange moaning, about which
we always say The sea is calling"
Edam threw quick glance along the
horizon.
"It'll 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 coward, sc before long
we were out ON the open sea lacking
and turning to catch the breeze. There
was more Of that further out than on
shore, but still not enough to send us
along merrily, although the new boat
was as light and swift and easy to
manage as any boat could well be, ana
skinned the waves like bird.
"She's a bonny one to go, Edam,"
said, after little, but | got no reply.
Edam sat with his eyes fixed upon the
distant sky, and | could see he was
thinking something over very deeply. |
followed the direction Of his eyes, and
did not like the prospect. A CLEAN
of sickly yellow light lay low down
to the water, but above that were
piled masses Of heavy gray clouds,
without a break save in one place,
where it was as though mighty hand
had pushed them aside to make space
for the tempest to break through. All
around this space was hurry and cOnfu.
sion, while the rest Of the sky was sui
len and quiet. Far out the sickly CLEAN
on the horizon was repeated on gray
green sea {; nearer, the dark waves were
beginning to show tops of white.
did not like the prospect, nor did |
like the notion of being out there on
that gry-looking waste Of waters at
the mercy Of Edam Carr aud his Gu
prices.
Don't you think we should 60 back
now, Edam? ' asked timidly; it
doesn't look over well out yonder, -
and pointed to the far sea.
:" Leave that TO me, Elsie, my dar-
linz"
lie had no right to call me his dar.
liPg, but l was beginning to be very
much afraid, and so said nothing
about that.
But all at once a rush, whirl, and a
roar caused me to scream out as a
squall struck our little craft and made
II keel over, wetting me TO the skin al
the same time. As a matter Of fact,
We fisher lsssies are not at all brave
upon the sea, though it may be almost
our native element. There are very few
Grace DarliDgs among us. Indeed, we
} hardly ever venture into boat at all.
So it is not to be wondered at that my
courage should fail utterly when we be.
{ gan TO ship heavy seas.
"Oh, take me home, Edam, or
. know we'll never win back at all -
Bpt he tAok M nnticR too-a thar .,