, 1886-07-18

me; "if We can humor him a bit, ye might
for ma sake"
She was a kind neighbor. and often
the BARNS got a dinner from her when
away. so | 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. Llsten!"
And in the hush which so often pre-
cedes a gale we could distinctly hear
that strange mourning. about which we
say "The sea is calling"
Edam threw a quick glance along the
horizon.
It'll blow hard afore the NORM, but
there's time enough to be IL and in
again for all that"
There was something in the o n which
made me doubtful; but l did not want to
seem a coward; 70 before long we were
put on the open sea, lacking and turning
to catch the breeze. There was more of
that farther 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, and SKINNED the wave
like a bird.
"She's a bonnie one to go, Edam,"
said after n little; but / got no reply.
Edam sat with his eyes fixed upon the
distant sky. and | could see he was think
ing something over very deeply. ! fol-
lowed 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 hat were piled masses Of
heavy gray clouds, without a break save
in n place, where it was as though a
mighty hand had pushed them aside to
make a space for the tempest to break
through. All around this space was
hurry and confusion, while the rest OF
the sky vas sullen and quiet. Far out,
the sickly CLEAN on the horizon was re-
peated on a gray green sea; nearer, the
dark waves were beginning to show tops
of white.
Il did not like the prospect, o did !
like the notion of being out there on that
ang%ry-looking waste of waters at the
mercy of Edam Carr and his caprices.
Don't you think we should go back
now, Edam?' l asked timidly; lit doesn't
look over well out yonder, and | pointed
to the far sea.
Leave that to me, Elsie, ma darlin'lH
He had nc right to call me his darling,
but | was beginning to be very much
afraid, and 80 l said nothing about that.
But all at nee n rush, a whirl, and-a
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 a matter of fact, we fisher
lassies are not at all brave upon the sea,
though it may be almost our native ele-
ment. There are very few Grace Darl-
ings amongst us. Indeed. we hardly
ever venture into n boat at all. So it is
not to be wondered 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 | / began to feel towards him.
Are you never going to turn, Edam
Carr p | broke out at last.
A suspicion which | had otter 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 as his feythor had afore he
went out Of his held and drowned his
self y and remembering this and the few
words his mother bad whispered, l in
clined To think he was mad ut times.
When | spoke he laughed out loud. II
was the first time | had ever heard him
laugh, and it gave me an odd feeling.
so you're afraid, ma bonnie Elsie ? It's
n long time since you and l were rs much
alone together rs we are now, nothing
but the boat that holds us two on all that
world o water Eli, but it's fine t. have
you all to myself like this y
Are you madl" | exclaimed, my
thought taking words all unconsciously.
Edam laughed again, that horrible,
cruel laugh which had no mirth in it.
Maybe. Sometimes l think l am
myself, but if | am, it's for love o. YOU
His eyes were so bright and so wild l
could not bear to look at them, and his
hand, as he took hold of mine, burned
with fever.
"For mercy's sake, Edam, take care
If ye don mind wen be both in the
water"
AN what o that? At any rate well
drown together, and yen never belong
to another man."
| clasped my hands in an agony of
terror. Oh, what a fool I had been not
to have guessed what might happen l
thought of the poor BARNS at home wait
ing for me now to give them their sup
pers, and hear their prayers, and tuck
them up in their beds, and the tears
rolled down my cheeks at the thought
of how long they might have to wait.
"Oh, Edam, l didn't think you could
be so cruel !" | said between my sobs.
But ever the tears failed to move him.
you have been cruel enough to me
it's my turn now y he answered sullenly,
as he altered the sail.
By this time the lurid CLEAN had al
most died out from the sky, and all was
dark around us. The wind was blowing
strongly, and hurrying the masses of
clouds across the heavens at headlong
speed, and tearing at the water until the
air and the waves mingled in one wild
fray. How our little boat lived at all in
such n storm is more than i can under
stand. In the hands Of a less expert
enced boatman we should have been lost
in no time.
DO have pity IN me and the poor little
e that have only me to look to, Edam
dear Edam ~
"Ay, it is dear Edam now you're in my
power, but how long would it last if l
let you win safe to land? Elsie, il you'll
say you'll be ma wife I'll make for shore
this minute-if not"
What then y l faltered.
"I1l run us straight on to the Ribs o.