Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-07-20

one WAS III KIM HtlEiiubi' ah' ''''i
the BARNS got dinner from her when
was away. SO did not care to refuse her
II she saw no harm in it, who else woulc
dare to talki
Still / hesitated.
"D'ye think it's safe? The sea has beer
calm off and on all the day. Listen!'
And in the hush which so often pre-
cedes a gale we could distinctly heai
that strange mourning, about which W.
ALWAYS say The sea is calling"
Edam threw quick glance along the
horizon.
It'll blow hard afore the morn, bu
there's time enough to be out and ir
again for all that"
There was something in the tone which
made me doubtful; but / did not want tt
seem a coward; so before long we wert
out ON the open sea, tacking 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, anc
swift, and easy to manage as any boal
could well be, and skinned the wave,
like bird.
SHES bonnie one to go, Edam,"
said after little; but l got no reply
Edam sat with his eyes fixed upon tn,
distant sky, and / could see he was think
ing something over very deeply. l fol
lowed the direction of his eyes, and die
not like the prospect. A gleam of sickly
yellow light lay low down to the water.
but above that were piled masses OF
heavy gray clouds, without break saw.
in one place, where it was as though
mighty hand had pushed them aside u
make space for the tempest to breal
through. All around this space was
hurry and confusion, while the rest o,
the sky was sullen and quiet. Far out
the sickly gleam on the horizon was re
peated ON a gray green sea; nearer, the
dark waves were beginning to show tops
of white.
l did not like the prospect, nor did ]
like the notion of being out there on tina
angry-looking waste of waters at tn,
mercy Of Edam Carr and his caprices.
Don't you think we should go bach
now, Edam:" | asked timidly; lit doesn't
look over well out yonder," and pointet
to the far sea.
Leave that to me, Elsie, ma darlin'r
He mad no right to call me his darling
but was beginning to be very much
afraid, and SO said nothing about that
But all at once rush, whirl, and
roar caused me to scream out, as a squal
struck our little craft and made it hee
over, wetting me to the skin at the same
time. As 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 a boat at all. So it is
not to be wondered at that my courage
should fail utterly when we began to ship
heavy seas.
~Oi, take me home, Edam, or l know
well never win back at ALL"
But he took no notice, more than to
put things right and tight in skillfu
way l could not but admire, however
angry began to feel towards him.
aAre you never going TO turn, Edam
Carr broke out at last.
A suspicion which had otter heard
brearhed 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 = and remembering this and the few
words his mother had whispered, in
clined to think he was mad at times
When l spoke ne laughed out loud. Ii
was the first time had ever heard him
laugh, and it gave me an odd feeling.
$50 you're afraid, ma bonnie Elsie It's
long time since you and were as much
alone together as We are now, nothing
but the boat that holds US two on all that
world o water Eh, but its fine TO have
you all to myself like this :"
Are you mad 7" | exclaimed. my
thought taking words all unconsciously.
Edam laughed again, that horrible,
cruel laugh which had no mirth in it.
Maybe. Sometimes / think l am
myself, but if am, it's for love O. you"
His eyes were SO bright and 50 wild |
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 We dom mind Well 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 had been not
TO have guessed what might happen /! ]
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, didn't think you could
be so cruel! !" said between my sobs.
But even the tears failed to move him.
You have been cruel enough to me
it's my turn now !" he answered sullenly,
as he altered the sail.
By this time the hrid 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 storm is more than l can under
stand. In the hands Of less expert
enced boatman we should have been lost
in no time.
DO have pity on me and the poor little
ones that have only me to look to Edam