The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-03

queer to say it, he did not live long
to bea burden; butwe had some hard
times now and then, when the weather
was rough and there Was no fish to
SELL Only for the BARNS | would
| have been housemaid at the vicarase,
| for which Miss Ashford had had me
trained before mother died, but
| 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 / had a
stiffish hill to climb, and 1 will saw
| that nobody was kinder than Edam
Carr. ! believe he was really fond of
me, and | often reproached myself
that l could not help shrinking from
| him. But | was not alone III that
dread. They called him "Black
Edam" for a nickname, because he
looked so grim and dour. None OF the
men exchanged greetings with him
| when he stalked along 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 a 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. 'It's
no use tightin' fate, Elsie" he would
/ say, looking down at me with his
great gloomy eyes; 1--WE were made for
| one another, we two"
| But l used to shake my head and
run away. though dared not offend
him by contradicting him otherwise.
| He got grimmer and blacker as time
went on, and | did not forget my
! Willie, as perhaps Edam hoped |
should.
| The weather was uncertain that
Autumn, and there was little depend
ence on the fish. Some days the boats
We're not off at all, some days they
had no fish when they landed. got
work where could, but those- three
mouths at home took q lot of satis-
| flying and often went to bed hungry
and cold along with them.
One afternoon was interchangeable
er disconsolately on the beach, feeling
low and hopeless, wishing for Willie
and better days, when Edan, who Was
busy in his boat, called me as lass
ed 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, stopped and admired the fine
new boat he had Just bought with the
| money an unlce had left him.
Bat 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; Ii yedon't object
| would name her The Bonnie
Elsie?'' %
| That would never do I thought in
minute, it would be all over the place
at once that Edam Carr had called
| his boat after Elsie Wilson, and that
she was "otf with the old love and on
with the new"
"You mustn't do that I demurred
as gently as could; there's prettier
names and lasses, too, for that mat
ter, in the place!'
| His face changed for the worse in q
moment, and an angry light blazed in
his eyes.
"Pm not to heve yer name, then,
forbye yerself?"
'It wouldn't do. Edam; folks would
talk, and-and Willie might evoked, ;"
/ went on hesitatingly. What q cow
ard | was to be sure! 1t was with the
greatest difficulty III the world man.
aged TO bring ont my real objection.
Ard yet Twas so proud OF being Willie's
! sweetheart.
| Hes not yer man yet that he
should mnd,o Edam replied sulkiy,
and then under his breath. "Nlaybe
he never will be either"
heard the end of the sentence, low
as 1T was muttered.
can what's to hinder, if we're both
OF one mind about it2'' Isaid sharply,
losing my temper q bit at his obsti-
macy.
| "Who knows? He might get a wife
| where he's gone. and he might never
come back at all"
Dye want to quarrel wi me,
| Edam?"
"No, no, Elsie, we Wilma quarrel"
| he said at once. Pm bit queer in the
| temper, but | wouldn't like to vex
you"
"Pm goin' to try th' new boat, will
y
on quietly after u moment.
did not know what to say. 1t
would not be wise to offend him more
than had been unlucky enough to do
already. There was no harm in sail
ing out q 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 We're speaking, and she took part
with HIM.
"It's not much to ask ye Elsie, and
it'll please him everso! He'sgey queer
to do We just now, lassie." she said
aside to me; "if ye can humor him a
bit, yc might for ma sake
She was q kind neighbor, and often
the BARNS got a dinner from her when
| was away, SO | did not care to re-
| fuse her. Ii shesaw no harm in 1T who
else would dare to talk?
Still hesitated:
"D'ye think $ safe? The sea has
been calm Off and on all day. Lis
| ten!"
And in the hush which so often pre-
cedes q gale we could distinctly hear
that strange moaning, about which we
always say 'The sea is calling"
Edam threw aquick 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; so before
long we were upon the open sea, tack
ing 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