The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-08-11


above. So it was that when Willie grew
discontsnted with his earnings as q fisher
man he went to sea to make more money
in the hope OF wedding me the sooner.
~ was not strong, enough for z fisher
mans wife, " he said, land he hoped to b.
cared!
Though was small was not delicate
and could, and indeed did, carry the cree
as well as the best Of them. For my mother
were more little mouths to fill, and no one
but me to do It; for their father was lazy
drunken good-for-nothing, who fell over
the cliff one night when he was rolling
home from the "Old Ship Inn," and did nc
good after. Lucky for them and for me
though it sounds queer to say it, he did not
live long to be burden; but we 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 vicarage, 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 mon favored me in the matter of
fish, because they thought had a stiffish
was kinder than Edam Carr. believe he
| was really fond of me, and l often re-
preached myself that l could not help
shrinking from him. But l was not alone
in that dread. They called him "Black
Edam," for nickname, because he looked
| SO grim and sour. None of the men ex-
| changed greetings with him when he
stalked alone past their friendly groups !:
nor did any of the girls slaugh and joke with
| him. With one consent he was left alone.
| between us in his eyes. They looked on
me as on one doomed, and on him as ono
unlucky. or unhappy, which means the
same to them. Its no use fightin' fate,
Elsie! he would say looking down at me
with his great gloomy eyes: I'VE were
made for one another, we two"
But used to shake my lead and run
away. though dared not offend him by
contradicting him otherwise. He got
grimmer and hlacker as time went on, and
Edam hoped should
The weather was uncertain that autumn,
and there was little dependence on the fish.
Some days the boats were not off at all !;
some days they had no fish when they
landed. l got work where I could, but
satisfying, and often went to bed hungry
and cold along with them.
One afternoon l was wandering rather
disconsolately on the beach, feeling low
and hopeless, wishing for Willie and better
boat. called to me as passed 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, l stopped and
admired the fine new boat he had just
bought with the money an uncle had left
him.
But you've got no name for her."
said at last: what are you going to call
her.n
would name her The Bonnie Elsie.'s
That would never do, l thought in min
ute; it would be all over the place at once
that Edam Carr had called his boat after
Elsie Wilson, and that she was ''off with
the old love and on with the new"
s"You mustn't do that" demurred as
gently as could: theirs prettier names
and lassies, too, for that matter, in the
place."
His face changed for the worse in a mo-
ment, and an angry light blazed in his
"rm not to hev yer name. then, for-bye
yerselfw
1T wouldn't do. Edam: folks would talk
and-and Willie might be vexed." went
on hesitatingly. What coward was to
in the world managed to bring out my
real objection. And yet ! was so proud
of being Willie's sweetheart.
Hes not yer man yet, that he should
mind" Edam replied sulkily, and then
under his breath: May be he never will
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
nv temper bit at his obstinacy.
"Who knows. He might get a wife
where he's gone, and he might never come
back at all"
'D'ye want to quarrel wi me, Edam"
mo, no, Elsie, we Wilma QUARREL" he
said at once. Pm a bit queer in the tenn
mar huuf dy1tf DO to- ~
I'm goin' to try the new boat: will ye
venture out wi me, lassie!" he went on
quietly after a moment. -
did not know what to say. It would
not be wise to offend him more than had
been unlucky enough to do already. There
was no harm in sailing out a mile or SO,
providing he would promise to bring me
back again. But could trust him? His
mother, old Mamie Carr, had come up
while we were speaking and she took part
with him.
sits 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.
IT ye can humor him bit ye might for
She was kind neighbor, and often the
BARNS got dinner from her when l WAS
away so did not care to refuse her. II
she saw no harm in it, who else would dare
to talks
Still hestated.
".D'ye think it's safes The sea has been
calm of and on all the day. Listen ~
And In the hush which so often precedes
gale wo could distinctly hear that strange
moaning, about which we always say:
The sea is calling"
Edam threw a quick glance along the
horizon.
It'll blow hard afore tho 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 out
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 we'll be,
and SKINNED the waves like bird.
, ,'she's ;..l bonnie mi. one to 60, Edsm' said,
sat with his eyes fixed upon the distant
sky, and could see he was thinking some
thing over very deeply. followed the di.
rection OF his eyes and did 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, save in one place, where
il was as though . mighty hand had pushed
them aside to make space for the tenn
pest to break through. All around this
rest Of the sky was sullen and quiet. Far
out the sickly gleam on the horizon was
repeated on q dark green sea; nearer, the
dark waves were beginning to show tops
the notion of being out there on that angry
looking waste Of waters at the mercy Of
Edam Carr and his caprices.
Don't you think we should 60 back now,
Edam ~ asked timidly; sit doesn't look
overwell out yonder," and pointed to the