Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-09-17

discontentod with his earnings as fisher
man he went to sea to mako more money,
in the hope OF wedding me the sooner.
~ was not strong enough for a fisher
mans wife, " no said, "and he hoped to be
able to keep me like ladyw Just as II
caredi
Though was small was not delicate,
and could, and indeed did, carry the creel
as well as the best of them For my mother
married again, aud when she diod there
were more little mouths TO fill, and no ono
but me to do it, for their father was lazy,
drunken good dfor-nothing who fell ovor
the cliff ono night when ho was rolling
homo from the ''Old Ship Inn, ~ and did no
good after. Lucky for thom and for mo,
though 1t sounds queer to say 1t, he did not
live long to bo burden; but we had some
hard times, now and then, when the
weather was rough and thore was no fish
TO sell. Only for the BARNS would have
been housemaid at tho vicarage, for which
Miss Ashford had had me trained before
mother diod; but Icould earn more money
doing As the rest did and look aftor the
little ones at the same time
The mon favored me In the matter OF
fish, because they thought had stiffish
hill 10 climb. and will say that nobody
was kinder than L lam Carr believe he
was really foni Of me, and | often re-
preached myself that | could not help
shrinking from him. But was not alone
in that dread. They called him "Black
Edam," for nickname, because he looked
20 grim and sour. None Of tho men ex-
changed greetings with him when ho
stalkel alone past their friendly groups;
nor did amy OF tho BiIlslaugh and 1okewith
him. With ono consent he was loft alone.
Well. you see, here was bond OF union
between us in his eyes They looked on
an n Z
unlucky, or unhappy, which means the
GamO TO them. "lt's no use fightin' fata,
Elsie !n he would say, looking down ut mo
with his great gloomy eyes: Two were
made for one another, wo two"
But used IN shakl my head and run
away, though dared not offend him by
contradicting him otherwise. Ho got
grimmar and backer as time went on, and
! did not forget my Willie, as perhaps
Edam hoped should.
The wouther was uncertain that autumn,
aud there was little dependence on the fish.
Some days tho boats were not of at all
some days they had no fish when they
landed. / got work whare | could, but
these three mouths at home took lot OF
satisfying, and often went to bed hungry
and cold along with thom.
/ Ono afternoon was wandering rather
disconsolately on the beach, feeling low
aud hopeless wishing for Willie and better
days, when Edam, who was busy in his
boat, called to me as passed by
Elsie, come here and toll me what you
think o. my boatm ho 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 uncle had left
him.
"But you've got no name for her." ]
said at last; "what are you going to call
herm
"That depends on you" he replied, lool:
| ing up quickly; iii ye don't object,
would name her The Bonnie Elsie.'"
That would never do, thought in min.
ute it would be all over the place at oncs
that Edam Carr had called his boat after
| Elsie Wilson, and that sho was "otf with
the old love and on with the new"
"You mustn't do that" / demurred as
gently as could; TIERS prettier names
aud lassies, too, for that matter, In the
place"
His face changed for the worse in mo-
mont, and an angry light blazed In his
eyes.
'"rm not to hev yer name, then, for-byc
yerselfl"
at wouldn't do. EdamS ,iks would talk
nnd-and Willie might bl Sexed.n went
| on hesitatingly. What coward | was to
be sure 1t was with the greatest difficulty
| In the world managed to bring out my
real objection. And yet / was so proud
of being Willie's sweetheart.
"Ife's not yen man yet that he should
mind,n Edam replied sulkily, and then
under his breath; MAY be he never will
be. either.n
heard the end of the sentence, low as 1t
was muttered.
"An' what's IN hinder IL wo'ro both Of
one mind about itm said sharply, losing
nv tnmpor bit at his obstinacy.
"Who knowsi He might get wife
where he's gone, and he might never come
bnck at all"
'D'ye want to quarrel wi me- Elamr
'No no, Elsie. we Wilma quarrel,n ho
said at once. "l'm bit queer in the tenn
per. but wouldn't like to vex you.n
"rm goin' TO try tho new boat; will ye
venture out wi me, lassie,n be went on
quietly after moment
did not know what 10 say. II would
not he 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 again. But could trust him His
mother, old Mamie Carr, had come up
while we were speaking and she took part
! with him.
Its not much to ask ye, Elsie, and it'll
pleaSo him ever so He's gev-queer to do
we lust now, lassie,n she said aside to me.
III ye can humor him bit We might for
mas sakel"
She was kind neighbor and often the
BARNS got dinner from her when was
away, so | did not care to refuse her II
she saw no harm in ii, who else would dare
to talki
Still besitated.
"Dye think it's satei The soa has been
callin' of and on all the day. Listen"
And in tho hush which so often precedes
gale we could distinctly hear that strange
moaning, about which we always say
'The sea is calling"
Edam throw quick glance along the
horizon.
'Ipll 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 mo doubtful, but did not want to
seem coward; 80 before long we were out
on the open sea, tacking 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 woll be,
and SKINNED the waves like bird.
"She's bonnie one to 90, Edam, said,
after q little, but got no reply. Edam
sat with his eyes fixed upon the distant
thing over very deeply followed the di
rection 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 break, save In one place, where
It was as though mighty hand had pushed
them aside to make space for the tenn
post to break through All around this
space was hurry and confusion, while the
rest of the sky was sullen and quiet Fai
out the sickly gleam on the horizon was
repeated on dark 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 angry
looking waste of waters at the mercy oi
Edam Carr and his caprices.
"Don't you think we should go back now
Edamln asked timidly; cit doesn't lool
overwell out yonder," and 1polnted to the
far sea.
"Leave that to me, Elsie, ma darlin'"
He had no right TO call me his darling
but was beginning to be very much afraid
and so said nothing about that. But al
at once a rush, whirl, and roar causeC
me to scream out as squall struck ou
little craft and made it heel over, wettint
me to the skin at the same time, As
matter Of fact, we fisher lassies are not q
all brave upon the sea, though it may b'
, almost our native element There are very
few Grace Darlings among us. Indeed, W
hardly ever venture into boat at all. s.
, It is not to be wondered at that my oouI
age should fail utterly when we began b
ship heavy seas.
90, take me home, Edam, or know wei
never win back at all ~
!. But he took no notice more than to pu
| ,.s,l.A tse.l,k La, LII f,,1