The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-02-13
KRELL'S JOHN.

OF all the dreary months Of the year, Jan
nary Is the drearies1, down by the sea; being
synonymous with high gales and deluges OF
rain, alternated by snow-squals and bitter,
freezing cold. Lucky the fisher who has been
sufficiently forehanded to allow himself hol-
iday during that time. Better to doze by the
huimblest fireside, though the good wife scold
and the babies cry, than riding the winter
waves, stung by the snow-bees and numbed
by tho wind, with more than likely only q
frozen nose or fingers to pay for the toll.
II any mariners were awake 10 this indis-
putable fact, the Stormhaven fishers certainly
were, for as January is the dreariest month,
50 Htormhaven was the dreariest place in
which TO spend II. A poor, browbeaten little
settlement, whose sole boast was more wrecks
and drowned men than any neghboring VII.
iage
Shaken by the gales and dashed by the
waves, 1t bore a forlorn aspect OF fright, as
not knowing in which quarter to look for
safety. The houses, built for protection from
the wind, faced all points Of the compass, and
the streets in turn followed the erratic exam
pie Of the dwellings; which, though undoubt.
edly convenient, was scarcely according to
surveyors idea of beauty. In fact, on the
mildest summer day, Stormhaven was not in
viting in appearance; and now, in a sputter.
ing, angry snow-gust, which chased the waves
toppling over each other towards shore, IL
looked like some deserted village Of the polar
regions, rather than the respectable Atlantic
town II claimed to be on the map.
Some signs of human life were visible on
the beach, however, in the shape of four men
engaged in launching fishing boat, regard.
less OF the driving flakes. Anything but q
cheerful party apparently, three of the num-
Der wearing scowls varying in intensity from
mild perplexity to deepest wrath, while the
fourth and youngest concealed his brow, and
consequently his feelings, beneath an oil-skin
cap drawn low over his eyes
In silence and gloom the guartette worked
on until the perplexed members feelings over
came him. He was mild-featured giant in
faded peajacket, whose pockets he nervously
explored as he spoke.
"Ef wot we sed las night, Krell, causes you
ter 60, in course we'd ha' taken it back, he
slowly volunteered, but his righthand com
yanicn snapped him up before the words fairly
left bis mouth.
Speak fer yerself, young feller" growled
the second speaker, with dignity. "Ef Tim'thy
Krell ez hankerin' fer friz nose, let him get
il, ser l! Ef man is gump enuif ter put of
en- SIGH sturm jes' fer few words let him
go, SCI |! Wot's sed en- joke sh'd be took EN-
Joke. an CT n man makes arrest off it, faint
my fault, nor yours nuther."
John Krel said nothing. He had proven
the golden value Of silence from experience.
Moreover, his father and himself were
alone TO make the voyage, no preferred suf
fering frozen nose peacefully, rather than
bringing down the parental yials Of wrath to
no purpose.
Most of tho Stormhaven residents consid
cred "krell's John" ~ rather weakmnded
in giving way to his fathers oddities rs he
did forbearanco and submission being moth
ing short Of an imbecility, 10 their vigorous
understandings. At "a one should have
will Of his own If he ever expected to possess
such thing, and surely man of no spirit is
a poor creature. But Krell's John persisted
on his tranquil way, needless of criticism or
advice. He had very great reverence for
the fifth commandment, and still greater
horror Of family disturbances.
Tho most convincing arguments in the
world would rebound Intellectually from the
chain-armor OF his fathers obstinacy, SO
wherefore waste BREATH
On one opinion alone he remained firm, in
spite OF threats, sneers, and stormings. That
opinion, naturally, was tho identical one OF J
all others that he shouldn't have held, anC ,
The subject of it was "Widder Durant's Han
nah"
Hannah was pretty, and Hannah was poo
and browning crime of all, her father he /
never caught II fish in his life, being n city |
clerk. who years before, carried Off the beauty
Of the coast as his wife, only at his death to
send her back broken in fortune, health and
spirit. OF course, the first mentioned virtue
could not outweigh, the latter sins; and like |
WISE OF course, she and krcl'S meek, dreamy |
John mast need fall in love.
Now, worldly pride has lodging even in
fshcrrnans breast, Stormhaven fisherman
at Chat, and Timothy krell was 10y no means |
pleased with the daughter his son proposed to |
present him.
10 could lay claim TO more of the exceed
ingly undesirable real estate of Stormhaven
than any other man of tho place. gossip
limited that he had at least g., 900 boarded up
in bank; aud hastily and most overwhelming,
he could trace his ancestors away back into
the misty shades of the seventeenth century ,
Al tstIN - lpifItu lIlt /
water," he was won't conclude with final |
bang Of the fist ON the store-counter, after
holding forth on his genealogy to an awe
struck circle at Bennets.
Poor Hannah She would fly like the
foam Of the sea before the west wind when
she saw her prospective father in law
loom up in the distance. She was timid
little maid with frightened, fawnlike eyes
and the life Of solitude she led with her
sorrowful mother did not tend to make her
moro courageous; but she would have braved
almost anything for her John, always and
ever excepting Timothy. On the morning OF
The fishing trip she dared even that. John
was bnsy with the fishing tackle, when the
CLEAN of a scarlet shawl behind tho sand hill |
caught his eye His father saw it, too and
grew hundercloud in aspect; for his son
and heir, dropping the lines, went to meet the
wearer OF the brilliant garment.
John, you're never going out in the storml" |
cried the GIRL clutching the sleeve of his rub |
Der coat as he drew near. "Tsey were talking |
about it at the store when / went in, and / |
couldn't believe 1t true. Oh, don't-don't risk
your life in the face of such wind Have
viii OF your own, dear. just for oucel"
"You foolish little lass" said the young |
man, smiling down at her. A tall, awkward, |
fair haired fellow, but the tender look in his |