News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-07-29

1
And in the hush which often precedes
a gale we could distinctly hear that
strange moaning, about which we al
! ways say 1.-THE sea is calling"
Edam threw quick glance along the
| horizon.
'Itll 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 l did not
| want to seem coward; so 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 man
age as any boat could well be, and
SKINNED the waves like bird.
"She's bonnie one to go, Edam," /
said after little, but l got no reply.
Edam sat with his eyes fixed upon the
distant sky, and I could see he was
| thinking something over very deeply.
| l followed the direction 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 a break
save in one place, where it was as
though mighty hand had pushed them
aside to make space for the tempest to
break through. All around this space
was hurry and confusion, while the rest
of the sky was sullcn and quiet. Far
out the sickly gleam on the horizon was
repeated on a gray green sea; nearer,
the dark waves were beginning to show
tops of white.
I did not like the prospect, nor did
| I like the notion of being out there on
that angry looking waste of waters at
the mercy of Edam Carr and his
caprices;
now, Edam?" asked timidly; sit does
not look over well out yonder," and I
pointed to the far sea.
Leave that to me, Elsie, ma dar-
limp
He had no right to call me his dar-
ling, but l was beginning to be very
much afraid, and SO I said nothing
about that.
But all at once rush, whirl and a
roar caused me to scream out as
suuall struck our little craft and made
it heel 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 element. There are very few
Grace Darlings among us. Indeed, we
hardly ever venture into boat at all.
1 So it is not to be wondered at that
my courage should fail utterly when we
began to ship heavy seas.
"Oh, take me home, Edam, or l know
we'll never win back at all"
But he took no notice more than to
put things right and tight in a skil'ful
wav | could not but admire however
angry began to feel toward him.
care yo1 never going to turn. Edam
| Carr?" broke out at last.
A suspicion which had often heard
| breathed in the village came back to me
| then, and / trembled for our lives.
They said ''Edam Carr was gettin' the
same queer look his feyther had afore
he went out of his held and drowned
hisselfm and remembering this and the
few words his mother had whispered,
inclined to think he was mad at times.
When I spoke he laughed out loud. 1t
was the first time that had ever heard
him laugh, and it gave me an odd feel
ing.
$50 you're afraid, ma bonnie Elsie
It's long time since you and l were as
much alone together as we are now
!. nothing but the boat that holds us two
on all that world O. waterl Eh, but it's
fine to have you all to myself like this y
"Are you madH" I exclaimed, my
thought taking words all unconscious
ly.
Edam laughed again, that horrible,
cruel laugh, which had no mirth IN it.
"Maybe Sometimes l think l an
myself, but if am, it's for love Of
you"
His eyes were so bright and so wild
could not bear to look at them, and his
, hand, as he took hold of mine, burned
with fever.
'sFor mercy's sake, Edam, take care
If ye don't mind we'll be both in the
water'
cam what O. that. At any rate well
drown together, and yell never belong
to another man."
: l clasped my hands in an agony o
terror Oh, what fool had been not
, to have guessed what might happen!
thought of the poor BARNS at hom'
waiting for me now to give them thei
a supper8, and hear their prayers and tucl
them up in their beds, and the tear
I rolled down my cheeks at the though
t of how long they might have to wait.
l ooh, Edap, | didn't think ye coulC
be SO cruel!" I said, between my sobs
7 But even the tears failed to move him
) You have been cruel enough to M
its my turn now" he answered, sui
lenly,'as he altered the sail.
t Bv this time the lurid CLEAN had al
. most died out from the sky and was al
a dark around us. The wind was blow
e ing strongly and hurrying the masses
S clouds across the heavens at headlon!
e speed, and tearing at the water unit
b the air and the waves mingled In on
wild fray How our little boat lived a
4 all in such a storm is more than ca
r understand. In the hands of les
:, experienced boatman we should hav
been lost in no time.
a ''Do have Pity on me and the poo
n little ones that have only me to look to
Edam dear Edam!"
/. CAV, it's dear Edam now you're 1
my power, but how long would it las
d if l let you win safe to land? Elsie,
y You'll say you'll be my wife I'll max
d for shore this minute-if not"
t. "What them" | faltered.
o 'I'n run us straight on to the 'Rit
It o. Death, and there'll be an end ont!
+. What was to do2 tried to be falls
to Willie for the sake of dear life, br
d it was no use. | couldn't get out III
n words which would make me so! If
IL must die, l must, and there was no hel
for ~ hut oh If was hard, while tt
W Young blood flowed quick and warm
my veins, to be plunged headlong I'M
h eternity.
Y, I gave one loud despairing cry,
', ooh, Willie, Willie! can you NJ
fe hear me, my sweetheart, my darllngf
er YOU were only by, know you cou!
save me- It's for your sake l die, Wi
e. lie; but | love you so, / love you SOL"
''Then die, Elsie, for you shall new
he be his wife''
le | sank down in the bottom of Il
=" boat and closed my eyes. l could n
i'll look at my death, though l knew
ut must come. A dull stupor crept ov
me. and the agony of fear which he
Id before was gone. Was it my dlsorder'
| imagination which made me thir
Y. something had happened, which soun'
lie perfectly Incredible 2
to It was getting too dark to distingui
Ist plainly, but, surely, that was Eda
ad Carr big form l saw at the other el
nd of the boat STOPPING over coil of rop
Then who was the man busted wi
nd the sail in the centre of it 2
,er We were shut off from all human he
id there in the midst of bowling tempe'
I. L