Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-16
JEM MAYNARD'S LUCK.
By CORNELIA HICKMAN

you're cold" He pinned it up round her
throat.
Now" said he, turning round his back
to keep the wind off of her, "stand up here
close to me. Poor Sue," he said, compass
sionately; ''it's hard on you, amt it?'
ooh! Neil. 60 away" she cried; father
IL come back and see you. Go awayl'
"And whut if he does? said Neil, biuntly.
''Sha'n't keep you from f.cezin'? If it
wuzn't for the neart in you you'd a froze
long ago, he said, observing her closely.
but good-by, dear" (kissing her), there
comes your father; don't let him knock you
out of the boat"
He turned and walked rapidly away:
Black Sue jumped into the boat and cried
to her father: "Here, father! herep'
why didn't you holler before?" said
Jem, coming up and getting into the boat.
We've lost ten minits by your holdin' your
tongue, It's seldom you DO, though. Push
out Whut air you waitin' fur? You ex-
pect ME to do il all? Then 1 won't. So
saying he crossed his arms over his breast
and lay back in the boat.
1t was beginning to get little light as
they came in sight of the pool. Black Sue
reused her father. who had been sound
the net, father; we're here"
"Then stop your hollerin'; I'm not deaf.
Jem stood up and peered into the water.
His eye caught his stakes. ITO the right,
he cried; ito the right"
Together they hauled in the net. Jem
syore in perfect delight at each fish that he
piked. The suns faintest beams followed
their boat to the shore; the women had al
| ready kindled the fires under the large iron
| pots which swung oD the bank like big black
birds nests ready for the refuse of fish bones
and fat; rows of storm-washed barrels; half
filled with pure oil extracted by the suns
heat, were visible, while under a long shed
were more barrels, filled with dried and
salted fish, and train oil awaiting transpor-
tation.
The women stood around, open-mouthed,
at Jem Mavnard's luck. He hauled out the
net on the bank with its wonderful load of
fishes, so they could see it the better. Jem
was as proud man that morning as ever
spread net in Orkney.
1t was getting late in the evening when
Neil Blame, coming out of his hut, saw Black
Sue standing beside her boat. He went
toward her.
"Whut air you doin' here BY YOURSELF"
''I'm waitin' for father"
Hasn't he come yet?" and Neil gave
low whistle. "Well, then he won't. Come
along, hop into the boat; I'll help you to-
night"
"Oh, mol" exclaimed Black Sue. "It
amt hard work spreading the net. L can
go by myself"
"Can you?" said Neil, heedlessly. "Never
mind; jump in, quickl Let's be off.
Just as he turned the boat around, Jem
came staggering down the path, and halloed
to them.
Come along with you" said Neil, "Or
we'll sail without YOU
"Be i if you will, said Jem, scram-
bling into the boat. "Who's cap'n here?
I'd like to know
You sit down, old feller," said Neil,
pushing of; "else you'll take a tumble"
Jem soon quarreled himself to sleep, and
Neil, telling Black Sue to throw his thick
coat over her shoulders, steered the boat on
its course. Black Sue held her head down
from the cold blasts that sprang up every
second.
''Sue," said Neil, looking up and seeing
her bowed head, 'you sha' MT come out here
and freeze. There's to be a stop to it, and
it had just as well be now as never, I'll
fight every man in the settlement if he don't
stand by you. I'll see to that"
"HuShp'
TITS time he was awake, anyhow" said
Neil, shaking Jem roughly, and not needing
Black Sues caution, IS she looked uneasily
at her father. Jem opened his eyes at his
leisure, and stretched himself; but when he
saw who 1t was that had reused him he sat
up and began to curse with all the might
his tripping tongue could boast OF.
Stop that J" thundered Neil, clapping
his hand over Jem's mouth.
You - devil, your exclaimed Jem,
getting on to his feet; but Neil pushed him
back into his seat to keep him from going
overheard.
Muttering and fierce, Jem looked at Neil
from under his lowering eyebrows, till his
explosive anger could be held within bounds
no longer; he watched his opportunity and
sprang at Neil's throat
Surprised, Neil drew hastily back: but
Jem, now infuriated, began to pommeI him
in the face with his fists Neil STRUGGLED
hard to get free, but Jem had obtained a
firm hold on his collar, and each man tot
tered and pulled the other this way and
that in the furiously rocking boat, till at
last Black Sue heard groan and splash in
the water.
She knew perfectly well what had hap.
pened before she took her hands down from
her eyes. She fell on her knees in the
boat now half full of water; she extended
her hands toward heaven, and tried not to
see what was happening in the water be.
meath. Suddenly she collected her alright
ed senses, and. stretching out her hands for
an oar, bent her body over the side of the
boat.
The moon had not yet risen; she could
not see; with her oar she felt about blindly
in the water. The boat floated little with
the moving tide, when her single oar struck
something. 1t touched it again; it was the
missing oar. Joyfully she snatched it up
into the boat, having pulled it gently within
her reach with the other. Her boat took a
wider circuit, and her eyes shot round over
the water. Nothing was to be seen, but
her oar hit something besides the water
She steadied the boat, and put out her oar
again in as nearly the same spot as before.
Neil father !'' she cried. Neil !"
SIS it you, Sue?" said Neil's weak voice
from the water, after moment.
"Neil here! give ME your hand"
With her head turned toward the place
whence the voice came, she waited in an
agony of mind, and held her hands out to |
him.
Quick why don't you hurry, Neil?"
II can't; l can't touch your hand, Sue."
he said. family. Take it back; l want to |
say something to you before 1 sink-my
strength and breath is both goin'."
''For Gods sake, Neil, let me help Won
to crawl in; we must find father; he'll soon
chill to death" she cried, beside herself.
''No, nop' reiterated Neil, feebly, hold |
ing off from the boat. "It's of no use-I |
must tell you-and then you won't hold out
your hands to me any longer-your father
-mu-st -drowned-I-I-can' t find him;
he must have sunk right away" gasped he.
"0hl Sue, Sue, it's too much; you must
tell me Good-byl good-byp' He
raised his arms above the water, struggling,