Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-22
ABOVE THE DAM,

from the village, behind the hill, come,
family the sound Of bell. It's tones ar,
lost entirely when the breeze falls. The
inquire OF countryman carrying a scyth,
appears at the foot of the hill. He looks ur
at the woman and smiles. He waves hi,
hand to the children, and the elder of tn,
two says to her brother:
Father is going to cut the long grass
let us run and see him"
Hand in hand they pass down the slope
leaving the woman alone.
With her chin resting upon her breast
she gazes long at q particular spot on the
messy carpet at her feet. Her face ex.
presses placid conteRtment; in it there is
not a line of care or sorrow. She is think.
ing of nothing. The faint breeze auickens
and bears with it the notes of the bell.
which now rings ont clear and sweet. A
warm, delicious odor rises from below
where the scythe swishes through the long
grass. Is 1t this perfume or the laughter
OF the unseen children which stirs the
woman's memory
Her thoughts idly wander back through
the days Of her marriage-her motherhood
and she smiles as the peaceful DAYS PASS
in review through her mind They are like
hundreds of modest pearls strung upon a
hne wire, so uniform in their sweet dull
ness, their monotony of form and color.
She goes back TO the days before her mar
rage. The wind is rushing through the
topmost branches Of the trees, making a
sound MS of water pouring over a dam
and suddenly among the white pearls in
the dark recesses Of her memory there
CLEANS a ruby, red as blood
I.
winds through the country lying to the
northeast of New York called the Bronx
river In places it is so narrow one could
almost jump from one bank TO the other
Shut in by high wooded hills, the foliage Of
the trees meeting and intermingling across
the clear water, it is like an imprisoned
part Of the Scottish highlands, this lovely
bit of wood and stream in the suburbs of a
great metropolis.
family from New York were spending
some days in one Of the pretty villages near
the shores Of the Bronx. There were two
young girls, several children and visitor
"a girl cousin from the west--Cora Mar
tin.
The delightful week was drawing to a
close on this summer morning, when the
young people were all out together in
boat on the river.
Tomorrow evening we must say good
by to all this beauty" said Maria Alex
ander, who was rowing, and she lifted her
eyes sentimentally to an overhanging rock,
from which a great festooR of tangled
vines depended.
Yes, we have only two more days." said
Cora
Two more days-two more days" sang
Tommy from the stern, to the tune Of
Home Again." rocking the boat mean
while.
BE quiet, Tommy, or you'll upset the
boat" said Maria.
I'VE wouldn't drown il did, sis; went
in bathing right here yesterday--it isn't
up to my neck"
II think we must be nearly to the DAM"
said Adelaide Don't you hear itY"
81 say, Cousin Cora, are you going home
as soon as we go back to New York;" said
Tommy.
Eyes, on Wednesday"
Have you had good timer"
ooh, yes"
ISIS says you have. She says it's been a
great experience for you-being in New
York with us for two months"
Maria flashed an angry look at the boy.
'Sbe says it'll be something for you to
look back to all your life-something you
can tell your children about"
Maria stopped rowing. Tommy, if you
don't stop that abominable nonsense l
shall put you out of the boat at once"
Her face was painfully red.
Cora, who was sitting beside Tommy in
the stern, said nothing but turned and
looked up the river
There's turtle on that iog--look, sis
ter" cried little Alice.
Tommy leaned over the side Of the boat
and stretched out his hand toward the
turtle. 1t slid into the water and disap-
peared.
will you sit upi" said Maria, angrily.
Cora, are you going TO live on a farm
when you get marriedi What does Mr.
Doyle look likeS Is he very different from
New York meni Is living on farm set
thing down to rural blissY Maria says
rather than do that she'd'-
A long, slender hand gripped Tommy's
shoulder. "Take the oars and row, and see
II that will keep your tongue quiet"
Tommy sprang to the oars, and Maria,
flushed and warm, sat beside Cora in the
stern.
"Why didn't you let me row in the first
placep grinqed Tommy.
Adelaide bent down her head that she
might conceal her laughter behind the
brim of her straw hat
Are we most to the bend, Coraw asked
Tommy
"Yes, and be careful you don't run us
into the bank" said Maria. The boat glided
through the narrow channel, around the
bend, and the stream widened. At the .
same moment the roar Of the water pour
Inn over the dam was audible
There's a boat In the middle of the {
river with nobody in it," said Alice.
"Where" said Tommy, looking around. I
A boat Of light and elegant build was {
drifting in midstream. The oars were J
crossed, their blades high in the air.
isis, Pm going to get it and get in it,
then you may row again, cried Tommy 4
beginning to pull violently on the oars.
"You shall do no such thing" said Maria I
--"and stop, you are splashing u.s."
As they drew nearer the boat a golden
omething CLEANED at the edge Of the seat
n the stern.
There is a yellow silk handkerchief on {
be seat" said Adelaide. ooh, there's
omebody in the boatr' she cried; pull on
he other oar, Tommy, quickp'
BE carefulp' screamed Maria. TON
ny, stopp
The bow Of their boat shot to the left,
nd the stern swinging around Just grazed
he other In the bottom Of the boat lay
{ full length young man clad in white
coating suit. His hat was off and his
lopd head rested ON his crossed hands