The Forrest City times., 1891-03-13
A MAIDEN FAIR.
BY CHARLES GIBBoN.
CHAPTER I. A FRESH BREEZE.

have appeared dull and dirty but for their picturesquely irregular gables and heights. Then the busy figures of the fshwives in their bright-colored petticoats and ''short- gowns' Qong jackets); the lounging groups of the fishermen, and, above all, the hustle in the harbor and on it's walls which pro- jected out into the Forth, gave life to the scene in harmony with the strong breeze and the leaping waters.
 Out on the farthest point of the grey walls group of men and women, with the spray flashing over them and the keen wind biting their cheeks, stood watching smack which was tacking to make the port.
 twill she win in, think you~ asks one. 'Safe enough-Bob Ross is steering" con- Gdently answers little weather-wizened- faced old man, by name Dick Baxter.
 Bob Ross had seen smack capsize and with five trusty comrades had put off to the rescue.
 Tt was daftlilSe thing for Bob to think he could be out in time to help them."
 '.It was worth trying" said Baxter drilv. Suddenly the prov of the boat is turned towards the opening in the walls and comes straight and swiftly along, crosses the bar, down goes the sail, and boat and men are safe in haven.
 W had been done; but an eager inspection of the boat to see who was in it.
 'They hae gotten them q but Jock Tam son." said Baxter in a matter-of-fact tone, the circumstance being of too ordinary a nature to call for much feeling; 'puir sowl, he's gaen."
 My man, my man, cried a woman, rush. Ing down the steps to the boat, ''whar's hew' There was no answer and the woman un- derstood. She bowed her head, covered her face with her hands and was silent. Then couple of burly women, with broad shoul- ders and muscular hands, took each an arm of the mourner
 Come ava hame Jeanie," said one, quiet ly, and the voice was tender although the notes were harsh--"yell he better there."
 And they led the widow home. ] Bob Ross was the first out of the boat, helping one of the three men who had been saved to land. The others followed, and were first assisted to 8 much-needed dram and then to their houses. The crew pro- cseded to the inn, accompanied by num- Der of friends eager to obtain more details of the rescue than had been given in the hurried answers to the crowd in the haven. Ross did not accompany them. He gave his stalwart frame shake, like huge Newfoundland dog after coming out of the water, and that contentei him. He was man of about thirty, handsome fellow, tall and sinewy, dressed in a pilot jacket, and boots over his trousers.
 His face was tanned by exposure to the weather the features good, and the clear grey eyes which looked straiy yht at any man bespoke an honest, open, and fearless na- ture. He had begun life in his fathers fish I'm cf,,a al hut whilst al dy tn In his duty In the boat he had continued to attend school more than the other lads of the village, and to make more of what he learned there. The dominic took an inter- est in him and helped him to learn naviga- ton as far as it was in that worthy mans power to do it. But his real knowledge was gained by practical experiences in his fath- CTS smack. So, by the time he was twenty two he was said to know the road from Newhaven to John O Groat's-ay, or from Newhavcn to Yarmouth-better than any pilot in Leith. He obtained his license and became recognized pilot. He soon earned high reputation as trusty, steady, and skilful man. But he still retained his in- terest in the smack, and when occasion per- mitted went out to tho fishing with as much glee as of old.
 After he had seen the rescued men safe tn their homes, he turned on the way to his own. Dick Baxter met him. He was a tavorite of Dicks, and that was an honor tor Dick was . person of importance In the village An accident thirty years age had disabled him from following his craft as . fisherman; but he eked out living by do- ing odd jobs at the harbor and by the tips he obtained from sightseers for information about the place and people. This he gave with tho air of a proprietor showing his place to his guests. Amongst tisherfolk he ob- tained the reputation of being wise man. He was pawky one, giving advice in . siGx, learned way that impressed the simple although clever people. He pronounced as authoritatively on the position of current politics as on religious affairs and the weather. In short he was an authority in the land notwithstanding the chaff which he had sometimes to endure from the young CT men.
 In his scaly old blue jersey and corduroy trousers, and with his thin brown wizened face, he was always at his post and knew everybody's affairs.
 ''I was on the look-oot for you Bob. Hoo did you manage? It twas weel done onyway."
 We were just in tme-poor Thomson had gone and the other three were just drop ping off the keel. But you see We got them, and that's all"
 'Ay, but it was weel done, and there'll be paragraph in the Scotsman about you the-morn."
 Well, it'll do nae harm" answered Ross, laughing
 'Is that a you think o'to Man, I'd gie 0nTthing to hae them speak aboot me in print! But be that as t may, wha do you think Is kere9"
 "A lout oo'f fols.''
 s'.jst that. jst that; but was thinking ycu would like to ken that Jeems" (pro- nouncsd with the shorD 'is here"
 'To see his mother. I suppose, and get come more of her si Ter"
 'Jst that an srelking that fine English could hardly understai' Il II. But 1 thought you wou d ike to ken. for he's come to sel Go ne ane forhye his miiher."
 That was what D.clI Baxter had been waiting to tell. and he enjoyed the look on Bob Ross's face--a corltcal attempt to hide the fact that the news d.s ur0ed him.
 But what can that matter to me, Dick? suppose he Is free tn {, wherever he is wei. come like other folk
 Nae doot, and il's jst as you talk it. Eut If was ill your placs, I'd be there aiors him.
 Where, man, where"
 ''As though you didna ken,' exclaimed Dick slyy. "ilowsev you'll Ken fas when tell yon that saw her yes,reen and she was speerin' for you, and tn re was braw laugh oa her faca when said you was