The Forrest City times., 1891-03-27
CHAPTER VT.
A WILD NIGHT.

Although the afternoon had brishtened in- to summer. the evening changed to winter Slowly the sky darkened As the sun set in . misty glory behind the hills, and clouds gathered. The restless wind. which had only abated during the day, again rose at first in . low monotone moving the clouds slowly along. but by-and-by 1t came sweep ing up the Firth in great gusts and singing wild duet with the hesving waters whilst the clouds hurried hither and thither with increasing rapldity, and the moon could only occasionally send silver gseam through the darkness.
 "lt'il be gey baw the-nicht" said tho hsher-folk, to whom every sound and sign of wind. water, and clouds had its mean ing.
 II doubt If they'll win out" they said sxain, with anxious looks at tho angry sky.
 They referred to the fishing fleet which nightly started on It's periloes adventures But there was no feur in the manner of re- garding the gathering storm; only calm re- cognition of an ordinary fact iR their dark lives, with possibly some sense of incon- venencc and loss due to the present stato of the elements The weather indicator, in the little square fronting one side of tho harbor-placed thcre with the kindliest in- tentions by some benevolent person-was rarely consulted. By most 1t was looked upon as sort of curious toy. Just tho weather box" said some, a if tempest and calm were looked up in It. Thcy looked te nature herself for guidance in their calling. and scdom thought whom they went out" that they might never como back; . blessed condition of the mind which enables us e dc our duty in the teeth of danger.
 Women as well As men take thoir lives In the saine way; never thought of what may come and only . short sharp cry in the heart with au outwarsily dumb sorrow when the worst befAlis. Then to work again; not . boat or . man tho less goes out tO sea not q woman the lesa ready t0 do her work on shore. Tho fife goes on just as If nothing had happened, whether 1t be a single smack or fleet that founders. There are moro mouths to All and therefore more work ts do. There is no time for outward wailing
 What goes on within-iod knows
 In tho parlor of Anchor Cottage the cap tain was comfortably smoking his pipe and drinking toddv; seated In . big hiyh-backcd armchair. clieery Ire burning at his feet Annie Ut the table was busy with accounts which she was anxious to dispose of before going to bed.
 The wind made loud moaning round tho walls, but never window or door shook, everything had. been iaade so truly Arm. This was house built to stand and not to sell.
 Neither father nor daughter paid heed te the storm. He was busy with his pipe and hls toddy. delighting himself in watching her silent diligence in work. Sc they had been occupied for some time. Then he showed symptoms of restlsssness. and at length spoke.
 "Will you be soon done, Annie: l want C speak to you"
 lthappencd that she had very clear no- ten of what he wished to speak to her about, and also that shc did not wish to hear t. So she answered.
 It will take me long while yet. father; maybe, till bedtime"
 She proceeded with renewed energy to cy- anime books and papers and 10 calculate Agurea, and he remained silent respecting her task aud vAluing It's results. By-and,by he became restless again?.
 "Are ye ma nearly done ye,y' he Inquired imra,iently.
 "Til make soms stupid blander If you keep on spsaking. father"
 Then stop afore you mako the b.under, because maun speak to you about mat ter that has been rumblin' in my Inside q this afternoon"
 Thus commanded she knew that no fur ther evasion of the dlsagreeable subject was possible without getting her father into one of his pas,ions--and they were frequent enough and furioss enough to make her willing to sacrihcs her own comfort in any way to avoid one of them. She lad down her pen, turned her chair towards him and said quietly
 Now. father. what Is your will?' He took the pipe from his mouth, careful ly examined its contents, then pressed them down with his finger; next took a biz guip at his toddy. and finally replacing the pipe between his teeth said. in . sort of shy way
 ''i wanted to speir at ye something"
 What Is it fathery' she replied tender ly though much tempted to laugh at his droii behavior.
 He felt that inclplcnt laugh, and some thimg of tho fun of the position touched himself, for ho grinned as he said-- 'Juss this, my lass; would ye like to hs mArrrit*'
 That would depend upon the man. fath- she answered, with merry laugh. ssHoosaI lassteI' hs sald. with eomical nlxlnro of isrl,nbulsy ana ssnee q hnnes