The herald., 1893-10-11

I
she helped picl tho nets cause they was
short O hands nd dories. She saved oil
crazy Bilrs life one day when his boat
rapsized in n squall Bill never forgot
that. cracked eshe were. The little I'M,
Neddy, too, how she did love i'm! He
were fat, nolenn looking little feller.
onstidy on his logs md jes' beginnin to
talk. Favored Sam, but he'd her eyes
bootiful eyesl
"Well, ono mild, bright day in winter,
the Breezy agin dropped anchor in the
harbor. She he'd fust rate haul O. fish
aboard 'er, nd they'd been very easy
trip.
"Sittin ct supper Peter (my brother
thets dead) said the men off the Breezy
was raisin hi with their money down
to Jilly's. 81 Jilly KEEP the store then
nd sold bad whisky in back room.
'Ych didn't see Sam Weston with 'em,
did yeh: mother asked, kinder anxious.
She was very fond o jess, mother was.
No. said Peter. He must hev' stecred
straight home Mother give a sigh O
relief nd asked us not to go a-nigh Jilly
md his crew thet night. We humored
'er nd staid to home. member Peter
| played ON lis Gordon all the evenin.
Lord, how he did make the thing work!
1t arays pleased mother nd father so.
''Long arter midnight, when we'd all
turned in, cd hear the singin nd howl
in goin on down to Jilly's. Et must hcv
been bout in the mornin thet couple
O the devils come reelin by, yellin nd
cussin. Then [ fell asleep, md the mex
thing knew l was sittin straight up in
bed a-listnin. Et was knock thet he'd
| woke me-a knock ct our door. Quick
/ l jumped into my clothes nd run down
| below A secon knock come. so very
gentle thet ct made me feel queer /
thought of the Moonfaced Lady nd the
'Wisitin Cod Not thet / blieved them
yarne-Lord, no. I didn't unbolt the
door, but called out low: Who is it?
What d'yeh want?
''No answer. Then agin, little loud
er: Who is ct? Tell me what yeh want
! Nd a strange voice answered: It's me,
Jess. Let me in Nd l threw open
the door. In she walked with the boz
in 'er arms. 1t were Jess, md yit it warnt
! Jess. | didn't dare TO speak. A fearful
look was in 'er eye. Mother was up by
this time nd in the room. The gal walk
ed straight up to 'er md put the boy in
'er arms. Mis- jameson said she in
thet cold, strange voice, Mis- Jameson,
! I've killed Sam. He wanted to strangle
my baby. See! Sect The black marks
on his soft little neck. drove a knife
deep, deep, into the cruel heart md with
thet she seemed to let go O 'erself, fell
right down on the floor screamin, nd
ct was all Peter nd cd do to keep 'er
from banging 'erself to pieces.
"Nesldy begun to cry. He were
frightened, poor little fellerl nd moth
er took i'm away, huggin i'm close.
Father nd Jack Andrews pulled over to
the islun md come back lookin white md
skeered. She done et,' was all father
cd say, 'shc done et.' Then come some
black days-Jess carried off nd Sam
buried. Et seemed the wagabond he'd
gone home thet night mad wi the drink,
md he must have set out to strangle his
boy. The marks were on i'm. e \
Some say jess were a lnurd'ress, md thet
she ought t hev- been hung, but l can't
see .et in thet light. Anyway they let
'er be, nd ct warn't long afore she lef'
this world O 'er own accord. Poor
creatur'! Poor suff rim creatur'!'
'And the little fellow, what became Of
him?" 1 ventured to ask, breaking the
long pause that followed the cap'n's last
words.
"The little feller?" repeated my friend,
raising his bowed head and mechanically
rolling a bit of thread. "Well, d'yeh
see a green dory over by the lighthouse?'
eyes, capn."
"And fine, strappin boy in 'er settin
lobster trap:'
Eyes"
"Thot'sthe little feller. Boston Tran
script.