Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-06-02
A Fisherman's Daughter.

There had been fo5 in the earl,
morning, but the sun, gathering
strength, burst suddenly behind ;
black and indigo cloud and slreaket
the sea with coppcrish hue. Fal
down the beach were two men and ,
boat. They were stalwart men, ant
the eldest was busy shaking from til,
neshes of draw-nct entangled tuftl
of maroon and brown seawced.
"Poor draughts, Shclah," said Tho
net-shaker, looking philosophically
into the basket that held the fish.
"Poor enough, Master Reeks. Is i
home now?'
CAY, lad; home it is. Get in tho
boat, Shelah."
Tho young man jumped into tl,C
boat and took the oars; The Other
showed of, and when he was knee.
deep in the salt water clambcrcd il
after him.
"Shclah," said Rceks, speaking of Z
sudden, "whcu are you going TO marry
my Jen?"
There came little extra color into
Shelah's smooth, tanned checks. 81
don't know MASTER" he said.
"Ah," said Reeks, with sigh, q
wish her mother was alive"
"Why, old Tom ?" asked Shclah.
"Why? To sheer her, lad. I'u
Altered my hand is bit too heavy on
tie tiiler for dainty craft like m.
Jcn. She wants a woman At her hef
lum-or husban'."
"What makes you say that?" asked
Shelah, resting on his oars.
"Pll tell We, lad" he said, slowly
otis been on my mind long time, an
now I'll tell ye. l don't like the
comin's am COINS of That young
brewer O. our'n, Mr.. Cyril Rivington.
Now, in my fathers time, an in my
item, the old "ship" might ha' lumblcd
about our cars for all the brewer
cared or troubled. But since this here
young chap ha' come from abroad, an
his father ha' take him into partner
ship. things ha' altered. Nigh on
every day he's a-ridin' up to know if
we want anything done. | should've
care how many times lie come. Shelah
if it warn't for Jen. Pm afreed that
his fine boss an his velvet coat an his
leggins an walch-chain may dazzle
her, lad. It's precious little company
we see at the 'Ship,' an it may make
her dissatisfied with the life shes
Ieadin'."
"Jen is all right" said Shelah,
firmly.
80 she is, my lad; but she'd be a
lot better married. An SO, between
man an man, my lad, | wants 10
know when you arc goin' to marry
her?'
''Pd marry her tomorrow" said
Shelah, wistfully, off she'd ha' me.
master"
Reeks looked at him steadily for a
moment.
"Shelah Baxter" he said solemnly,
"you put me in mind of that song the
Scotch packman was singin' in the
Ship the other night. You sit on a
stule an look like a fule, with your
hold jaws newly shayen. You amt
got the pluck of mouse"
Shelah looked dreamily at the pur-
ple-feathered arrows and silvery
spear-tipped shafts of cloud over the
sea, but gave no contradiction.
"Wf wimen, | mean," pursued
Reeks. "There amt a man in the
whole village, Shelah, that could put
you on your back. But WI womcn!''
lie snorted. "Why, man alive, the
holder you are with woman the bet
ter she likes ye. Sec how they run
after soger's coat. Now l ha' got a
bit aud you ha' got boat of your
own, and what's TO prevent you two
a seltlin' down together? Pluck up,
Shelah, says l, ha' no more shilly-
shallyin'."
"rll think on it," said Shelah,
slowly.
do" said Recks, reiiling his pipe.
"But TO act upon il would be better. :
Shelah's suspended oars fell splash
upon the sea, and for a moment tho
boat seemed to raise up and fly bodily
over the top of Il wave, so hard did he
pull.
Master he said deliberately, "can
you read writin'?'
"No," said Rccks. 81 can't. Whypn
''Because, if you could, wanted
you to read this" lie held out sheel
of pink note paper. 1t was soiled
fish scales and tobacco dust. but even