Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-07-27
* fisbermon's Daughter

.,
rengtn, burst suddenly from behind
'~klck and indigo cloud and sreaked
Il sea with a cOpperiSh hue, says the
Chambers Journal. Far down the
beach were two men and boat. They
were StalWart men, and the eldest was
busy shaking from the meshes Of ID
draw-net entangled tufts of maroon
and brown SeaWeed.
Poor draughts, Shelah,'' said the
net-shaker, looking philosophically into
the basket that held the fish.
Poor enough, Master Reeks. Is it
home noW?'
"Ay, lad; home it is. Get in the
boat, Shelah.''
The young man Jumped into the boal
anG nOok the oars; the other showed off,
.and when he was knee deep i'll the salt
water clalnbered in after him.
''Sheiah,' said Rees, speaking of a
sudden, when are you going to marry
my Hem"
There came little extra color into
Shelah's smooth, tanned cheeks. Il
don't know, MASTER he said.
"Ah,'' said Reeks, with Il sigh, Il
wish her mother was alive
Why, Old Tom:" asked Shelah.
Why? To sheer her, lad. I'm
Altered my hand is a bit too heavy on
the tiller for a dainty craft like my
hellum-Or d huSban.'
What makes you say that?' asked
Sheah, resting on his oars.
III tell We lad he said, slowly
It's been on my mind a long time, an
now I'll tell We. l don't like the com
ms an COINS oil that young brewer
of our'n, Cyril RiyingtOn. Now, in my
fathers time an III my time the old
Ship might ha' tunbled about oul
ears for all the brewer cared or trOu
bled. But since this here young chap
hA' come from abroad an his father
ha' altered. Nigh on every day he's
a-lidin' UP to- know if we want any
ha' taken him into partnership things
thing done. Is the beer all right!
Are there any repairs needed? An
all that / shouldn't care how MANY
times he come, Shelah, if it Warn't fol
Jeu. I'm afreed that his fine boss. an
velvet coat an his leggins an watch
chain may dazzle her, lad. It's pre-
cious little company we see at the
Ship an it may make her dissatisfied
with the life she's leadin'.'
"Jen is all right" said Shelah, firmly
$50 she is, my lad; but she'd be lo1
better married. An so, between man
an man, my lad, / wants to know wher
you are goin' to marry her?'
I'D marry her tomorrow" SAID
Shelad. wistfully, IF she'd ha' me
master"
Reeks looked at him steadily for 6
moment. "Shelah Baxter he SAID
sOlemnly, you put me in mind Of thai
song the Scotch packman was singin
in the Ship the tother night. You si
on stule an look like a fule, will
your hold Jaws newly shaver. YOr
amt got the pluck of mouse"
Shelah looked dreamily at the purple
feathered arrows and silvery spear
tipped shafts of cloud over the sea, bu
gave no contradiction.
"Wi' wimen, I mean,'' pursued
Reeks. There amt a man in the
whole village, Shelah, that could pu
you on your back. But wi Wimen!
/ He snorted. why, man alive the
holder you are with a woman the bet
ter she likes .,e. See how they ru1
after a soger's coat Now, I ha' go
! a bit and you ha' got a boat of own
and what's to prevent you two settlin
down together? Pluck up, Shelah, say:
I, ha' no more shilly-shallyin'."
I'll think on it." said Shelah, slowly
/ DO" said Reeks, refilling his pipe
But to act upon it would be better.
Shelah's suspended oars fell splasl
upon the sea and for moment thu
boat seemed TO raise UP and fly bodil!
over the top Of a wave. SO hard did h,
pull.
Master he said deliberately, ''can
you read writin':"
Because, if you could. I wanted yol
70 read this He held out a sheet O
pink nOtepaper. 1t was soiled will
fish scales and tobacco dust, but ever
now retained a sweet and subtle per
fume.
Reeks took it gingerly, held it il
three different ways and narrowl,
scanned it. "All / can make out, lad
he said, sis these here
What are they?', cried Shelah
on oorIv