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

A ElSherman'S Daughter
There had beeu fos in the carly
morning, but the sun, gathering
strength, burst suddenly behind {
black and indigo cloud and streaket
the sea with Il coppcrish hue. Fai
down the beach were two men and 6
boat. They were stalwart men, and
the eldest was busy shaking from tho
meshes of draw-nct entangled tufts
of maroon and brown seaweed.
"Poor draughts, Shclah," said the
net-shaker, looking philosophically y
into the basket that held the fish.
"Poor enough, Master Reeks is il
home now?'
Gay, lad; home it is. Get in tho
boat, Shelah."
The young man jumped into the
boat and took the oars; thc Other
showed off, and when he was knee.
deep in the salt water clambcrcd in
after him.
"Shelab," said Rceks, speaking of a
sudden, "whcn are you going o marry
my Jen?"
There came little extra color into
Shelah's smooth, tanned cheeks. al
don't know MASTER" he said.
"Ah," said Rocks, with sigh, 81
wish her mother was alive"
"Why, old Tom ?" asked Shelah.
"Why? To sheer her, lad. rm
afccred my haud is bit too heavy on
tie ti!ler for dainty craft like nv
Jcn. She wants woman At her he'll
lum-or husban'."
"What makes you say that?" asked
Shelah, resting ON his oars.
"Pll tell ye, lad" he said, slowly {;
otis been on my mind long time, an
now I'll tell ye. | 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' lumbled
about our ears for all the brewer
cared or troubled. But since this here
young chap ha' come from abroad, an
his father Ila' take him into partner
ship. things ha' altered. Nigh on
every day he's a-ridin' up to know if
we want anything done. | shouldn't
caro- how many times lie come. Shclah,
if it warn't for Jcn. Pm afreed that
his fine hoss an his velvet coat an his
leggins an walch-chain may dazzle
her, lad. It's precious little company
we see at the Snip an it may make
her dissatisfied with the life she's
leadin'."
"Jen is all right" said shclah,
firmly.
80 she is, my lad; but she'd be a
LOT better married. An SO, between
man an man, my lad | wants to
know when you are goin 10 marry
her?"
"Pd marry her tomorrow" said
Shelah, wistfully, "if 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 packmau was singin' III the
Ship the other night. You sit on a
stulc an look like fule, with your
hold jaws newly shaven, You ain't
got the pluck of Il mouse"
Shelah looked dreamily at the pur-
ple-feathered arrows and silvery
spear-tipped shafts of cloud over the
sea, but gave no contradiction.
"Wr wimen, | mean," pursued
Recks. "Therc amt a man in the
whole village, Shclah, that could put
you on your back. But WI womenI'
lie snorted. "Why. man alive, the
bolder you are with woman the bet
ter she likes yc. Sec how they run
after a soger's coat. Now | ha' got a
bit and you ha' got a boat of your
own, and what's 10 prevent you two
seltlin' down together? Pluck up,
Shelah, says I, ha' no more shilly-
shallyin'."
"l'n 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 splash
upon the sea, and for a moment the
boat seemed to raise up and fly bodily
over the top of wave. so hard did he
pull.
"Master' he said deliberately, "can
you read writn'?'
"No," said Reeks. 'Ican't. Whyq"
"Because, if you could, wanted
you to read this" He held out sheet
of pink note paper. 1t was soiled
fish scales and tobacco dust. hut even