Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-06-08
A HARD BARGAIN.


1t was an afternoon in late September,
End the little village by the Fifcshlro
toast seemed asleep in the faint but mel
lowing sunshine.
The boats were all at sea, the male part
of the population with them; the women
busy at their weekly read up, " for it was
Saturday, and there was no time for gos
Zip or stravagin till the lamps were lit and
the BARNS in bed.
Down the beach in n little sheltered cove
group of five of those BARNS wore play
iAg A spirit of mischief was abroad, for
they had left the tame and everyday occu-
patton of castle building, and lurcd by the
dominating spirit, for there is always one
among n gathering of children they were
playing at going for IA sail in the only
available boat, trim and taut little out
riggcr, the property of the young clerk
who had lately come to the bank in Dert-
haven and who spent many an afternoon
rocking to and fro on the fresh waves,
volume of poetry in his hands. Banking
was but slack business in the village, and
the life just suited the temperament of the
young man in question.
"Dae We think | dinna ken a ABBOTT
boats Jeannic Grcg, that ye tell me to
mind what IN after"
This was from the eldest of the little
crew, Il fine, daring looking boy of 1 j or =.
AN Master Armstrong himself tauld
me the last time | was GOT wi him an
Jimmie that gin Jimmie has to gang to
the fshin next year he'll tax me instead
to tax charge O the boat. "
The girl only laughed in the peculiarly
riling way girls of all ages occasionally
adopt toward boys, also of all ages She
was about his own age, and looking after
pretty wee mite of II thing. n 3-ycar-old
lassic, all tangled curls and big blue eyes.
The boy locked over the deserted beach.
They were out of sight Of dangerous Win
lows. The owner had gone to Edinburgh
4 = the day. The sea lay dimpling and
smiling and tempting, and before the
others knew what had happened he had
luosod the moorings, and they were afloat.
Seven o'cloc, on that September night!
Clouds and darkness, instead of sunlight
on that trcachcrOus sea. Instead of the
soft breeze and dancing ripplcs IA whistling
wind and waves white and sullen.
Two hours ago the dreadful truth was
through the village that Mr.. Armstrong;
boat was missing, and the lost children
could be nowhere else but driving before
that rising gale. And now there was gath
cred at the tiny harbor a crowd of anx-
ious, helpless women waiting-what could
they do but wait the home coming of the
boats that must put out again that night?
Some of them were weeping, some trying
to speak comfortably" one, the mother
of the boy ringlcadcr, praying wildly that
her boy" only hers, might be saved. SO
"a
young woman, who neither prayed nor
wept nor spoke. She stood right ON the
point of the little jctty, careless of the spray
that had already soaked her 1uttcring
shawl 1t had fallen from her head and
uudor her fair, looscncd hair one could see
In the lanterns LIGHT her white, wrun~
face. Only her hands, that claspcd anc
Uncla5pcd in 'ght crushing CHIPS, and the
low moan chat once or twice escaped from
her set lips, showed how terrible was tho
strain of waiting when any moment might
be too late. At last the beats came in.
Ire over they had set foot on shore, in IA
few hurried, shouted words, these quiet,
grave men had heard the news. There
WA bat little time lost. One or two look
ID nj each other and cut at the tcmpcstu-
Gus night and thought of many wild
reef and the frightened, helpless BARNS.
But they spoke chcerily enough and made
their preparations. In the darkness and
confusion the girl who had stood SO 81
lcrt came among them and seemed to look
for some one Then she said in a low
voice, "Davic, Davie McKerra," and IA
man turned and held out his hands to her
She put both her hands on the shoulders
Of his dripping oilskin.
Bring back little Elsic!" she said in IL
chokcd, agonizcd cntrcaty. And T.
She stopped and whispered a few words
in his ear The man looked once long
and earnestly, into the girls white face.
Aye, God help me, Annio!" and the
boats put out again
"Weel Davie lad, that was Il fell sharp
tusslc we hnd XcStrpcn. Cod be nrniscI