The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-03-06
OF the road, just after you leave the

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children, Anna and Frederick Hall. ]
must tell you here, that my mother
was not from this part of the country,
but had lived in Philadelphia, and
had come to Star Point for her health
the summer she met my father and
married him. She had sister livin g
in Philadelphia, and when I was ten
years old, my aunt wrote to father to
send me to her for few years, that 1
might have an education.
When Mr.. Hall heard of this, he
made arrangements to send Anna also,
and for six years we were at boarding
school in the city, my home being at
my aunt's during the holidays. She
was very kind to me, and was very
happy, but / was very glad to come
home again to father, Uncle John and
the sea. l can never tell you how 1
fretted for the sea. But in the six
years that l had been away, father had
grown very feeble, depending more
and more upon Uncle John, and grow
ing weaker every year.
$50 it was that 1 began to carry the
fish to M, and we started little
cart and pony for the journey to and
fro. was young, and when Fred
Hall, who was only five years older,
began to smile at me, and find excuses
for lingering at the cart, began to
bring sorders to the cottage for partic-
ular fish on days that were not market
days, nobody found fault. l was but
a poor fisherman's daughter, it is true,
and his father was a wealthy manu-
facturer at M, but we were all
equals IN position, for this is q primi-
tive place, and I never knew anything
about high and low, or money making
one better than another, excepting
while / was in Philadelphia
''But though Fred Hail was young
and had been to college, though he
wore handsome clothes and had money,
l never cared for his fair whiskers and
bright face as 1 did for Uncle Johns
white hairs and gentle voice. 1 never
thought of love. / only knew that I
was happy with Uncle John, and mis-
cradle away from home. 1 was seven
teen when, one morning, 1 went with
Uncle John to fish from a rock we call
the Camels Back hereabouts. There
were but few who fished there, for it
is a dangerous point, though the fish
are plenty in the hollow beneath it.
You see, it was a high arching rock,
and hung over the water, which was
very deep directly under it. To pull
up a net or line, one must almost
hang over the edge of the rock, and
below the waters suck the fish down,
so that it requires q strong arm to
pull them in.
"Uncle John and I, however, often
fished there, though he never allowed
me to pull the fish In. But upon this
particular day Fred Hall joined us as
We were going across the sands, and
Uncle John kept little aloof. He
thought we were lovers, and never
kept very near me when he fancied
Fred was counting. And did not un-
derstand then why this vexed me. On
this day it nettled me more than ever,
and when l felt strong pull at my
line, instead of calling Uncle John to |
help me, leaned over the edge of |
the rock and tried to land my own |
fish. For moment 1 succeeded in |
holding the line, then there was a |
sudden strong jerk, and losing my bal
ance, went over the Camel's Back |
into the water. l could swim, but in |
falling | struck my head against u |
point of the rock, and lost my con-
sciousness.
Erred stood still and screamed, but
dear Uncle John, never thinking of
his own danger, ran round the rock,
and, at the base, plunged into the
deep water after me. / cannot tell
how we escaped, but was dragged
ashore by Uncle John, and Fred had
sense enough to run to the house for
the pony and cart. 1t was many days
before 1 could go for fish again, but
in those days knew that loved John
Martin, that for his sake / could leave
all the world, if it would make him
happy. But l knew, too, that he
looked upon me as a mere child, his
old companions daughter, and 1
at my own presumption in
thinking he would ever love mer.
81 did not know then that John
Martin had once been gentleman of
wealth and standing, had travelled in
Europe, had studied in foreign COL
Ieges; but did know that he was un-
like any of the other fishermen at
Star Point, even my own father. He
irst taught me TO speak correctly,
avoiding all the provincialisms of the
people around us, and he would tell
ne of sights abroad, that 1 supposed
ne had read of, instead of having seen
hem. Once he told me that a false
owe, false friend and sudden loss of
worldly wealth had first driven him
% Star Point, but that he had found
est and peace here, and hoped to die
lere. 1 never asked him any more.
81 was getting well of my injuries,
Then my father was taken suddenly ,
cry i'll, and for two years / nursed /
lin, through gradual decline of his
ghole system, till he died. When he
lied there came desolation into my /
ife beyond even my orphanhood. q
'I must leave Star Point. My aunt
7rote me TO come to her, promising
ne a loving welcome and home.
red Hall, in the face of the approach /
ng separation, asked me to be his
7ife, but John said nothing. Day af-
er day 1 fingered, keeping with me i
be woman who had attended to our c
ouse after my fathers illness required c
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