Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-06-20
Tonight. Aw. sure, surel~
CHAPTER VIII

oilskins over his arm and trudged along
the quay. Bill Kisseck's cottage stood
alone under tho Horse hill, and to get TO lt
Danny had 70 walk round by the bridge
that crossed the river. On the way thither
he met Ruby Cregeen- rcd with running.
She had sighted the boats from the cottage
on the hill, and was hurrying down to see
them come into harbor. The little woman
was looking this morning like something
between a CLINT Of sunshine and flash
Of quicksilver On the way down she had
pulled three stalks Of the foxglove bell
and stuck them jauntily In her hat, their
long swanlike necks dropping over her
iunny face. She had come too late for her
purpose, but Danny took her hand and
eaid he would sec her back before going of
home to bed The little one prattled every
inch of the way.
Ibid you catch many herrings, Dannyr
Mine barrels.
Isn't 1t cruel to catch herringss"
"Why cruel, Ruby venY'
II don't know. Don't the herrings want
to stay in the water, DannyS"
Lave them alone for that. You should
see the shoals Of them lying round the
nets watching others-their mothers and
sisters, as you might say-who've got their
gills tangled. And when you haul the net
up away they go at slant in millions and
millions, just like lightning firing through
the water Och, deed now they've got
their feelings same as anybody else. Yes
yes, yesp'
what a shame"
What's a shame Rubyf What sollum
face, though"
"Why, to catch them"
Danny looked puzzled He was obvious
ly reasoning out great problem.
swell, woman, that's the mortal strange
part of it. 1t docs look cruel, sarten sure,
but then herring themselves catch the
sand eels, and the cod catch the herrings,
and the porpoises and grampuses catch
the cod. Aw, that's the truth, little big
eyes. It's wonderful strange, but l sup
pose it's all nathur. You see, Ruby veg,
we do the same ourselves.
Ruby looked Mortified "How do you
mean, Danny? We don't eat one another.
"Oh, don't we, thought Leave us alone
for that.
Ruby is aghast.
"Well, of coorse, not to say ate, not
xactly ate, but the biggest chap allis rigs
the rest. And the next biggest chap allis
rigs a littler one you know, and the lit
tlest chap he gets rugged by everybody all
round, doesn't he?"
Danny had clearly got grip of the
problem, but his poor simple face looked
sadly burdened.
Seems to me it must be all nathur
somehow, Ruby"
"Do you think it Is, Dannyp"
"Well, well, l do you know" with a
grave shake Of the head over this summary
of the philosophy Of life.
"Then nature is very cruel, and don't
love it,"
"CruelP Well, pozzible, pozzible. 1t
does make me fit to cry bit, but 1t must
be nathur somehow, Ruby"
Danny's eyes were looking very hazy
when the little one, who didn't love ma
ture, caught sight Of some corn poppies
and bounded after them. "The darlings,
oh, the lovesp And ono or two were i'm
mediately intertwined with the foxgloves
in her hat.
: Just then Mona came down the hill
Danny saw her at distance but gave no
sign. He contrived to lead Ruby to the
other side of the road from that on which
Mona was walking, so that when they
came abreast there were dozen yards be-
tween them. Mona stopped. GOOD morn
ing, Danny"
Danny eyes were on his heavy sea boots,
and he did not answer
"Why, it's only Mona" cried Ruby, tug
ging at Danny's oilskins.
Mona crossed the road, and Danny ven
tured to lift his eyes to the level Of her
neck Then she asked about the fishing
colored slightly and spoke of Christian be-
ing in the boat Strange, wasn't itp"
"Seems to me, answered Danny, "that
there's somethin afoot between Uncle Bill
and the young masther."
Mona's curiosity was aroused by the re-
ply, and she probed Danny with searching
questions Then hc told her Of the con-
versation on the deck that morning. She
perceived that mischief was brewing. Yet
Danny could give her nothing that served
as clew. If only some one of sharper
wit could overhear such q conversation,
then perhaps the mischief might be pre-
vented. Suddenly Mona conceived dar-
ing idea, which was partly suggested by
tho sight of an old disused barn that stood
in a field close at hand
Everybody is talking of some supper
tonight to finish the season. Will Chris
tian be therep"
II heard him say so," said Danny.
"And your uncle, Bill Kisseck?"
"Aw, deed, for sure. He's allis where
there's guzzlin.
Gould you lend me your oilskins
Dannyp"
Danny looked puzzled. Mona smiled In
his troubled face. "Do, that's good Dan
N.Y." she said, taking his big rough hand
Danny drew it away.
yes" he said. looking vacantly over
the sea.
Then they arranged that the oilskins
and cap with a pair of sea boots were to be
left in the barn, and that not word was
to be said to living soul about them.
"Goodby," said Mona, holding out her
hand.
1t was not at first that Danny realized
what he ought to do when a lady offered
her hand. Having taken it, he did not
quite know what 1t was right to do next
So he held it moment and lifted his eyes
to hers. "Goodby, Danny" she said, and
there was tremor in her voice.
She had gone-Danny never knew how
He walked a little farther with Ruby, who
pranced and sang. On the way home he
stopped and repeated to himself in a whis.
per, Mona, Mona, Mona" He looked at
his hand. 1t was coarse and horny. He
lifted it to his lips and kissed 1t. Then he
began to run. Suddenly he stopped and
muttered, "But what for did she want the