The free press., 1895-10-10

VI MS aJtacnment Ills companions
noticed it and rallied him about it,
and behind his back expressed them
selves in the customary village slang
and gossip.
There's no more fish in the sea for
Reub, they said. He is getting his
line on dry land, over at the Cham
pernowns'; pretty dry it is. Small
catch there; a big name and not
enough cash to go with it. He is too
good for her, anyway; but l hope he
will get her if he wants her and come
out Of his dumps"
Reuben did not recover his usual
spirits; his good old mother insisted
that he was not we'll and needed physic.
Reuben took the medicine, being
good deal of child under his moth
er's roof, obeying and yielding to her
in nearly all of her whimsies, which
were leavened with much shrewdness
and knowledge of human nature.
Mother" said he, ''it does me no
good, but l will take it to please
you"
"My son, you just wait; you've
been behindhand some time, and it
will take while to get you before
hand again. These herbs never failed
in my experience and I've had good
deal in sickness of one sort or an
other.
"Herbs, mother, are good in their
place. l like the smell of them, but
the taste--"
"That's just it, my son; the smell
is sweet, which shows the taste is good
medicine. It's just like being in
love and marriage; one you like and
the other you must take, because it is
best for everybody and naturally fol-
lows; and sometimes" she added,
with sly look at Reuben, ''it cures
love-"
'I'm not going to marry-never, so
you are out of your reckoning there,
mother"
"Well. L don't know. Your father
before you said that; SO did Until
1 was asked. Nobody means what
they say when in love, or rather they
mean just the other way. l think
now l know what it is the trouble
with you, Reuben" and she poured
out the dose and gave it him, saying:
''It will keep up your spirits at any
rate, until Rebecca gives you some
soothing syrup-ch, my boy? So
cheer up"
Reuben grew thin and nervous in
spite of the medicine, but he went
about preparations for the winter
cruising Bad luck continued to fol-
low him, small fares and falling prices
discouraged him more and more. But
the greater his depression the more
his mind dwelt upon Rebecca. In
some curious, involved way he had
come to connect his ill luck with her.
His brother fishermen, however,
| thought it was all on account of his
not wearing white mittens when he
set and handled his trawl lines, 1T be-
ing in that region of fishing villages
the universal belief of superstition
that white mittens must be worn to
insure good luck in winter trawllng.
But Reuben paid no attention to what
he thought was a mere fancy. He telt
rather that he was working with hall
hearted energy, and all on account of
his dubious relation with Rebecca.
He determined to see her again and
arranged to see her when her mother
was absent.
II have come to see you once more,
he said ON meeting her; "but per-
haps l had better not come again.
"Why?" said Rebecca; care you
not always welcome, Captain Gage?
eyes, we never quarrel and we
never get any further along from one
time to another"
This was more than he had ever
been able to say before IN regard to
their personal relation, and he was
frightened at himself. So he began
again from what he thought was an
other point, yet, as out of the fullness
of the heart the mouth speaketh, he
could not help betraying his true feel
ings.
"I'm not getting on very we'll now,
no luck, no money, and the Anna
Sheafe getting in debt thought
would tell you, though | do not know