The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-05-08
SHE'S ALL THE
WORLD TO Nh.
By HALL GAME,
Author Of THE Manrmnn," "Thc Deem
StCT," etc.
CHAPTER VIII

.tliiO STOSStu INC TlNtT .On lllc way InlUDpr
>, met Ruby Cregoen, red 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 CLINT of sunshine and a 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
sunny face. She had come too late for her
purpose, but Danny took her hand and
said he would see her back before going off
home to bed. The little one prattled every
inch of the way
Did you catch many herrings, Danny?"
"Nine barrels"
"lsn't it cruel to catch herrings?"
"Why cruel, Ruby ven?"
81 don't know. Don't the herrings want
to stay in the water, Danny?"
Lave them alone for that You should
see the shoals of them lying round the
nets watching othcrs-their mothers and
sisters, as you might say-who' We got their
gills tangled. And when you haul the net
up away they go at n 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, yesl"
"What shame!"
whats shame, Ruby? What sollum
face, though"
why, to catch them"
Danny looked puzzled He was obvious
ly reasoning out great problem.
"Well, woman, that 5 the mortal strange
part of it, 1t does look cruel sarten sure,
but then herring themselves catch the
sand cells, and the cod catch the behring's,
and the porpoises and grampuscs 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. -
ooh, don't we, though? 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 littler one, you know, and the lit
tlest chap he gets rugged by everybody all
round, doesn't hep
Danny had clearly got a 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 Danny?"
"Well, well, l do, you know" with a
grave shake of the head over this summary
of the philosophy of life.
"Then nature is ve~y cruel, and don t
love it"
"Cruel9 Well, pozzible, pozzible 1t
does make me fit to cry bit, but it 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 peoples
and bounded after them. 1.-THE darlings,
oh, the loves!" And one or two were i'm
mediately intertwined with the foxgloves
in her hat.
Just then Mona came down the hill.
Danny saw her at a distance, but gave nc
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's 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 heI
neck. Then she asked about the fishing
Danny answered in monosyllables. She
colored slightly and spoke of Christian be
ing in the boat Strange wasn't it?"
'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 he told her Of the con
yersation on the deck that morning. She
perceived that mischief was brewing Yet
Danny could give her nothing that served
as a clew If only some one of sharper
wit could overhear such a conversation
then perhaps the mischief might be pre-
vented Suddenly Mona conceived a dar
ing idea, which was partly suggested by
the sight of IN old disused barn that STOOD
in field close at hand.
Everybody is talking of some supper
tonight to frish the season Win Chris
tian be thcrpy'
Il heard lin shy So said Danny.
And your I.nclr Bill Kissecky"
law, deed for sure. He's allis wher'
there's guzzlin."
Gould you lend me your oilskins
Danny"
Danny looked puzzled Mona smiled il
his troubled face DO that's good Dan
ny, she said, taking his big rough hand
Danny drew it away
Yes, he said, looking vacantly owe
the SEA
Then they arranged that the oilskin
and cap with pair Of sea boots were to b
left in the barn, and that not a word wa
to be said TO living soul about them.
"Goodby, said Mona, holding out he
hand
II was not at first that Danny realizes
what he ought TO do when lady offere'
her hand. Having taken it, he did no
quite know what it was right to do next
So ne held it a moment and lifted his eye
TO hers "GoOdby, Danny, she said, an,
there was a tremor in her voice.