The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-10-15
ALLAN FAME.
By HELEN BEEKMAN.

at q. Inc moon, now and then
peeping from behind a line of ieecy
clouds, seemed to look amazed at the
unwonted scene, for in the quiet little
fishing village the sight of human be-
ings, the sound OF human voices, after
the church clock had pealed forth nine
positive strokes, were rare occurrences
indeed.
Fine food for village gossip would
make, Allan Fame, were | to be seen at
this hour with YOU said one OF the
two, a girl, whose tall, 1.-the Inquire
seemed like a reed beside the staiwart
form OF her companion, but | seemed
sitting up there and felt must come
down and listen to the sea. How was
to know should find you here"
Il am always here. Ellie, watching
the light in your easement window till
it f1ickers and dies, Their envying even
the darkness which surrounds you, en-
yeloping you IN its presence, till wan
der home and toss about on my bed till
morning. You should not come down
here alone. 1t is not safe
Not safe? Indeed. Is not the sea my
ouly mother? Did she not bear me OF
her great white breast and cast me here,
a little helpless child. with her golden
hair all drenched with salt spray, her
little white garments clinging to her
limbs? All, Father Green is very kind.
and so is Mother Eunice, but some
times | fancy a tall man in soldiers
uniform. with much glitter of gold. toss
ing a baby girl high upon his shoulder.
sometimes listens to the lisping of a
childish tongue, with head bent low at
the knee of Il fair-haired woman with
delicate white hands sparkling with
rings, who stoops and kisses the kneel-
ing child with loving tenderness. Then
the air, could not stand beside the dear
old sea and listen to the stories my ear
alone ran understand | would go mad"
Poor Ellie! Poor little GIRL" the
man replied. no wonder these people
cannot understand you. with your pref
~. dainty ways so unlike their own.
with your sweet, fair beauty, in strange
contrast to the flashing black eyes and
bright red cheeks of their OWL buXom
~lassies. All, well | remember the day
when. as you say. the sea cast you at
our feet. Seth Green had just come in
in his fishing smack, and it was his keen
eye which first detected the white atom
the waves seemed to bear so teuderly.
Then when it came nearer and he saw
IL was a little child dashed to a spar, his
arms We're the first to receive you.
When you opened your eyes you smiled
up into his face, and with that smile you
won his heart. He is only a fisherman
like myself, with a rough exterior like
mine, but | think, Ellie, he would lay
down his life rather than too rough "A
wind should blow upon his one eve
lamb, even as | would do for your sake
"Ah, Allan sobbed the girl, "how un-
grateful you make me seem. Am | not
as ignorant as you, save what little
learning the good cure has given me?
~ not all have been telling You the
freak of an idle imagination? And yet
al times it seems so real"
so it may be, Ellie, dear, but if, after
all this lapse of time, some n should
come from the great world to claim you.
would it give you no pain to say fare
well? All, if, instead of vain repinings.
you would come to the shelter Of an hon
est mans home, humble enough, God
knows, for your little feet TO enter. but
where you should be guarded as a