Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-11-26

at G. The moon. now and then
peeping from behind a line OF feecy
clouds, seemed TO look amazed at the
uuwonted scene, for in the quiet little
fishing village the sryht 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
paAe. Allan Fame, were 10 be soeD. at
this hour with YOU" said one of the
two. girl, whose tall, 1.-the figure
seemed like reed beside the stalwart
form Of her companion, but | seemed
sitting up there and felt must come
down and listen to the sea. How VS.
to know ] should find YOU here 90
IL am always here, Ellie, watching
the light in your casemSnt window till
it fiickers and dies, then enNying even
The darkpess which surrounds YOU, en-
yeloping you ia its prese nee, till wan
der home and toss about on my bed riI
morning. You should not come down
here alone. Is s not safe"
Not safe: lndcei. Ia not the sea my
only mother? Did sire not bear me on
her great white brrastand cast me here,
little helpless child, with her golden
hair all drenched with salt spray, her
little white garments clingiug to her
limbs? All, Father Green il very kind,
and so is Mother Eunice, but some
times | fancy tall man in soldiers
uniform, with much glitter Of gold, toss
ing a baby girl high upon hiA shoulder,
sme times listens TO the Lisping OF u
childish tongue, with head bent low at
the knee OF fair-haired woman with
delicate white hands sparkling with
rings. who stoops and kisses the kneel-
ing child with loving tenderness. Then
/ stifie> and if could not rush on o into
the air, could not stand beside tire dear
old sea and listen TO the stories my ear
alone can understand would go mad"
Poor Ellie! Poor little girl" tho
man replied. mo wonder these people
cannot understand you, with your pref
ty, dainty ways so unlike their own,
with your sweet. fair beauty. INSURANCE
contrast 10 the flashing black eyes and
bright red cheeks OF their own buxm
lassies. All. we'll | remember the day
when. az you say. the Scsl casu 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 s,-emn~l TO bear 30 tenderly.
TIN when il came nearer and he saw
it was little child dashed to Il spar, his
arms were the first to receive you.
When you opeUed your eyes you smiled
up into his face, and Wi d 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
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 az you, save what little
learning the good cure has given me?
Is not al have been telling you the
freak of an idle imagination? And yet
at times it seems so real"
$50 it may be, Ellie, dear, but if, after
all this lapse Of time, some one should
come from the great world TO claim you,
would it give you no pain to shy fare
well? All, II, instead Of vain repinngs,
you would come TO the shelter of An hon
est mans home, humble enough, God
knbws, for your little feet no enter, but
where you should be guarded as =
Jewel beyond price; where your white
hands should ne'er be soissi or your
brow bear evidence Of a single care,
would it not be better dear? Come,
Ellie. to my heart, my home. l cannot
IN Gp> hr4
loved WOMAN BETTER than love you.
don't ask answering love from YOU.
How could you give il To such as am?
only want your smile to light my
hcarth6tone, your voice TO give ne gen
tie greeting. - right 10 fert that YOU
are mine, TO work for. fight for, II no,d
be, die fsr!"
"And for ell tAis you ask 20 little, Al
hn! You think me so un&rst~ful a. TO
take IL al when can yield - meuecr .
return! All, no. This fancy viii pass
and when there wits your n homecoming
some woman whose hands are not
afr~id Of honest work for her husba n a. .
comfort, whose voice oan give you back
your wsrds Of love, vhoSe hps can echo
your kisses. you will thanh me then for
6nrninG nsom tho bright picture you
FAINT for me. Ovr heartA are strange
thingA Allan, and servo us strange
ticks. but we cannot forus them For
give me and forge< NJ. Good night
and the girl turned weArily av~y. while
the strong man threw himself pro-
trste on the sand and lay there motion
less for hours. He bad known his drean
~as min hut IL had taken none t3,a lNs,a
held upon him Since the hour he had
held che little childish hand in his 10y
ish grasp. neither a. child nor WOMAN
had she made Of him An unheeddd re
quest And now that he bad only put In
words the STORY his recon had Ions
known, II yet came upon him like . new
blow from an unseen hand. All night
he lay where he had thrown hinself.
and when 1t lASt rosed By tho suns
k~srn he po~e kia fhcA txarS nah truru