The Somerset reporter., 1898-06-09

| nndlnB IL. lie 8 poor SUCK. Inc sea
never gave him no call, and you can sit
here and eat your victuals content, come
storm, come clear. u
The sick girl raised herself on her
arm. There's one thing l never could
fathom, she exclaimed with sudden in
terest, land that's his being own broth
or to Rab. Why, he amt no patch on
him. -
NO" rejoined her mother-in law
sharply. Hes more fool than cheat
for certain. If 'twor he out in the boat
wi Joss, happen the Lord might over
look him =
The girls dark eyes flashed, and Mar
tina interposed i'll II hurt voice: Maybe
Jim amt 50 quick at the take up as
Rab but he's mortal persevereshous at
trying. AFTER all, Nan, she added,
you amt never seen Rab but twice "
mo, ! amt never seen him but
twice" the girl repeated.
And when you did meet never spoke
much to one mother, " continued Mar
tina wonderingly.
mo, US never spoke much to one
mother"
AYE, certain" exclaimed Martha.
"Why, the last time he coined in here
twas a matter of three weeks ago. You
was sitting up in front of the fire nurs-
ing the chile, and he jest stood over
again zee by the ohimneypiece, sorter
thoughtful Do you love it?' he axed,
do you love it?' but you didn't make
no answer. Them were his words. De
you mind, NanF'
Yes" said the girl softly, 81
mind.
" Twas a queer question | reckoned
to put to mother, but there, you ain I
never been terrible up wi the chile. "
mo.
maybe you didn' speak to him sort
er tender afore you horned him, same
as did my little girl"
mo"
''Yet 'twor my chile that was born
dead. "
Aye" the girl answered fiercely,
land ain t mine born dead too?''
The elder woman glanced at her in
establishment. "What ails you, Nam
she exclaimed "Why, the poor lamb
| is calling for the breast. "
81 don't hear it call, tho girl nm
swered stonily.
Martha looked down with sad eyes at
the child on her knee "You don't love
it terrible tendersome, - she said.
The girl, turning away her head,
made no reply Without the storm
clamored more fiercely and the faces OF
the listening women grew white and
tense.
Pray for them at sea, >" exclaimed
Martha, CHANGING at her mother.
And amt | praying for emp" eX-
postulated the old woman passionately
Say the word aloud mother, and
let us join in. 4"
The old woman clasped her hands,
Worn with toll knotted with age, and
sank on her knees. Her thin lips trem-
! bled, but no words broke from them
Wind and sea, as if in derision at her
helplessness, burst into more hideous
| combat and the thunder heaved its way
through their clamor with noise like
the splitting of mountains.
80 Godl' sobbed the woman, che
wor good son to me, good son to
me " She was silent moment, and the
storm without upreared itself against
the cliffs, rocking the cottage in its
heavy embrace. 80 Godl" she burst
forth again, 'Ye would have spared
Sodom for the sake O ten righteous men,
and twor terrible big and wicked city
spare the boat cause o. Joss |
wouldn't have aXed so bold if 'twor a
ship, but it's nought but boat mortal
small and tiddleliwinkie, wi only dree
men and lad III it, and the lad $ a de
cent lad come o. respectable church
folk, no chappelites asserting o their
selves up above their betters. Happo
you re angered agin Rab Tapp, al.
well you might be- for he s not over an
above conspicuous i'll good works. Still
he's young-and youth farming time
but, if we be terrible set on cutting him
off-and I'll not deny the temptation
then, o Lord God, speak to joss through
the mouth o the winds, same as we did
the men o. Joppa, so that he shall rise
and cast Rab forth into the deep, and
the sea shall cease her ragingn
AS she uttered the last words the sick
girl sprang from the bed and caught the
old woman by the shoulders. How
dare zee mind the Almighty o Rab $
weaknesses at such time, " she cried
passiOnately.
And do you reckon that the Lord
has forgotten emf" replied the old wo-
man III "a hard voice. Amt they all
written in the book o Judgment"
"There be scores and scores O. folk
ON the sea tonight" the girl answered,
deal wickeder folk than Rab, and why
should the Almighty be special took up
wi he? Oh twas cruel, cruel o yer to
put him III mind O. the lad "
Amt the names o all sailor men
written on the same page, that the Lord
may read and choose i'll the winking O.
an eye? And shall | see my own cast
away for fear o. speaking OUT remon-
strated the old woman tiercely. MY
firstborn, that lay at my breast and
MIXED me trustsome. Shame on you to
think % stranger folk afore Your own
welded husband "
While she spoke there was the sound
of heavy knocking on the door without
Martha crossed the room, shot back the
great bolts and man, pale faced
drenched and battered, staggered in.
The old woman gave an abrupt, keen
cry MY son - she exclaimed, and
would have taken him in her arms, but