The Press., 1898-08-18
THE STORM.

4 sudden gale had sprung up from the northeast; great black backed gull and feeble winged pulling had been forced alike through the smoking mists inland Night fell amid the clash of wind and sea A. narrow track winding round the cliffs led past 8 cottage light shone from the windows, and in the kitchen were three women. The young est lay in 8 truckle bed, 8 baby against her breast; an old woman, tall, gaunt aud white haired, sat at @ table, fine Bfble before her, muttering over famil- far passages with awkward lips; the third moved softly about the room pre- paring supper. She stood 8 moment by the bed, as the child broke into long, low vail.
 "Poor lambP' she said. "He frets as if your breast was cold to him"
 Maybe 'tis cold" '" replied the sick girl indifferently.
 "Aye, but not tonight, Man," the other protested. "and his father out in a storm like this"
 "The Lord have mercy on the lad, exclaimed the old woman, glancinR up, 'he's got that scamp Rab Tapp wi'him in the boat. Scores O times I've told Joss 'twould be safer to sail long O decent folk. ''
 Nan stirred uneasily. "Rab's as: good as the rest O 'em, she muttered, "and a long ways handler"
 "Handy vii his tongue belike. re- torted the old woman, "there ain't his equal for lying in this here parish. 'Tis only reasonable that the Lord should be angered az in him, though maybe the Almighty will mind that Joss has been Q good son to me and spare the boat. :" She was silent @ moment, listening to the continuous clamor of the massive door bolts that barred back the storm. "Aye, that Rab, "s she burst out iercely, "they should cast him overheard the same as the men O Joppa cast the prophet Jonah, son of Amittai. Who knows but the Almighty may be speak | ing now by the voice O the windf Cast him out, cast him out, and the raging waves O. the sea shall foam upon his | Ghame.'
 "How dare Zee speak such wttds as themP' cried the girl, springing hp in bed. "The Lord ain't no Moloch 10 de- vour mems lives"
 "And what's Rab Tapp's life to thee?" replied the other sternly. "It Ill becomes a mother with her first chile at breast to be taking such thought for | furren mems lives"
 "Come, come, mother" interposed the third woman, "let Nan be. Sup per's on the table. and you'd feel better | for a snatch O sommat.
 ''I did we'll to name 'ee Ma-tha, '' cried the old woman, turning :on her. "Your thoughts be too much taken up | wi the things O this world What call have for bite or sup when the great starved sea is hungering after my soni | Aye, but Joss, lad, lad, " she continued | to herself, "and you that fond O whis- tiingr'
 Martha made no answer, but, pour ing out & cup of tea, brought it to the sick girl Happen twill quench youz thirst bit, Nan" she said
 'Taint that kind O thirst, '" replied the other wearily.
 "Take it all the same, lass" Martha urged, and the girl drank.
 'Tis salt es the sear' she exclaimed, pushing the cup from her with 8 shud- der "Seems as if knowed the taste O drowning"
 "And we'll you may" exclaimed the old woman, "when your man is forced so nigh to it.
 "Joss will not be drowned, '" replied her daughter -in-law carelessly. "What for should he be drowned? Oh, my God" she ended, with abrupt change of voice, as the hurrying scream of the storm vrenched its way through the cottage, "why did yer make the sea?' She flung herself back in the bed, and the child began once more8o cry. but she paid no heed to it.
 "Poor heart, " said Martha, stepping and raising the baby in her arms, 'ht frets over things" She walked to and fro in the little kitchen, her face press ed close against the child's, her sofr brown hair mingling with his soft downy fluff. My own chile. she ct,n tinued meditatively, twas wonderful contentsome.
 "Your own chiler' exclaimed tn, harsh voiced old woman. Why, youI own chile was born deadr'
 "Her was never dead to me-" Martin answered gently. "I used to talk deal to her lying there so close and trustfu ag'in my heart. But now sorter fee that if me and Jim had another chile maybe 'twould be born dead" Ft 1 "Aye. and no wonder, !" retorted hel mother. "A more shiftless body than Jim ain't come across, always trapes- ing round in searching work and never finding it. He's 8 poor stick. The seq never gave him no call, and you can sit here and eat your victuals content, come storm, come clear"
 The sick girl raised herself on he, srm- "There's one thing never could Ifathom, she exclaimed with sudden in. terest, "and that's his being own broth. CT to Rab. Why. he ain't no patch or him."
 "No." rejoined her mother-in-law sharply. "He's more fool than chea, for certain. If 'twor he out in the boai vi Josa happen the Lord might over look him" .t -s.s. <. 5
 The girls dark eyes flashed, and Mar tha interposed in 8 hurt voice: ''Mayb. Jim ain't so quick at the take up a. Rab, but he's mortal persevereshous a trying. Arter all, Man." she added lyon ain't never seen Rab but twice.
 "No, I ain't never seen him bu twice, the girl repeated
 "And when you did meet never spok, much to one mother. l" continued Mar tha wonderingly.
 "No, us never spoke much to on mother.
 H