The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-08-18

''Why, the last time he coined in here
twas 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 chimneypiece, sortef
thoughtful. DO you love it?' he axed,
do you love it?' but you didn't make
no answer. Them were his words. Do
you mind, Nan?''
eyes" said the girl softly, "I
mind"
90 Twas a queer question ] reckoned
to put to mother, but there, you amt
never been terrible up wi the chile.
emo"
"Maybe you didn t speak to him sort
or tender afore you horned him, same
as did my little girl. -
"NO."
"Yet 'twor my chile that was born
dead. -
"Aye," the girl answered fiercely,
''and amt mine born dead too?"
The elder woman glanced at her in
establishment. what ails you, Nan2"
she exclaimed. why, the poor lamb
Is calling for the breast. !"
81 don't hear it call, I" the girl an
swered stonily.
Martha looked down with sad eyes at
ehe 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, glancing at her mother.
"And amt praying for emp" ex-
pOstulated the old woman passionately.
essay the word aloud, mother. and
Let us join in
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 q noise like
the splitting Of mountains
20 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 it's
heavy embrace. 30 GodP' she burst
forth again, 'Ye would have spared
Sodom for the sake o. ten righteous men,
and 'twor a terrible big and wicked city
spare the boat cause o. JOSH /
wouldn't have axed so bold If 'twor q
ship, but it's nought but boat, mortal
small and iddleliwinkie. wi only dree
men and lad in it, and the lads de-
cent lad come o. respectable church
folk, no chappelites asserting o. their
selves up above their betters. Happen
you're angered ag'in Rab Tapp, and
we'll you might be, for he's not over and
above conspicuous in good works Still
he's young-and youth 8 farming time
but, If ye be terrible set ON cutting him
oR-and I'll not deny the temptation
then, o Lord God, speak to JOSS through
the mouth O. the winds, same as ye did
the men o. Joppa, SO that he shall rise
and cast Rab forth into the deep, and
the sea shall cease her ragingr"
AS she uttered the last words the sick
| girl sprang from the bed and caught the
old woman by the shoulders. Chow
dare zee mind the Almighty o. Rab's
weaknesses at such time, :" she cried
passionately.
"And do you reckon that the Lord
has forgotten emp replied the old wo-
man In q hard voice. "Ain't 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 In mind o. the lad"
"Ain't the names o. all sailor men
written on the same page, that the Lord
| may read and choose in the winking O.
am eye? And shall see my own cast
away for fear o. speaking out?" remon-
strated the old woman fiercely. MY
firstborn, that lay at my breast and
MIXED me trustsome. Shame ON you to
think O. 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
he put her gently aside and came TO-
ward the girl, who stood barefooted on
the cold stone floor, her long brown
hair curling over her coarse nightgown.
''Nan, he cried, sweetheart, WON
an, wife, Gods has given me back to
'ee.''
'And Rab?" she said hoarsely.
''The sea has taken it's toll. Rab'e
drowned, - he answered.
Twas he loved, not you" she
cried and fell at the mans feet as dead.