Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-09-22

mother, GA more shiftless body than
Jim | amt come across, always trapes-
ing round in searching work and never
finding it. He's a poor stick. The sea
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 her
arm. There's one thing / never could
fathom, y she exclaimed with sudden i'll
terest, ''and that's his being own broth
er to Rab. Why, he amt no patch On
him"
No" rejoined her mother-in-law
sharply. He's more fool than cheat
for certain. Ii 'twor he out in the boat
wi JOSS, happen the Lord might over
look him"
The girls dark eyes flashed, and Mar
tina interposed in a hurt voice: maybe
/ Jim amt so quick at the take up as
Rab, but he's mortal persevereshous at
trying. AFTER all, Man," she added,
you amt never seen Rab but twice"
'No, l amt never seen him but
twice, the girl repeated.
"And when you did meet never spoke
much to one mother, " continued Mar
tina wonderingly.
"No, 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 chimneypiece, sorter
thoughtful. DO you love it?' he axed,
do you love it?' but you didn't make
no nsw Them were his words. Do
you mind, Nam"
yes" said the girl softly, 81
mind"
Twas . queer question | reckoned
to put to a mother, but there, you amt
never been terrible up wi the chile"
mo"
Maybe you didn't speak to him sort
or tender afore you horned him, same
as I did my little girl"
"No."
"Yet 'twor my chile that was born
dead"
faye" the girl answered fiercely,
land amt 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, the girl an
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 moro 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 l praying for 'em?" ex-
postulated the old woman passionately.
"Say the word aloud, mother, and
let rs 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 it's way
through their clamor with a noise like
the splitting Of mountains.
80 God!' sobbed the woman, che
wor a good son to me, a good son to
me-" She was silent a moment, and the
storm without upreared itself against
the cliffs, rocking the cottage in it's
heavy embrace. 20 Godr' 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. Jossl I
wouldn't have axed SO bold if 'twor a
ship but it's nought but a boat, mortal
small and tiddleliwinkie, wi only dree
men and a Lad in it, and the lads a 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'snot over and
above conspicuous in good works. Still
he's young-and youth farming time
but, if ye be terrible set Oh cutting him
of-and I'll not deny the temptation
then, 0 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 ragingI"
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's
weaknesses at such a time, she cried
passionately.
"And do you reckon that the Lord
has forgotten emp replied the old wo-
man in a 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,
IDEAL 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.
an 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 trustso me. 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 a man, pale faced,
drenched and battered, staggered in.
The old woman gave All abrupt. keen
cry. My sonp' she exclaimed, and