The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-05-27
THE STORM,

A sudden gale had sprung up from the
northeast; great black-backed gull and
Feeble winged putin had been forced alike
through the smoking mists inland. Night
tell amid the clash of wind and sea. A
narrow track winding round the cliffs
leo past cottage: light shone from the
windows, and in the kitchen were three
women. The youngest lay in q truckle
bed, baby against her breast; an old
woman, tall, gaunt and white-haired, sat
at a table. the Bible before her, mutter-
ing over familiar passages with awkward
lips; the third moved softly about the
room preparing supper. Sne stood mo-
ment by the bed, as the child broke into
a long, low wall.
"Poor lambr' she said; che frets as if
your breast was cold to him."
Maybe tits cold," replied the sick girl
indifferently.
AYE, but not tonight, Man," the other
like this!''
''The Lord have mercy on the lad!' ex-
hes 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 EN-" she muttered, "and a
long ways handier.'
Handy wi his tongue belize" retorted
the old woman; there amt his equal for
lying in this here parish; tits only reason
agin him; though maybe the Almighty
will mind that Joss has been a good son
to me and spare the boat"
=. She was silent moment listening to
the continuous clamor of the massive
doorbolts that barred back the storm.
AYE. that Rab," she burst out fercely,
they should cast him overheard the same
as the men O. Joppa cast the prophet
Jonah, SON of Amittai. Who knows but
the voice of the wind? Cast him out,
cast him out, and the raging waves of the
sea shall foam upon his shame'''
How dare zee speak such words as
them!' cried the girl, springing up in
bed. "The Lord amt no Moloch to de-
YOUR mems lives.'
And what's Rab Tapp's life to thee?''
replied the other sternly. ut i'll becomes
a mother with her first chile at breast to
lives"
Come, come, mother" interposed the
third woman, ''let Nan be; supper's on the
table, and you'd feel better for snatch
Il did we'll to name zee Martha" cried
the. old woman turning on her. Your
thh!enghts be too much taken un, wi the
for bite or sup when the great starved
sea is hungering after my son? Aye, but
Joss, lad, lad," she continued to herself
and you that fond O. whistling!'
Martha made no answer, but, pouring
out a cup of tea, brought it to the sick
girl: "Happen twill quench your thirst
a bit, Man," she said
""Taint that kind O. thirst" replied
the other YEARLY.
urged, and the girl drank.
IT'S salt as the sear' she exclaimed,
pushing the cup from her with a shudder.
Seems as if l knowed the taste O
drowning"
"And we'll you may" exclaimed the
nigh to it,
eJoss will not be drowned" replied her
daughter-in,law carelessly. 'What for
she ended. with abrupt change of voice,
as the hurrying scream of the storm
,Wrenched its way through the cottage,
"why did yer make the sea?" She flung
herself back in the bed and the child be-
heed to it.
"Poor hearth said Martha, STOPPING
and raising the baby in her arms, che
frets over things" She walked to and
fro in the little kitchen, her face pressed
close against the child's; her soft brown
'tMy own chile,'' she continued media
lively, was wonderful contentsome.'
Your own child!' exclaimed the harsh.
voiced old woman. "Why, your own chile
was born dead"
"Her was never dead to me- Martha
answered gently. II used to talk deal
to her lying there SO close and trustfu
agin my heart. But now sorter fee
may be 'twould be born dead"
AYE, and no WONDER" retorted her
mother; "a more shiftless body than jim
l amt come across; always trapesing
round in searching work and never find.
ing ii. 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
that's his being own brother to Rab
Why he amt no patch on him.
NO" rejoined her mother-in-law sharp
~; hes more fool than cheat, for Ger
tain. If 'twOr he out in the boat wi
Joss: happen the Lord might oyerlool
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
AFTER all, Man," she added, you ain't
never seen Rab but twice.
mo. amt never seen him but twice.
the girl repeated.
"And when ye did meet never spoke
much to one MOTHER" continued Martha
wonderingly.
mo, us never spoke much to one
MOTHER"
AYE, certain" exclaimed Martha
twas matter of three weeks ago; yor
was sitting up in front of the fire nursing
the chile and he jest stood over again 'et
by the chimney--piece, sorter 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, 81 mind''
Twas queer question l reckoned tt
never been terrible took up wi the chile.
Maybe you didn't speak to him sorte1
tender afore you horned him; same as
did t!S my little girl
"Yet 'twor my chile that was borI
dead"
amt mine born dead too?
The elder woman glanced ut her il
establishment. What ails you, Nan?'
calling for the breast"
II don't hear it CALI the girl answered
stonily.
Martha looked down with sad eyes a
the child on her knee. 'You don't love il
terrible tendersome," she said.
The girl, turning away her head, mad!
no reply. Without, the storm clamoret
more fercely, and the faces of the listen
ing women grew white and tense. "Pra,
for. them at sea-" exclaimed Martha
glancing at her mother. ,.a, s,.,--,-.
And amt I praying for 'em?" expostu
lated the old woman passionately.
'Say the word aloud, mother. and le
us joi, II" AZ
The old woman clasped her hands
worn with toll knotted with age, ant
: "a