The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-01

again zee by the chlmneyplece, 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, NanH"
eyes" said the girl softly, II
mind"
" Twas queer question reokoned
to put to IA mother, but there, you amt
never been terrible up wi the chile"
"No."
"Maybe you didn 'tspeak to him sort
er tender afore you horned him, same
as I 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, Nan?'
she exclaimed. "Why, the poor lamb
is calling for the breast"
II don't hear it call, the girl an
swered stonily
Martha looked down with sad eyes ct
the child Oh 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 l praying for 'em?" ex-
postulated the old woman passionately.
"Say the word aloud, mother, and
let us join i'll. -
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
helplcssness, burst into more hideous
combat, and the thunder heaved its way
through their clamor with noise like
the splitting Of mountains.
80 Godr' sobbed the woman, che
wor good son to me, a good son to
me" She was silent moment, and the
storm without upreared itself against
the cliffs, rocking the cottage in its
heavy embrace. so God" she burst
forth again, 'Ye would have spared
Sodom for the sake o ten righteous men,
and 'twor q terrible big and wicked city
spare the boat cause O. joss! I
wouldn't have aXed so bold if 'twor
ship, but it's nought but boat, mortal
small and tiddleliwnkie, wi only drce
men and q lad il it, and the lad S 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
well you might be, for he'snot over and
above conspicuous in good works. Still
he's young--and youth lariug tine
but, if ye be terrible set Gu cutting him
otf-and I'll not deny the temptation
then, O Lord God, speak to joss through
the mouth O the winds. same as yo did
the men o Jcppa, so that he shall rise
ard cast RAD forth into the deep, and
the sea shall cease her ragingr'
As she uttered the last words the sicl;
girl spraug from the bed and caught tho
old woman by the shoulders. GLOW
dare zee mind he Almighty o. Rab's
weaknesses at such time, She cried
passionately.
"And do you reckon that the Lord
has forgotten 'cm:" replied the old wo,
man in a hard voice. "Ain't they all
written III Tie book O judgmeut?'
"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 Ill mind O the lad"
"Aint the names o all sailor men
written Gu 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 trustsome. Shame on you to
think O. stranger folk afore your own
welded husband"
While she spoke there was the sound
OF heavy knocking Oh the door without.
great bolts, and man, pale faced,
drcnched 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 stoSe floor, her long brown
hair curling over her coarse nghtgown.
Nan" he cried, sweetheart, wom-
an, wife, Gods has given me back to
'ee. "
And Rab?' she said hoarscly.
1.-THE sea has taken it's toll Rabs
drowned, he answered.
fwas he | loved not you" she
cried and fell at the man 8 feet Is dead.
--LOndon Outlook,
To HaDd Down a ecisior,