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


inland. Night fell amid the clash Of
wind and sea- A narrow track winding
round the cliffs led past cottage light
shone from the windows, and In the
kitchen were three women. The young
est lay in a truckle bed, baby against
her breast; an old woman, tall, gaunt
and white haired, sat at a table, the
Bible before her, muttering over famil-
lar passages with awkward lips; the
third moved softly about the room pre-
pairing supper. She stood moment by
the bed, as the child broke into a long,
low wall.
"Poor lambp' she said. "He frets as
If your breast was cold to him.
''Maybe It's cold" replied the sick
girl indifferently.
"Aye, but not tonight, Man," the
other protested, land his father out in
a storm like this
''The Lord have mercy on the lad, -
exclaimed the old woman, glancing up,
she's got that scamp Rab Tapp wi'shim
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, land
q long ways handler.
''Handy wi his tongue belize, - re-
torted the old woman, there amt his
equal for lying in this here parish. IT'S
only reasonable that the Lord should be
angered ag'in him, though maybe the
Almighty will mind that Joss has been
@ 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, she burst out fiercely,
"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 windp Cast
him out, cast him out, and the raging
waves o. the sea shall foam upon his
shame. "
"How dare zee speak such wtk ids as
themP' cried the girl, springing mp In
bed. 1.-THE Lord amt no Molooh 30 de-
YOUR mems lives. !"
"And what's Rab Tapp's life to
theep" replied the other sternly. "It i'll
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 snatch o. sommat. "
81 did well to name ZEE Martha, !"
cried the old woman, turning Ton 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 son?
Aye. but Joss, lad, lad, !" she continued
to herself, land you that fond O. whis-
t1ingp'
Martha made no answer, but pour
ing out cup Of tea, brought it to the
sick girl. Happen twill Quench your
thirst bit, Man. she said.
faint that kind o. thirst, I" replied
the other YEARLY.
''Take it all the same, lass" Martha
urged, and the girl drank.
IT'S salt as the sea - she exclaimed,
pushing the cup from her with shud-
der. ''Seems as if knowed the taste o.
drowning"
"And we'll you may" exclaimed the
old woman, "when your man rs forced
SO nigh to it. y
"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 wrenched it's way through the
cottage, "why did yer make the sea?'
She flung herself back in the bed, and
the child began once moresBo cry, but
she paid no heed to it.
"Poor heart, said Martha, stopping
and raising the baby in her arms The.
frets over things" She walked to and
fro in the little kitchen, her face press
ed close against the child's, her soft
brown hair mingling with his soft
downy fluff. My own chile, she cen
tinued meditatively, twas wonderfu
contentsome. ="
"Your own chilew exclaimed til,
harsh voiced old woman. why, youI
own chile was born deadP'
Her was never dead to me" Martha
answered gently. II used to talk deal
to her lying there SO close and trustful
ag'in my heart. But now sorter feel
that if me and Jim had another chile
maybe 'twould be born dead"
''Aye. and no wonder" retorted her
mother. "a more shiftless body than
Jim ain't come across, always trapes-
ing round in searching work and never
finding it. He's 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
6athom, - she exclaimed with sudden in
terest, land that's his being own broth
er to Rab. Why, he amt no patch on
him.
mo-" rejoined her mother-in-law
sharply. Hes more fool than cheat
for certain. II 'twor he out in the boat
WI JOsa happen the Lord might over
look him"
The girls dark eyes flashed, and Mar
tina interposed in q 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, amt never seen him but
twice, y the girl repeated.
And when you did meet never spoke
much to enc mother, = continued Mar
tina wonderingly.
No, us never spoke much TO one
| mother. -
AYE. certain" exclaimed Martha.