The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-06-28
THE STORM.


the northeast; great black backed gull
and feeble winged putting had been
forced alike through the smoking mists
inland. Night fell amid the clash of
wind and sea. A narrow track winding
round the cliffs led past a cottage; light
shone from the windows, and in the
kitchen were three women. The young
est lay in truckle bed, baby against
her breast; an old woman, tall, gaunt
and white haired, sat at 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 a 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 tits cold, replied the sick
girl indifferently.
faye, but not tonight, Man." the
other protested, and his father out in
storm like this.
''The Lord have mercy on the lad, +"
exclaimed the old woman, glancing up,
"he's 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. 'em, she muttered, land
a long ways handler p
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 TIE 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 wind? Cast
him out, cast him out and the raging
waves o. the sea shall foam upon his
shame. -
'tHow dare zee speak such words as
themP' cried the girl, springing up in
bed. "The Lord aim t no Moloch to de-
YOUR mems lives.
"And what's Rab Tapp's life to
thee?" 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 T"
II did well to name zee Martha, "
cried the old woman, turning on her.
"Your thoughts be too much taken up
wi the things O. this world. What call
have I for bite or sup when the great
starved sea is hungering after my sonl
Aye but Joss, lad, lad, (" she continued
to herself, "and you that fond O. whis-
tlingP'
Martha made no answer, but, pour
ing out cup of tea, brought it to the
sick girl "Happen twill quench your
thirst a bit, Nan, " she said.
g 'Taint that kind o. thirst, " replied |
the other YEARLY.
lake 1t all the same, lass, Martha
urged, and the girl drank
GO Ills salt as the sea p she exclaimed, |
pushing the cup from her with shud-
der. t'Seens as if / knowed the taste O.
drowning"
"And well you may" exclaimed the
old woman, "when your man is forced
so nigh to it.
"Joss will not be drowned, replied
her daughter-in-law carelessly. "What
for should he be drowned? Oh, my
Cod" 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 began once more to cry, but
she paid no heed to it.
"Poor heart, :" said Martha, stopping
and raising the baby i'll her arms, he
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 con-
tinued meditatively, was wonderful
contentsome. y
"Your own chile' exclaimed the
harsh voiced old woman. 'Why, your
own chile was born dead r
"Her was never dead to me," Martha |
answered gently. 81 used to talk {. deal |
to her lying there SO close and tr1lstful
ag'in my heart. But now l sorter feel
that if me and Jim had another chile
maybe 'twould be born dead. p"
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 vietuals content, come I
storm, come clear.
The sick girl raised herself on her
arm. "There's one thing never could
fathom, . she exclaimed with sudden in
terest, land that's his being own broth I
er to Rab. Why, he amt no patch on
him.
NO." rejoined her mother-in- law
sharply. Hes more fool than cheat
for certain. If 'twor he out in the boat I
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, Nan, 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, T" 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 matter Of three weeks ago. You
was sitting up in front of the fire nurs-
ing the chile, and he jest stood over
again 'ee by the chimneypiece, 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?''
yes" said the girl softly II
mind
I" Twas queer question / reckoned
to put to mother, but there, you amt
pavar hean Terrible mn Wi the chile"