The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-12
The Storm.


through the smoking mists inland. Night
fell amid the clash of wind and sea- A
narrow track winding around the cliffs
LED past cottage; light shone from the
! windows, and in the kitchen were three
women. The youngest lay in a truckle
bed, a baby against her breast; an old
woman, tall, gaunt and white-haired, sat
at table, the Bible before her, muttering
over familiar passage with awkward lips,
the third moved softly about the room
preparing supper. She stood moment
/ By the bed, as the child broke into long,
low wall
Poor lamb she said; he frets as If
your breast was cold to him.
Maybe It's coId.' replied the sick girl
indifferently.
AYE. but not tonight. Nan the other
protested, and his father out in a storm
like thst'
+" The Lord have mercy on the ladr' ex-
claimed 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 10 sail long o. decent folk"
! Nan stirred uneasily. "Rab's as good
as the rest O. EN-, she muttered, land a
long ways handler"
Handy wi his tongue, belize" retort-
ed the old woman; there amt his equal
for lying in this here parish; It's only rea-
sonable that the Lord should be angered
agin 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 clanor of the massive
door bolts that barred back the storm.
AYE. that Rab,'' she burst out fercely,
sf%1- 1
as the men O. Joppa cast the prophet Jo-
nah, son of Amittai. Who knows but the
Almighty may be speaking now by the
voice O. 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 devour
mems lives"
And what's Rab Tapp's life to theep'
replied the other, sternly. 1T I'll becomes
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; suppers on the
table and you'd feed better for snatch
o. sommat."
81 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 son? Aye, but
Joss, lad, lad" she continued to herself,
land you that fond O. whistling"
Martha made no answer, but, pouring
out cup of tea, brought 1t to the sick
girl Happen twill quench your thirst
a bit, Ma" she said
"'Tain't that kind O. thirst" replied The
other, YEARLY.
Take it all the same, lass" Martha
urged. and the girl drank
It's salt as the scar she exclaimed
pushing the cup from her with shudder
Seems as If knowed the taste O. drown
ing"
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
you make the scar 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, stooping and
raising the baby in her arms. 'he frets
over things" She walked to and fro in
the little kitchen, her face pressed close
against the child's, her soft brown hair
mingling with his soft, downy fluff. my
own chile she continued, meditatively,
was wonderful contentsome."
Your own chile" 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 a deal
to her lying there so close and trustful
agin my heart, But now I sorter feel
that If me and Jim had another chile may
be 'twould be born dead"
Aye, and no wonder" retorted her
mother; "a more shiftless body than Jim
/ amt come across; always trapesng
round in search Of work and never finding
1t. 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 fathom."
she exclaimed with sudden interest, land
that's his being own brother to Rab. Why,
he amt no patch on him.
No, rejoined her mother-in-law sharp
ly; hes more fool than cheat, for GER
tain. If 'twor he out in the boat wi Joss,
happen the Lord might overlook him."
The girls dark eyes flashed, and Mar
that 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 replied, you amt
never seen Rab but twice"
NO 1 amt never seen him but twice"
the girl repeated.
And when ys aid meet never spoke
much to one mother" continued Martha,
wonderingly.
NO, Us never spoke much to one moth
err"
Ave, certain" exclaimed Martha; why
the last ME he coined in here twas a mat
ter Of three weeks ago: you was sitting
up in front OF the fire nursing the chile
and he jest stood over agin ZEE by the
sorter thoughtfuny DO
you love it2' he axed; DO you love itT-
but you didn't make no answer Them
were his words. Do you mind. Nan?"
Yes said the girl. softly, II mind"
Twas queer question l reckon to put
to mother; but there you amt never
been terrible took up wi the chile"
No"
Maybe you didn't speak TO him sorter
tender afore you horned him; same as
Old my little girl.
NO"
Yet 'twor my chile that were born
dead"
Aye" the girl answered hercely. land !
ain't mine born dead. too2"
The elder woman glanced at her IN as !
What ais you. Nan7" she /
exclaimed Why. the poor lamb is calling /
for the breast.
- don't hear 81 call" the g4ri answa-AA
stonily.
the child on her knee. "Teu don't love !
: ". A.. =