The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-10-24

inc nshernen iore-gothered to smoke
and talk.
Sometimes the young scLoolmaster
smoked and talked with them. in pur
snance of wise pedagogical policy.
Ear more frequently, however. he
went TO n large house which stood
apart from the village. And thereby
hangs this tale.
1t was because of the girl-the
brown-eyed daughter of old John
Shea. Her natural cleverness at
tracted him, just as her simplicity
and straightforwardnes were consid-
erably more than all the world to the
young fisherman, Paul Fralic.
Paul Fralic was handsome man
and strong, with the roughnoss OF his
kind, but with much of its tenderness
as well. He had loved old Shea's
daughter as long as he had been able
to love anything, but Tenants CON
coded his position by calling her
"Pauls girl The more 80 as he
sailed his own schooncr-which sig
nllied much. And that very summer
he-with tremor III his deep voice
asked the girl to help him run n
little cottage that was rising nenr the
harbOr. Then the schoolmaster came
aud before long Paul found the maiden
was less eager to listen to his sea-tales
! or to admire the new cottage, where
the smell OF fresh cut timber Law sweet
on the air.
And the summer wore away. Paul
was absent for days at time. fishing
on the otf-shore soundings. At each
return he found more to anger him.
but never n chance to clear up his
doubts. When he visited the big
house it was to sit outside with the
father, smoking in black silence
while the schoolmaster read or talked
to the girl
Paul was man of few words. but
his heart was brave Therefore lie
went down one day to the cottage. 1t
was nearly completed and he looked it
over 8rimly. Then lie addressed the
carpenter, who had sauntered up.
Guess you needn't finish this yer
shack jest yet, Sam. Mebbe l won't
want 1t so soon, arter all.
What's up now?" asked Sam. who
was also fisherman and had rejoiced
in Paul's good luck.
oval, I'm agoin' to take tho
schooner out Boston way, n try fer
cargo this winter. An | guess Won
can leave the house wait bit now. ''
The other man stared, but Paul
turned away, walking slowly toward
the village; and the cottage was left to
the sun by day and the moon by night
and always to the moaning wind.
The year drew on to autumn and
the school was IN full swing. Paul
never went to the big house: he was
hitting out the schooner for the win
ter. In the intervals of work he
sought the bluff at the harbor mouth
that watched the troubled waters
round the Bull. "Kinder cranky. "
said the village fishermen. Once he
saw in the distance the schoolmaster
approaching with the girl. After that
lie went there no more.
1t was week later that the first OF
Tie autumn gales swept in from the
Atlantic. Now, on the day that the
storm was getting up to seward Paul
Fralic went to his schooner early i'm
the morning to prepare for a start
when the weather moderated. Crav
was The sky in the ofing. with matches
OF lying cloud-rack, while the ground
swell grumbIed all along the coast,
sending great smooth waves to rock
the vessels anchored at Tenants.
There was no cause whatever for
any one TO leave the harbor: vet. rs
day frightened over the water, Paul
saw small rowboat put ont from ono
Of the wharves and head for the open
ser. He looked at it curiously. know
ing that all the fishermen we're busy
ON cupboard and that none of them
had any business at the harbor mouth
In the face Of big storm.
Tho bOat-a light thing with n
single occupant-kcpt well under the
shore and 1T was with difficulty that
Paul recognized tho tall, slim figure
OF The Oarsman Whom Inc did. three
things came to his remembrance. that
old John Shea had treated the school.
master with Oatbs aud coutumely and
finally had fatty refused him rs n son
in law. that it was only six miles
oolstwiso to- the next village whore
the railroad ran TO tho city; and. last.
/ ly, Chat the youth himself was hot
headed aud impulsiyc. Also, there
was q hidden path by which any one
oven n Girl-could go from the big
house 60 the shore outside the village.
10 these thoughts seems to have
/ succeeded n very logical conclusion.
/ Poula reasoning may have been pyim-
/ tive, but q duty lay upon him. lie
. cherished no Illusions i'm his heart
what hc did know WIS The impossible,
. lily Of any rover reaching the ucxt vii
iaIo before the storm amasbcd him
. against thc granite cliffs. Therefore
aaid rover must DO brought back
and his companion Likewise As tho
. strange craft rounded the lighthouse
point Paul jumped into tho boat lying
osteru OF bis schooner
Coin ont ter tho light" inc OK
] planned to the heads that looked over