Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-08-25

tlWart within reach VI the painter.
Matte lad tried 10 dissuade him
from accompanying her. and she was
surprised lac should ignore her wish.
Still, she was Lot altogether disYleasvd
10 have his company.
II was one OF those nights ia which
the dim starlight seems To intensity
the darkness uf land aud SEA. The
heaViug waters had u phusphOrescent
CLEAN, and the waves mounted sullcnly
as the wind from the east swept across
them in singing gusts.
But for Peters cOmpaniUuship Matte
would have felt the solitude "rrrle."
Yet they had little To say To each other.
They worked with viii. Fish were
plentiful. aud in II couple OF hours they
had caught US many as Matte wanted.
Wen he weighing anchor now" she
said.
Not quite yet, lass" quoth Peter In
u dry tone. Il came here tonight mean
ing 10 get your promise To marry me Z
fortnight from now. and We'll up an
Choir only when you've given H."
You'll row me ashore AT once. Peter.
or I'll never forgive you" cried Matte.
amazed ami indignant.
IN row you ashore as soon rs you
give me your wurd-nUt till them" said
Peter dOggedly.
You're never in earnest" Matte
was beginning 10 tremblr little I'm
the darkness.
Am not? I'm thinking I've pinned
you this time. my lass" And he laugh
ed eXultantly.
Matte was speeches. for the mo-
ment, daZed by the revelation Of his
character. 1t seemed to her that she
looked suddenly into gulf of hOrrid
darkness. What n cruel heart he must
have to think of taking so mean an adj
vantage. He knew So well how afraid
she was lest the old ladies should learn
of these midnight excursions of hers.
It would break Miss Priscillu's heart to
know of the hurdships she had borne,
however chccrfully. for her sake. As
for the other sister, she would be ais
graccd forever In Miss Niriam's eyes.
IlbE CIV IL SlhllCe NONllb llloIlN NAltAAs
well, are you content to stop here
till daylight" cried Peter, breaking in
on her troubled thoughts. There will
be n fine stir ut the cottage when the
Misses Lorimcr wake up and want
their breakfast" he added craltily.
At this Matte sprang to her feet and
stretched across to grasp the anchor
rope, but he held her OF. Then he
tainted her with her pOwerlessncSs.
She confdcd to me long afterward
that she knew the sort of despairinG
rage that tempts Il being in extremity
/ to take the life of another.
! Peter drove her back TO the seat she
/ had quilted. Then she shipped the
| oars into the rowlOcks and strove with
/ all her might to drag the boat from its
moorinZs, but 1t was useless.
! Come, Matte, be sensible woman
for once and give in. 1t beats me TO
know what you make such to do
/ for
Mattie's answer was cry of despair.
1t was that heard as was returning
. To lut COdSl SiuAN S'h'iNi '''N'' 80
nights round of inspection.
Mattie's despair was not untounded'
What was the use of telling this man
the true facts of the case-that the
Door old ladies had nobody to look u
but her? He would only sncer. She
need not throw herscl: upon his gen.
crosby; he had none. He was hard
as flint. He would keep his word In
spite Of all she could say or do. Day
light would find her here If she did not
promise Could she promise-for then
sakps? But would it be best for them
in the end? That question saved Mat
tie She saw so clearly that the wife
OF Peter Small would have little power
to minister to others.
You can stay here till doomsday
Peter, but You'll never get me to 81!
I'll marry you. That idea is gone, once
and for all. I've changed my opinion
Of you this night rs las | never
thought to- Her words ended In {
sob
Peters anger rose. He began Il
threaten and to bully her. thinkin,
probably that her tears betokencd ;
weakness that demanded such treat
ment. But he was struck dumb Of
sudden by the sound of approaChin:
oars.
"Ahoy, there" Matte cried out. he
voice full of joyful relief.
1t suttices to tell that rescued Mat
! l. y Il ,,lP
her moorings when the surly fellow n
the bow still refused to haul up til,
anchor, for | am merely the chronicle
of page in Mattics life which proves
her to have heart as brave, generous
and faithful as that of any heroine o
fiction.
A number of years later Matte stoOt
in the old fashioned garden. TW'
young girls were chasing each othe
round the flower beds. Mattie's eye
were unusually dreamy. Coming III
behind her. unobserved, | said:
Il can tell who you are thinking Of
II dare say. The dear old ladies'.
miss them sometimes even now. Io
see. since the babies grew up there ar
none of you quite helpless enough.
she replied, with a whimsical smile.
: "Ill soon be an old, decripit man."
remarked Cheerfully.
She looked q loving reproach.
"priscilla. Miriam" she called I
the youngsters, come to dinner. Fa
Their Is home" New York Times.
Queer Little People.
The Eskimos who live on the Yves
. coast of Greenland between Mclvill
Z bay and Knne basin are the mos