, 1899-03-29

ing round in searching work and never
hndlng 1t. He's a poor stick. The sea
never gave him no call, and you can sit
here and eat your victuals content, como
storm, come clear"
The sick girl raised herself on her
arm. There's one thing I never could
fathom, b exclaimed with sudden in
terest, land that's his being own broth
er to Rab. Why, he amt no patch on
him."
mo" rejoinsd her mother in law
sharply. He's more fool than cheat
for certain. If 'twor he out in the boat
wi joss, happen the Lord might over
look him."
The girls dark eyes flashed, and Mar
b 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 added,
"you amt eve seen Rab but twice"
mo, l amt never seen him but
twice, the girl repeated.
And when you did meet never spoke
much to one MOTHER, continued Mar
tina wonderingly.
mo, US never spoke much to one
mother"
AYE, certain" exclaimed Martha.
"Why, the last time he coined in here
twas a matter of three weeks ago. You
wal sitting up in front of the fire nurs-
ing the chile, and he jest stood over
again zee 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, Nam"
Yes" said the girl softly, 81
mind"
"'Twas a queer question 1 reckoned
to put to a mother, but there, you amt
never been terrible up wi the chile"
mo"
"Maybe you didn't speak to him sort
er tender afore you horned him, same
as l did my little girl"
mo"
"Yet 'twor my chile that was born
dead"
AYE" the girl answered fiercely,
"and amt mine born dead too?"
The elder woman glanced at her in
establishment. What ails you, Nan?"
she exclaimed. why, the poor lamb
is calling for the breast"
II don't hear it CALL" the girl n
swered stonily.
Martha looked down with sad eyes at
the child on her knee. "You don't love
it terrible tendersome," she said.
The girl, turning away her head,
made no reply. Without the storm
clamored more fiercely and the faces of
the listening women grew white and
tense.
Pray Tor them at sea-" exclaimed
Martha, glancing at her mother.
And amt l praying for 'em?" ex-
postulated the old woman pa~ssionately.
Say the word aloud, mother, and
let us join in"
The old woman clasped her hands,
worn with toll, knotted with age, and
sank on her knees. Her thin lips tren.
bled, but M words broke from them.
Wind and sea, as if in derision at her
helplessness, burst into more hideous
combat, and the thunder heaved its way
through their clamor with q noise like
the splitting Of mountains
80 God!'' sobbed the woman, che
wor a good son to me, a good son to
me. She was silent a moment, and the
storm without upreared itself against
the cliffs, rocking the cottage in its
heavy embrace. 80 God!" she burst
forth again, 'Ye would have spared
Sodom for the sake o ten righteous men,
and 'twor a terrible big and wicked city
spare the boat cause o. JOSH l
wouldn't have axed 30 bold il 'twor a
ship, but lis nought but a boat, mortal
small and tiddleliwinkie, wi only dree
men and lad in it, and the lads q de-
cent lad come O. respectable churc'
folk, no chappelites a-setting O. their
selves up above their betters. Happen
you're angered ag'in Rab Tapp, and
well you might be, for he's not over and
above conspicuous in good works Still
he's young-and youths farming time
but, if we be terrible set on cutting him
off-and I'll not deny the temptation
then, o Lord God, speak to joss through
the mouth D the winds, same as We did
the men O. Joppa, 80 that he shall rise
and cast Rab forth into the deep, and
the sea shall cease her ragingi"
AS she uttered the Last words the sick
girl sprang from the bed and caught the
old woman by the shoulders How
dare ZEE mind the Almighty O. Rab's
weaknesses at such q time" she cried
p~assionately.
And do you reckon that the Lord
has forgotten emf" replied the old wo.
man in a hard voice. Amt they al
written in the book O. Judgment"
"There be scores and scores O. folk
on the sea tonight, I" the girl answered,
deal wickeder folk than Rab, and why
should the Almighty be special took up
wi he? oh. twas cruel, cruel O. yer to
put him in mind O. the lad"
Amt the m o. all sailor men
written on the same page. that the Lord
may read and choose in the winking O.
an eye? And shall i see my own cast
away for fear O. speaking oat?'' remon-
strated the old woman fiercelr. MY
firstborn, that lay at my breast and
MIXED me trustsome. Shame on you to
think o. stranger folk afore -FOUR own
welded husband"
While she spoke there was the sound
Of heavy knocking on the door without
Martha crossed the room, shot back the
great bolts. and a man, pale faced.
drenched and battered, staggered in
The old Woman gave an abrupt, keen
CRY. MY son!" she exclaimed, and
would have taken him in her arms, but
he put her gently aside and came to-
ward the girl. who stood barefooted on