, 1899-03-29
THE STORM.

tue uOTtlltdsU, great DldCk packed 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 a truckle bed, a baby against
her breast; an old woman, tall, gaunt
and white haired, sat at a table, the
Bible before her, muttering over famil-
lar passages with awkward lips; the
third moved softly about the ROOF pre-
pairing supper. She stood a moment by
the bed, as the child broke into a long,
low wall.
Poor lamb!" she said. HE frets as
If yonr breast vas cold to him"
"Maybe it's cold" replied the sick
girl indifferently.
faye, but not tonight, Man," the
other protested, land his father out in
. storm like this"
1.-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
q long ways handler"
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
q good son to me and spare the boat"
She was silent a 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 the 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
How dare 'ee speak such words as
them!' cried the girl. springing up in
bed. 1.-THE Lord amt no Moloch to de-
VOur men s lives
"And what's Rab Tapp's life to
thse?' replied the other sternly. ut ill
becomes a mother with her first chile at
breast to be taking such thought for
furren mems lives"
"Come, come, mother" i~nterposed
the third woman, ''let Nan be. Sup
per's ON the table, and you'd feel better
for a snatch o. sommat.
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 cal
have l for bite or sup when the great
starved sea is hungering after my SOM
Aye, but joss, lad. lad, she continued
to herself, land you that fond O. whis-
tlingf"
Martha made no answer, but, pour
ing out a CUP of tea, brought it to the
sick girl. Happen twill quench your
thirst a bit, Nan" she said
"'Taint that kind o. thirst" replied
the other YEARLY.
"Take it all the same, lass" Martha
urged, and the girl drank
IT'S salt rs the sea I" she exclaimed,
pushing the cup from her with q shud-
der. Seems as If I knowed the taste O.
drowning"
sand well you may" exclaimed the
old woman, when your man is forced
% nigh to it"
Joss will not be drowned" replied
her daughter-in-law carelessly. What
for should he be drowned? Oh, my
God" 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
che paid no heed to it
Poor heart said Martha, STOPPING
and raising the baby in her arms, "he
frets over things" She walked to and
fro in the little kitchen, her face press
Cd close against the child's. her soft
brown hair mingling with his soft,
downy fun. MY own chile" she O
tinued meditatively, was wonderful
contentsome."
"Your own chile!' exclaimed the
harsh voiced old woman. Why, your
own chile WA bonn dead.'
"Her was never dead to me, +" Martha
answered gently. Il used TO talk . deal
TO her lying there 30 close and trustful
ae'in my heart But now l sorter feel
that II noe and Jim had another chile
maybe 'tefould be born dead"
AYE. and no wonder" retorted her