The Republican., 1899-06-15
neutrality-suspicious.
: "CAPTAIN MARY" !,
, BY Ralph Graham Taber. q
RAAA e. ASAy
BY Ralph Graham Taber.

mel"
I'm always forgetting!" said Ruth,
penitently rubbing her pink cheek
against her mothers pale one. For
give me, won't you?"
1T was not for nothing that you
burst in upon me. What did you
wish?"
ITO ask if we might go down to the
cove. A schooner has just come in, and
we are dying to see it,
"Gertrude?" said Mrs. Ellerton.
Eyes, mother" replied a soft voice
behind her.
You startled me, child" said Mrs.
Ellerton, petulantly, you entered so
noiselessly. There, there! l did not
mean to wound you. You may go to
the cove; but keep Ruth out of mis-
chief"
Gertrude, the elder, was pale and
shy; but Ruth, the baby, was chubby
and strong, with restless feet that car
ried her with the rush of a romping
tomboy.
An hour later Mrs. Ellerton was
again disturbed by the clatter of chill
dren: and, coupled with Ruth's high
treble, she distinguished an unfamil-
lar note. Glancing through the Win
dow, she saw Ruth entering the gar
den, bringing with her-was it possi-
BILE! Mrs. Ellerton opened the window.
30, mamma" cried Ruth, we've had
such fun, and"
Ruth" interrupted Mrs. Ellerton,
severely, who is that with you?"
why, Mary, and She"
MARY who? Mary what?"
Ruth looked puzzled. She turned to
the little stranger, who replied. timid-
ly: please, mum, Mary Bethel"
"Yes, Mary Bethel" Ruth echoed.
And who is this Mary Bethel?"
Ruth felt her ardor chilled, while
poor, shiyering Mary Bethel felt her
self turning to ice.
"Who is this Mary Bethel?" Mrs. FL
lerton repeated.
Why" faltered Ruth, she lives at
the cove, and
And if so, she had better return
there. How often" continued Mrs. FL
lerton, pitilessly, how often have l
warned you never to pick up acquaint-
ances! | am more than surprised,
Ruth; l am-"
Bat Mary Bethel heard no more
With sob she burst through the gate
way, and ran wildly down the road to-
ward her horne.
1t was not much of home, this ref
uge of the Bethels; a two-room hut,
with brown sOds banked round it.
As Mary reached the beach, her IA
ther came from the hut and lifted her
up and kissed her.
We're off agin, little gai," he said.
III be away a couple o. days, may
hap. Mind the home, an6-why, what's
the matter?"
'Tain't nuthin, dad" she sobbed.
There, there! Don't take on," said
her father, consolingly. we've bin
alone over night afore."
The motherless child went into the
lonely cabin, and, stationing herself by
the window, watched the schooner fade
into the distance.
Presently, down the hillside came her
acquaintances of the morning, dressed
IN white and blue boating suits. She
envied them their pretty rowboat, and
turned a glance of contempt upon her
fathers numbering dory.
Time passed unheeded, until the sun
light was suddenly dimmed. She
glanced out; the sky was overcast,
with blacller clouds to the southwark,
while beyond the cove danced a small
boat-could it be that of the two girls :?
What could have tempted them to ven-
ture so far?
There came an impatient knocking.
and Mary opened the door. Before her
stood Mrs. Ellerton-not the naughty
woman of a few hours before, but a
mother. with drawn, scared face.
my girls" she gasped. "Where is
your father?"
''To the fishin' banks"
81 thought-his boat there"
Mary shook her head: Father uses
that for near fishin'."
"Is there no one?" pleaded Ms. Ell
lerton.
There's no man about; but | dun
no." Mary said, obviously. 81 reckon
might row the dory that fur, but I'm
fraid couldn't bring both boats back;
the tide is runnin' out now"
80 could you-could you row out to
them?"
"'Twould be tug. l might have to
let the dory go-'nd don't know what
father q say"
Don't mind the boat-I'll pay for
that. But, 0, hurry-do, do hurry!"
'Ill go, num-" Mary said, quietly.
81 will go with YOU" tremulously ex-
claimed Mrs. Esllerton.
'Not less n you kin row." Mary an
swered. "Reckon I'll have my hands
full 'thout any extra ballast"
The tide carried the dory along at a
rate which quickly overhauled the tru-
ants But the wind was swifter than
the tide. 1t came along in fierce puffs,
with short intervals of calm between
The black rim of the ocean broadened.
And the tisherman's daughter, familiar
with the sea, felt that it would be hard
race.
A.. =.