The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-09-29
ADAM AND EVE.
A Sunday Counting Between Two
Simple People on the Border :
of Childhood.

In the eyes of the world Adam Fiske
was simply a tall, thin, awkward young
man, painfully shy, plain of feature,
prematurely bald Of head, saying few
words, and those with hesitation.
In little Mamie Peters eyes he was
quite a different sort of person. There
might be men who were handsomer and
more charming, richer and more fluent,
but If there was she did not know them.
There was no one like Adam to her.
Mamie always got up early on Sunday
morning and hurried through her dishes
and her beds so as to be ready for him
when he came for her.
She was standing at the window watch
ing for him as usual one Sunday morn
ing. She saw Adam crossing the street.
She had to keep ID close watch. for if
she didn't see him cross the street she
didn't see him at all. since the house
she lived in was so tall that she couldn't
see the sidewalk unless she leaned so
far out OF the window that she fright
encd her mother. She already had her
best hat On, so she tore down stairs,
three flights of them. and met him at the
door.
"Oh, Adamr' she exclaimed with de-
light when she saw Kim. throwing her
arms around him. They were in the dark
hallway, and no one WIS in sight, so
Adam returned her hug warmly.
well. Eve" he said affectionately. His
calling her Eve was an old joke. but one
that grew nicer with age.
where are we goins?" she asked ex-
citedly.
What do you say to the wharfs"
he inquired.
Adam" she said Gravely, Il have
been wondering why you don't talk to
grown up people about the things you
talk to me about. Why don't you tell
them about the fog and the seagulls and
the lady on Mount Tamalpais? They are
so very interesting. and they don't seem
to know anythin: about them. Why,
heard father say the other day that the
sun melted the fog. and that was why it
went away. 1t is very strange. but
don't believe he knows that there is
reservoir ont beyond the Farallones."
Mamie spoke very rapidly. She felt
uncomfortable for fear Adam would
think that she had found his former at
tempts at conversation inadequate. and
that it would hurt his feelings.
''Of course the things you do talk about
to them are very nice" she added polite
ly. with this fear in her mind. Adam
laughed his little nervous laugh.
They wouldn't understand" he ex-
planned. ITS only you and me who can
understand such things. Cats and dogs
both have eyes. but cats can see in the
dark and dogs can't. That is the way it
ia with people: some can understand aud
some can't"
NI,r,;o
'''Thcy don't understand very well when
/ tell them things" She gave n deep sigh
and then changed the subject DO you
think we shall find any of them today.
Adum ~
Il shouldn't wonder" he answered
hopefully. with five of them afioat,
there might one have come in just as
well as not"
Il hope it will be Reuben" said Mamie.
II have always wanted to see him the
most, because he is the youngest and
because his name makes me think of
rubies, and | like rubies better than any
other precious stone. When | grow up
TO be a lady and am rich ! am going to
have n necklace all rubics. and you shall
come and take dinner with me on Sun
days and see Inc wear it. Which Of them
would you rather fnd?"
Il don't know: Asa, ! guess. He was
my chum when we were boys. Amy of
them would he nice. There's the new
fcrryboat coming H." he broke off.
Shes sumner. III take you across
the bay on her some Sunday. Mamie"
'Oh. how NICE" Mamie exclaimed de-
Iightedly.
They went past the slips where the
Low fbo ,;,
boats. with their huge stern wheels and
Indian names that suited their awkward
build so little. but when they came to the
piers where lay the big deep water ships
destined to take the wheat of the new
world to the populous ccnters of the old.
here they stopped.
The wharfs were nearly deserted,
and the fcycrish weekday activity had
subsidized. Adam and his small friend
were greeted kindly by the sailors. who,
in the rush of other days. would have
had only rough words for them.
They found the captain of big three
master summing himself on deck. and the
usual question was put to him. Did any
one OF the name of Fiske ship with him?
They had asked it often, and sometimes
it had been answered in the affirmative,
but it always turned out that the man
was John or George or William Fiske.
Once it was Egbert, never by any
chance Asa or Elisha or Jonas or Aaron
or Reuben.
This time the captain had no sailor
OF that name on board, but he wanted
to know why they asked. and, as always,
it was Mamie who told about the six
brothers who lived in Bangor, five OF
whom had gone to sea. while the sixth
had come out to California because he
had been threatened with consumption.
This served as an introduction to
Adam, and the captain shook hands
with him, and then Adam introduced
Mamie, and they went on board and
had fine time exploring the ship. She
was named the Merscy, 95 days out
from Liverpool, after wheat, and the
captains name was Hawkins. He took
hatterinG amount of interest in the
Fiske brothers, promising to look out
for them, and he invited Adam and Ma
mic into his cabin to have some lunch
with him.
This they did very gladly and had a
jolly time over their corned beef and
pickles, bread and butter and coffee.
Adam was quiet and little shy. as al
ways, but Mamie and the captain be-
came intimate friends on the spot.
He told her about bis little girl at home
named Ada The called her Hada-Hada
'Awkiusl and. before she left she knew