Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-01-23
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{ TRAGEDY OF THE
) BREAKNATER.
a Story Of a coquette and a Fool.


There are creatures who can be made
homeless-men who save pennies to
pay for rent and women who are
afraid of evictons But Duff Green
knew no such troubles and was no
more concerned about the rise in house
rates than We're the foxes of the fields
or the rats of the wharfs. BE had
peculiar habits and might have been
called amphibious if it had not been
for the fact that he lived neither upon
the land nor the lake, but upon and
within the breakwater.
That is to say, by day he sat upon
the brealiwater. one of patient row
of fishermen, and by night he let him
self gently down from his height by
means OF a rope ladder TO Il small font
ing platform before an opening in the
piers. These piers We're the pillars
to his front door. And within the
breakwatei' was Duff's home.
He had framed two rooms in this
cave Of conjoinins stalagmites and
stalactites, rooted them neatly, foored
them well and had run a stovepipe
out literally. In this retreat, visible
only from the water and run in uncon-
scious defiance of the city authorities
Duff kept the necessaries of lffe-food
in his cupboard, fuel for his stove,
chairs for himself and two friends, a
clock and calendar.
Nothing was needed except perhaps
n wife. Duff noticed this lack, being
an observant man. and when lie rowed
about the familiar waters in his skiff
or toasted his dry bread over his fire
or lay in his bed listening to the sounds
of his solitude he thought much about
the matter. Sometimes it made him
laugh; oftener it made him a little sad.
Duff loved the singing of the water
better than any sound in the world,
and he was not quite certain to what
degree a woman's voice would add to
the harmony of tapping waters and
wailing winds.
Duff knew a woman. She was Mat
Hendricks daughter, and she wore
ed handkerchief about her head when
he came fishing with her father. Full
of his idea, Duff baited Agatha's hook
for her Il whole week of windy June
days. AT the end of that time he ask
ed her to go riding In his boat with
him in the moonlight. and she went.
Duff listened to her talking and her
laughter and liked it much. 1t was not
so lonesome as the sound of the waves.
He told her about his home, and she
laughed harder than before. And he
rowed her, all in the marvellous noon
shine, up to the breakwater and per-
suaded her to pass between the piers
-, 1.
and then she laughed still more.
1T is like story" she cried. 'It
cannot be true! 1t is not like other
things-I know it is not true! 1 am
only dreaming!"
"It is true" protested Duff. "And
also it is true that l want you to come
here and live with me. You can help
me with the fish. Some day we shall
have money enough to buy boat with
sails. And l win give you wedding
present, maybe, if you viii marry me
soon"
Agatha laughed
.But whatever we have now, we
must never have a new house." she
cried. I'VE must live here where the
fishes can come to visit me. Tap. tap,
shall hear at the door. and when I
open it there Will be big fish all in his
Sunday best. Come in l shall say to
him, and in he will come, and l viii
call you down, and we viii drink tea
together" And, still laughing. she look
ed out of the little window at the
shimmering water and clapped her
hands.
Duff took it for granted that all was
settled. and he did nothing but plan
for his marriage. He bought some
things for the lIouse-a crucifix and
some new cooking tins and a red cover
for the table. And lie saved as much
money as lie could. for he knew that
his wedding would cost him a great
deal. At night he slept only part of
the time, and he dreamed and dreamed
of Agatha. while the water without
mitated her laugh
In September he noticed that she
ceased to come with her father TO the
breakwater
"she wants me to go after her." he
said TO himself wisely. So he went,
much dressed and with his curls fresh
" cut. But she was not at home,
though it was evening. nor did she
rome to the breakwater all that week.
The days seemed as If they would new
er end, while he pretended to watch
his lines, yet sat with his eyes upon
the path that led across the railroad
tracks down which Agatha always.
walked. But though he saw many
coming that way he did not catch tie