Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-12-19
A Holiday Acquaintancsnip


the eastern coast of Great Britain
finds himeslf carried for many miles
within sight Of the North sea. The
air is keen with the fresh smell of
the sea, and beyond the long, clean
line of the ''seabraes' hes the long,
stretch of luminous water, rejecting
in it's changeful coloring the change
full sky above-sometimes aflare with
sunrise and sunset, or glittering, a
broken dazzle of innumerable sun
smiles-now grey and sullen under
rack of wind-Earried cloud, or again
lost in vast silence of impenetraDle
mist
Only here and there is any intinla-
ton of the life that fringes the sea
where at some sudden little bay
framed in the dark red rock, which the
short. fine turf splashes with con-
trasted green, and where seems scarce
foothold between cliff and tide, a
place has been found for a little. IT.
regular group of tiny houses, and a
safe beach for boat. The cottages
hang there, looking like swallows
nests, seemingly exposed to destruc-
ton, yet the humble and modest
refuge of hazardous toll, and venturing
even to adorn themselves with tiny
patches of garden ground, where
flourish such plants as can brave the
saline breeze with its sprinkling dash
of briny spray
Just beyond the little station of
Burnmouth is glimpse of such a
small cluster of dwellings-part of
the scattered colony of fishermen
who inhabit the coast. They are a re-
markable race, these fisher-folk, and
distinct in physique in feature, and IN
temperament from the landward Low
landers even as. the rugged head
lands and broken bays where they
dwell differ from the gently-swelling,
well-watered, and richly cultivated
fields of the Merse
It was merely this chance glimpse
Of the little hamlet that induced
Wilfrid Neuthorn to break his journey
northward at that place. To some
minds the predetermined is unatrac-
tive; the momentary suggestion of inn
pulse offers all the charm of the UNI
known. Wilfrid had been ordered off
for holiday, which he had planned to
spend at North Berwick He said to
himself as he sauntered down the
little platform that his original
destination was within reach if this
unfamiliar neighborhood should prove
unsatisfactory.
An inquiry of an official regarding
the important question of lodgings
ELECTED a headshake.
Il dinna ken; there's no a great
deal O accommodation here, and I'm
thinkin' what there is will be a. ta'en
up. But we wad get rooms either in
AytOn or Eyemouth, nae doot.
There's very dacent woman in Eye
mouth, cousin O. my ain wife's,
has rooms to let; and if they dinna
suit We might hear g some at the
ptsstoffice"
We'll. you can send down my traps
with the train. I'll walk over there
myself, and see what can spot" said
Wilfrid.
AS he climbed the steep stair of the
sunken station the sun glittered on
something at his feet, bright amongst
the cinders of the path. He stopped
and picked from the ground couple
of small pendants, apparently detach-
ed from watchchain or bracelet, if one
might judge by the fragment of a
broken ring still remaining-a crook
ed sixpence, worn smooth with age,
and small goldplated heart.
A faint ironic smile fitted across
his features as he turned the trifes
over in his hand.
Well, if omens count for anything,
| ought to be in luck" he said The
symbols Of money and true love-the
two commodities of which stand most
in need. Or is it to be taken to mean
that having lost the genuine articles
! am only to have the symbols i?
After all. this is not really mine-I
can leave it at the postoffice so that
ii can be restored to the lawful
owner"
He slipped the treasure trove into
MS walstcoat pocket, and set his face
seaward. 1t was a lovely evening.
radiant, calm, and pure. In the shorn
fields the harvest stacks were ranked
evenly. but as yet frost had not
marred the summer glory Of the trees
nor redeemed the brambles in the
hedges. A cool air refreshed the
earth after the sultry heat OF the day,
a soft, faintly-purpled mist zoned the
eastern sky. By the time he had
reached the bridge under which the
wearied Eye flows down lazy, dark
creep of water between blistering
boats to the harbor it was the
xloamin hour. and the stars began TO
emerge in the infinite zenith.
wilfrid sauntered at leisure down
the irregular streets. AS he stopped
with a townsman's interest to read a
BIN in a newsagent's window a girl
came from the shop. She almost
oollided with him as he turned away.
and as the word Of conventional