Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-09-19

that this was anything more than {
whim.
AS the weeks passed, however, an(
his persuasions were of no avail tt
move Matte from her resolve, he be-
came very angry in secret He die
not quarrel with her outright, because
of his exaggerated notion of her mon
etary value.
He cudgeled his brains for some
way of bringing her to reason, as he
phrased it, and at last hit upon 6
to a selfish and unscrupulous man
but that was of no consequence tt
Peter.
One night, on the plea of helping
Matte with the lines, Peter stepped
aboard the cobble and rowed her ou,
to the fishing ground. Anchoring the
boat securely, he seated himself or
thwart within reach of the painter
Matte had tried to dissuade him
from accompanying her, and she was
surprised he should ignore her wish
Still, she was not altogether dis
| pleased to have his company.
| 1t was one of those nights in which
| the dim starlight seems to intensity
| the darkness of land and sea. The
heaving waters had a phosphorescent
| CLEAN, and the waves moaned sullen-
ly as the wind from the east swept
| across them in stinging gusts.
| But for Peters companionship Mat
tie would have felt the solitude
''eerie." Yet they had little to say
to each other. They worked with a
will Fish were plentiful. and in a
couple of hours they had caught as
many as Matte wanted.
"We'll be weighing anchor, now"
she said.
Not quite yet. lass" quoth Peter
in dry tone. II came out here to-
night meaning to get your promise to
we'll up anchor only when you've
given it."
you'll row me ashore at once. Pc
ter, or I'll never forgive you," cried
Matte, amazed and indignant.
'I'll row you ashore as soon as you
give me your word-not till then"
said Peter doggedly.
You're never in earnest?" Matte
was beginning to tre..ble a little III
the darkness.
Am l not? I'm thinking I'VE
pinned you this time my lass" and
he laughed exultantly.
Matte was speechless for the mo-
ment-dazed by the revelation of his
character.
We'll, are you content to stop here
till daylight" cried Peter. breaking
in on her troubled thoughts. There
will be fine stir at the cottage when
the Miss Lorimers wake up and want
their breakfast" he added craftily.,
At this Matte sprang to her feet
and stretched across to grasp the an
Choir rope, but he held her off. Then
he taunted her with her powerless-
ness.
Peter drove her back to the seat
she had quilted. Then she shipped
the oars into the rowlocks, and strove
with all her might to drag the boat
from its moorings; but it was use
less.
Come, Matte, be a sensible woman
for once. and give in. 1t beats me to
know what you make such a to-do
for'
Mattie's answer was a cry of de-
Spair. 1t was that | heard as | was
returning to the coastguard station
after my nights round of inspection.
Mattie's despair was not unfounded.
What was the use of telling this man
the true facts of the case-that the
poor old ladies had nobody to look to
but her? He would only sneer. She
need not throw herself upon his gen
erosity; he had none He was hard
as flint He would keep his word in
spite of all she could say or do. Day
light would find her here if she did
not promise. Could she promise
for their sakes? But would it be best
for them in the end? That question
saved Matte. She saw so clearly that
the wife of Peter Small would have
little power to administer to others.
You can stay here till dooms0ay,
III marry you. That idea is gone,
once and for all. I've changed my
opinion of you this night as las ]
never thought to" Her words ended
in sob.
Peters anger rose. He began to
| threaten and to bully her, thinking
| probably that her tears betokened a
| weakness that demanded such treat
ment. But he was struck dumb of a
sudden by the sound of approaching
| oars.
Alloy. there" Matte cried out, her
| voice full of joyful relief.
1t suffices to tell that rescued Mat
| tie by cutting the cobble adrift from
her moorings when the surly fellow
| at the bow still refused to haul UP
the anchor, for ain merely the chron-
| icler of page in Mattie's life which
| proves her to have a heart as brave
| generous and faithful as that of any
1