Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-03


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But what shall I do-if you don't come
back?',
You? You get mother Teller. Diego was
you Teller. and when he went out with
Felipe and fell overheard you took Carlos;
and when Carlos he make partner with
Felipe and got drown in the storm you
took-me. Now 1 go with Felipe-and 1
go down and you get mother Teller Maybe
you take heem. He tink you YER fine
gel''
The young fisherman turned as he spoke
and glanced at the girl seated beside him
on the dock.
To look at the dark beauty of the wo-
mans face, at her deep brown eyes her
Iustrous black hair and her glowing olive
complexion one would never have supposed
her to be the daughter of old Captain Rod
rigues, a plain New England fisherman.
who commanded the fishing fleet in winter
and drove crazy barge for the tourists
in summer. Both she and her companion
were jewellers in the "POrtagee' settle
ment which constitutes the main part of
the inhabitants of the quaint old Cape Cod
village of PrOvincetown-
Nita Rodrigs, as the townspeople called
her, was beyond all doubt the belle of
PrOvincetown, and the model most in de-
mand at the old studio at the West End.
Nita could always get 10 cents an hour to
sit, while Rosa and the rest only received
the regular cents. Once she had even
had % cents an hour. but that was be-
fore she took Don for her Teller Don
would have no such foolishness around his
gel"
Nita sat silent. She drummed her heels
against the edge of the wharf and looked
down into the water that ran inky black
beneath her.
Don edged a trile nearer to her.
He tink you YER fine gel he repeated.
Mia made no answer.
Don, huffed at her silence. withdrew his
encirCling arm.
Yes he said, bitterly-"I go down.
you take heem''
To show his indifference he rolled a Gig
arctic and proceeded to light it, AS the
match famed up he took a look at his
companions face. In instant cigarette
and match were sent into the waters be-
low.
Mia! What for YOU cry? You care?" :
His arm went back to its accustomed
place and the girls glossy head was drawn
tenderly onto his breast.
The girls passion broke out.
You know 1 care" she said. land you
know how 1 hate Felipe and how 1 fear
him.
i never guess that" said Don. Nita
withdrew from his embrace.
IF believed you were as dumb as that
Id-Td-oh. Don. Don't you know what
m trying to tell you? Felipe wants me,
and 1 don't want him-but he-he won't let
any one else have me-and that's why
Diego diedi l didn't care much for Diego,
but when he asked me l said yes-cos' Rosa
said 1 couldn't be married before 1 was
seventeen.
Felipe had just come from the Indie
Isles.
The day after I took Diego-he asked
me. told him l had promised Diego. He
laughed and went away, but his look made
me SILVER.
ut was October and we were to he mar
ried at Christmas. Felipe asked Diego to
be his fishing partner. Diego had been
going and q
nets and a dory his share. Feline said
he'd take him for nothing if Diego would
show him the fishing grounds and our way
OF fishing. So father said go-and Diego
went.
why. Don. Diego could swim like fish
Failing overheard WAS nothing to him. And
yet, one calm night, when the boats were
only mile from the race, Diego fell out
Of Felipe's boat and was drowned Felipe
said he had his long boots on. and they
must have filed up. Don. his long boots
were in fathers closet. Diego's body was
never found, and father swore at me when
1 wanted to tell about the boots because he
owed Felipe money"
Silence fell between the pair. both looking
long into the water below. Then Nita be-
gan speaking again.
The next summer I promised Carlos
We'd been children together. and father
isn't so young as he was. Poor Carlos he
knew | didn't love him. but he knew how l
hated and feared Felipe-Felipe who had
been gambling with father ali winter and
persuading him to give me TO him. Father
was so much in debt he didn't dare saw no.
SO promised Carlos, and he paid up faith
er's debts.
When the fishing time came round
Felipe said father had promised to go with
him as his partner. Carlos thought some
thing might happen to father. So he said:
Cap Rodrigs. you stay home this winter
You can pack the fish ashore that we catch
afioat. ha' paid Your other debts to Felipe
III pay this one. and you stay home and
look after Mia So Carlos he went"
The girl paused; then. gripping her COM
panion by the arm, continued in low, tragic
tones:
fourth the boats went out on a clustering
wintry night 1t was the oath of January
The boats were out all that night and the
next day The 26th came; no boats But
at night the boats began to come in Such
catch had never been known. Louis the
father of little JOe-he made hundred dol
lars with his catch. One after the other
the boats came in, until all were home but
One-Felipe's. The town went wild that
night Every one was rich-every one was
happy-all but me- l sat here alone through
the night on this very dock, waiting-wait-
ing!
Father came to me after a while He
had got anxious too. Then one by one
little knot of our men gathered to watch
with us. Louis came and told US he had
talked with Felipe and Carlos. They had
had great catch and had sold it to one
of the tramp schooners and gone out gain
for another.
by ard by the man began to murmur
and recall Diego's death and to say that
Felipe was unlucky. Father grippcd my
hand.
About dawn the Maxwells of Truro came
In. towing a dory after them. 1t was
Felipes, and empty.
AT the bottom of their boat lay Felipe,
stiff and half frozen with cold. They had
found him out at sea, clinging to his over
turned dory. But Carlos-Carlos was rot
there.
when he told us his story he said that
they had taken second great catch and
the boat was too heavy. A storm came
up and sudden gust of wind keeled her
over and Carlos was drowned
Don. Felipe murdered Carlos and then
tipped his boat over to pretend. Ard now
you-you want to go with him. You have
money for nets and money for your Gory;
take your own partner AID leave Felipe
alone"
But all my money. he go in the nets
And your father. he say, The nan that
marry my gal he must have $500 in the
bank. Eef l bring nets and dory Felipe
give me 500 for my winter work and half
Of all he make over that. His nets no