Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1902-02-01
ALI for the Love
OF a Girl
BY JAMES III. FREER.

A WOMAN. tall and straight. whose
~ face was hidden by a shawl
thrown over her head. was walking
down the "Ramper." the raised road
which ran straight as stretched
string across Sutter marsh.
II was the duh dusk OF an autumn
evening. and raw wind from the sea
moancd across the fats and caused
Selma Pritchett 20 put her wrap closer
about her face.
Pre- sentiy. far in the distance. the
girl discerned figure outlined against
the fading yellow Of the evening sky
She gave a shriu call:
joel Joel"
The man stopped and looked round.
Selma pressed on and soon Joined
him. He met her with outstretehed
hands, and a kiss passed between them.
Joe. came out on purpose 20 see
You. wanted 20 speak 10 you where
no one could ever hear us"
Il reckon we're safe enough here.
lass smiled the man. There's not
a soulful venture within a mile o. Us.
Folk don't love the Hamper on night
like this"
But neither OF them noticed a rustic
IN the tall dead reeds which fringed the
narrow road or in the quick gather
ing gloom a pale face, which appeared
ghosiHke above the heavy screen.
did YOU hear the dykes finished.
Joe?'' selma spoke with concentrated
bitterness.
AYE. lass, / know IL" Joe responded,
+ shortly.
And next summer they say AL the
marsh will be inclosed and parceled out
i with fences"
Eyes. I've heard that, too. lis G
wicked job"
Wicked Wicked, ! tell you, Joe.
I father will be a ruined man. Whereu
I be any grazing FOR the COWS or the
geese2 Wherein he shoot any wild
T fowl2 Where can we cut reeos for
. thatching or turf for fuel? Why, We
I shall starve."
"Not while I live" broke in Joe.
! ''Te,l YOU what. lass. when we're mar
ried wen move ont OF this country and
: D. back 10 my old place"
what, and leave father here 10
/ starve,~ the girl famed out. Not me;
and I'll tell you what, Joe Reave. vow
] viii never marry You without we can
settle here IN our cd home. o, only
wish I were a man, I'd do something
10 stop these commissioners az their
wicked work"
The man, big. heavy fellow that he
, was. quailed at her fury.
"What would you do?" he asked at
length
~Do? Why. I'd shoot old Squire
Duckett. He's ,he head Of IL al. or
no. I'll tell you what would do, joe
She spoke now more quietly, but with
intense emphasis. This Is what I'd
do. Wait for a flood and cut the dyke"
You don't mean that. Selina?''
gasped Joe.
you wait and see II don't" she re-
piled.
Joe seized both her hands AID gazed
straight in her face. The figure behind
the reeds eraned its head forward 10
listen.
you shame me, lass" Joe said. his
rather heavy face lighted up with a
passion OF admiration. ats what we
should have thought O long ago. Wait,
III DO IL, see II don't"
Selma looked up at him a moment
There was no doubt he meant what he
said
"Very well. joe" she said. "The day
after the water runs back over our
marsh lands. that day III marry you
And now j must go home. Fatherll be
waiting FOR his supper. Good night"
The figure IN the reeds shrank bach
and hid itself as the lovers parted
Selma walked sharply homewards Il
where. across the fats. shone faini
light from the cottage. Joe strods
along with long, swinging steps IN the
opposite direction.
When he was out OF sight the man
who had been in hiding crawled from
his eoneeaiment up on 10 the Hamper
end shook his fist in the direction tn,
other had disappeared.
"Ahl my fine fellow" he growled
with an ugly laugh. II have YOU now
So sure IS my names Vane Merritt, IL
be even with you"
The facts OF the case were these
In. the year 1867 an agitation was OF
foot amongst the farmers and land
owners Of the coast 20 drain the i'm
nense marshes which stretched IN on.
noDotonous level miles and mile
, along the bleak coast OF the sea. an,
which for centuries the sea had ia
saded and swamped in every winte
sform. Rich In themselves. these land
were sendered valuelsss BY the inroad
- aafs xVn fer