Waterbury Democrat., 1902-02-05
All for the Love
 of a Girl
By JAMES IT. FREER.

4 WOMAN, tall and straight, whose "A 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.
 It was the dull dusk of an autumn evening, and raw wind from the sea moaned across the flats and caused Selina Pritchett to put her wrap closer about her face.
 Presently, far in the distance, the girl discerned figure outlined against the fading y flow of the evening sky, She gave shriL call:
 ''JoeI Joel"
 The man stopped and looked round,
 Selina pressed on and soon joined him. He met her with outstretched hands, and kiss passed between them.
 "Joe, came out on purpose to see you. I wanted to speak to you where no one could ever hear us."
 q reckon we're safe enough here. Iass,'' smiled the man. There's not a soul'l venture within mile O us. Folk don't love the Hamper on a night like this"
 But neither of them noticed rustic in the tall dead reeds which fringed the narrow road or in the quick gather ing gloom pale face, which appeared ghostike above the heavy screen.
 Did you hear the dykes finished. Joe?' Selina spoke with concentrated bitterness.
 .'Aye, lass, know it," Joe responded. shortly.
 And next summer they say all the marsh will be inclosed and parceled out with fences"
 .Yes, I've heard that. too. 'Tis a wicked job.'
 sWicked! Wickedl I tell you, Joe, father will be ruined man. Whereu be any grazing for the cows or the geese? Where'll he shoot any wild fowl? Where can we cut reeds for thatching or turf for fuel? Why, we shall starvel"
 s.Not while I live" broke in Joe. sTel you what, lass. when we're mar ried we'll move out of tEis country and go back to my old place.
 'sWhat, and leave father here to starve!' the girl famed out. SNot me; and I'll tell you what, Joe Reave, VOW will never marry you without we can settle here in our old home. o, only wish I were a man! I'd do something to stop these commissioners at 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 the head of it all, or no, I'll tell you what I would do, J Joe." She spoke now more quietly, but with intense emphasis. ''This is what I'd do Wait for flood and cut the dyke"
 You don't mean that, Selina?" gasped Joe.
 "You wait and see if don't" she re- piled.
 Joe seized both her hands and gazed straight in her face. The figure behind the reeds craned it's head forward to listen.
 ''You shame me, lass,'' Joe said. his rather heavy face lighted up with a passion of admiration. Its what we should have thoughto long ago. Wait, I'll do it. see if don't.''
 Selina looked up at him moment. There was no doubt he me ant what he said.
 ''yery well, Joe." she said. ''The day sitter the water runs back over our Snarsh lands, that day I'E marry you. And now must go home. Father1l be waiting for his supper. Good night"
 The figure in the reeds shrank back and hid itself as the lovers parted. Selina walked sharply homewards to where, across the flats, shone a faint light from the cottage. Joe strode 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 cohcealment up on to the Hamper and shook his fist in the direction the other had disappeared.
 "Ah! my fine fellow,' he growled, with an ugly laugh. "I have you now. So sure as my names Vane Merritt, HI be even with you"
 The facts of the case were these: In the year 1867 an agitation was on foot amongst the farmers and land-