The Western news., 1903-07-08
All for the Love
of a Girl
BY JAMES N. FREER.

"
n face was hidden by shawl
thrown over her head, was walking
down the "Ramper," the raised road
which ran straight as stretched
string across Suffer marsh.
It was the dull dusk of an autumn
evening, and a raw wind from the sea
moaned across the flats and caused
Selma Pritchett to put her wrap closer
about her face.
Presently, far in the distance. the
girl discerned figure outlined against
the fading yellow of the evening sky.
She gave shriu call:
Joe! Joel"
The man stopped and looked round.
Selma pressed on and soon Joined
him. He met her with outstretcked
hands, and kiss passed between them.
"Joe, l came out on purpose to see
you. ! wanted to speak to you where
no one could ever hear us"
II reckon we're safe enough here,
lass" smiled the man. There's not
soul'll venture within a mile o us.
Folk don't love the 'Ramper' 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
.Rhostlike above the heavy screen.
ibid you hear the dykes finished,
-Joe?" Selma spoke with concentrated
bitterness.
~Aye, lass, Iknowit," Joe responded,
shortly.
"And next summer they say all the
marsh will be inclosed and parceled out
with fences"
i "'Yes, I've heard that, too. "Tis a
wicked job"
"Wicked! Wicked! l tell you, Joe,
father will be ruined man. Wherell
be any grazing for the cows or the
reese? Wherell he shoot any wild
fowl? Where can we cut reeds for
matching or turf for fuel? Why, we
shall starve!"
''Not while I live" broke in Joe.
~'Teu you what, lass, when we're mar
.ried We'll move out of this country and
go back to my old place"
"What, and leave father here to
starve!" the girl famed out. mot me !;
and I'll tell you what, Joe Reave, VOW
/ will never marry you without we can
settle here in our old home. 0, only
wish l were 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, III tel you what l would do, Joe.'
She spokt now more quietly, but with
intense emphasis. "This is what I'D
do. Wait for flood and cut the dyke
"You aon't mean that, Selina?
gasped Joe.
"You " ait and see if l DON'T" she re-
piled.
Joe seized both her hands and gazed
straight il her face. The figure behind
the reeds craned its head forward to
listen.
"You shame me, lass" Joe said, his
rather hwy face lighted up with a
passion admiration. cts what we
should hav. thought o longago. Wait
I'll do it, e if l don't"
Selma 4oked up at him a moment
There was no doubt he meant what hi
said.
"Very we'll, Joe," she said. "The day
after the water runs back over ou1
marsh la 5. that day III marry you
And now must go home. Fatherll b'
waiting mis- supper. Good night"
The fig in the reeds shrank bacl
and hid If as the lovers parted
Selma W d sharply homewards t.
where, ae IS the flats, shone a fain
light fro he cottage. Joe strod
along wi .ong, swinging steps in tn
opposite ction.
When ! was out of sight the ma
who had N in hiding crawled fro
his conce mt up on to the "Ramper
and shoe : fist in the direction th
other hao appeared.
"Ah! n fine fellow" he growlet
with an Ii. ~ laugh. II have you nov
So sure as my names Vane Merritt, L
be even with you"
The facts of the case were these
In the year 1867 an agitation was @
foot amongst the farmers and lam
owners O. he coast to drain the il
mense ma es which stretched in OF
monotone level miles and mill
along the ak coast of the sea, al
which TO INJURIES the sea had j
vaded anG anped in every wint
storm. Ric.. IN themselves, these lam
were rendered valueless by the inroa'
of salt water.
Yet, to t.. marsh men. OF "slodgera