Milford chronicle., 1905-05-19

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RN common with many of his fellow
islanders, Thomas Gilbert found
himself before he was fifty years
old stiffening with rheumatism.
He had been brought up to gardening
and still assisted in the care of the rec
tors simple grounds, but most of the
time he fished. Among the boats which
drew up at the Hamilton wharf each
night filed with rOckfish, red and gray
snappers, mullet Dream, sennet, ham
let hogfish, club, amber fish or divine
ly colored angelfish none had used to
be finer than Thomas Gilbert's. Now
mis- boat was not so well filed, and the
long sail back to his home in Somerset
tired him. His son Digby, a lad OF
sixteen, had preferred a place in a
store to fishing with his father, though
the store was as yet far less profitable
to him. The finances Of the Gilbert
family felt the old mans disabilities,
but Brenda looked upon Martin Mears
with no more favor on this account
Mrs. Gilbert had been taken from
some charitable institution in London
and brought to Bermuda in her child
hood by the rector's wife At that
time Thomas Gilbert took care of the
rectOrs horse and his gardens. The
young people fell in love early, but
they had been so happy in the rectory
service that they had not married un- |
til they were past thirty.
There was an air of gentility about !
ahn -
savored of the fneness of the rectory. |
Brenda Gilbert felt it. She had been |
named by the reetOrs wife and edu-
Gated largely with her children. She
was therefore better bred than most of
those with whom she associated. More
than that, there was not so beautiful a
girl in all Bermuda as she. Brenda
was a blond. That means as much in
Bermuda as in Africa. Among the
monotonously dark eyes and olive skins
and jet black locks of her mates her
haxen tresses and brilliant blue eyes
and dazzling complexion made her
seem like veritable seraph.
Martin Mears was a pilot, a good
enough fellow, and, for a young Ber- ]
mudian, he was rich. Brenda knew
that he was perishing for love of her {
and was ready to marry her tomorrow, t
but he lacked the refinement to which s
she was accustomed. Then he was /
short and thickset and red faced, and, t
in her soul, in spite Of the many consid-
erations which her father and mother v
urged upon her in his favor Brenda Pb
hated him. |
1t is computed that there are only /
about twenty square miles of territory c
in all Bermuda. 1t is not strange.
therefore, that there are some men who "
know the faces of all the white inhab- e
tants. The others, though nearly twice h
IS many, count little to a Bermudian. A
Thomas Gilbert's beautiful daughter n
vas naturally somewhat famous Il
throughout the islands. Her mother tt
would not allow her to 90 with the sol 81
iers, and caste, which is powerful there as
md takes on pettiness of detail COM W
with its geographical scope, al
Orbade the young men of the local hi
entry to associate on terms of equality le
rith fisherman's daughter. Yet there
7as one of them who fell in love with til
er, and he cared nothing for wagging SU
1ngues nor for the comments Of his Nj
rOud mother and sisters. In
To do John Masters justice he loved no
lie girls fine lack of cOquetry and her m;
DOdness and gentleness as much as slo