The San Francisco call., 1907-06-02
come 10 him

convulsively. Much sadness had
come 10 him.
Aye. sallie. what's Us gcin' to do de
wIntere~ A long sigh followed the
words and the gaunt mans eyes wan
dered FAR out on the sea that beat
against the coast OF Labrador Cold
water, cold skies and clumps Of ice met
his gaze. dim in the fading afternoon
light.
Everywhere the monotonous grays OF
October In the north. 4 belsted fshing
schooner, hurrying for Newfoundland,
and ia the distance the smoke OF the
strathcona were the only moving OBJ
.iects on the vast screen OF immobility.
The woman moved close 70 him and
pushed the tangled mass OF gray hair
from his forehead. '.'TiI all come
right, Tom. lad. usn live somehow,
even ef de FISH wss bad de year"
He ieaped up. It's easy TO say It. Sal,
bat where's de money? An mex year
On ny God"
She soothed him quietly. as his head
saak into his hands. Their little home
stood on a crsgged ledge, juttins out
over the sullen water; be.sesth il,
slender. pury dock stretched it's length
On trembling spiles. A dory. Two old
trap boats. and beyond ? skif. were
1noored. Where the dock touched the
rocks nearly fallen codhoqse doomed
forlorn. the oil barrels behind & half
empty and green with decay
The whole scene typihes bad year
wieh the cod. a had year" with Balne.
Johnson. the traders and ash buyers.
and starvation. possibly. for the win
ter. The grest mournfvlness or it all
was intensified by the high away lonely
scream II the gulls that floated. eddied
over the cabin. their piuions beating.
beating silently.
They had 10 children-these TWO, and
seuie STAYED al home while Tom wss
after dc fish She was a cheerful
woman. with that simplicity and rough
ness that characterizea the Labrador
isns. Poor. yes; dalled ana worn with
sard bitter labor. but Goo fearing and
kind
Don no take on So Tom. be zure
seme at II be eoomen Ter US lad she
kissed him.
The long. thin face psered through
the fingers at the board floor. Te've
been arays saafn' TO me. girl and
God knows hope you be right
He got to his feet again wesrily.
7Da's four quintal o fish fer salt yet.
be goin' 10 sec after un." He went
down slowly. his iron heeIea boots
ciiaking on the lcdges.
when he was beyond hearing the
woman sank on her knees By the tnn1-
hled bed and prayed. crying softly ''fTe
10 dsh hard. God, IN tries so bad TO
do right An us s goi. 90 money no
-four no tatiey Tor de winter. o God.
please help us" she dried her eyes
IN The frsycd hem os her: skirt and
built The fire in the cracked and
propped up stove for supper. nechanIc-
ably.
For years she had known nothing
hut slender means OF sustcnance. Her
clothes were of her own maKihgs awrv.
but clean. Her face was scanned. and
s0rorried Tar beyond her years, and her
BODY bent with. handling heavy loads
of fish. g
T. had. never been so bad as tins be-
sfore: they had always managed 10 eke
a5t their money and J6od from one
q summer to the next but mow-2
"Ds's quarter barre. flour: De fish. an
gallon molssses, an da's all. 'cept de
tea" she whispered to herself.
The man came back then. and almost
crawled to seat behind. the table
near the heat. She looked at him
quickly.
''You be'ant sick, Tome9 -:
don't know he 'muuered. then.
II be cold. sar. wicked Cold. He shiy-
cred in his thin overalls ana SHIRT. II
could no do de fish. sal. I guess be
tiEed. tired" and his head fell forward
on THE rough boards.
The wind whispered about the. shack
penetrating it's time worn cracks asd
corners with chifl rusAihg SOUND.
o''"i hNSSS anu lls &ofcOooinE crept out
OF the sea- shutting OF. The ice and the
waters. One star steamed. above the
cabin ftfeilly al best, but bstween.vells
or scudding wind drift it shoae strange
ly bright
TON. lad, supper" she took his
hand For an instant. it seemed iife-
hess. then it closed sos hers and he
stared at the heavy Hour cakes before
him.
Yes, Sal. supper" s:
He ate, lifting the food to his mouth
with vacant motion. the weary blue
eyes fixed one space meanwhile. She
watched him anxiodsiy. q new fear
growing on her as tile minutes fed by
10 the duh ticetoc toc-tic OF tha.wooden
clock in the corner. When lie had fin
iShed he swallowed the black tea fever
ishly. Eu.2inE the hot liquid. and leaned
sgainst She wail. feeling for his pipe
de last Lseces- and slow smile passed
over bis face as he cut tiny bits OF
tobacco from the plug. She tried to