Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-12-12
VOICE.
BY HAROLD HARNTER.

very PROUD or their singing. In Corn
wall they call 1t a gift and a gift is
supposed 10 run ia families That was
really how the idea that ne could sing
got so firmly implanted in Bob's head.
He took bis place In the choir of the
Htle Wesleyan chapel. and no one
liked 90 hurt his feelings or minded uu
Hida Trevena. who had been away
teaching In London. came home to
look after her widowed father. Quite
naturally she took command OF the
whole tiny dshing village as well as
her father and incidentally became or
ganist OF the unpreteutious choir.
Now. Hula Trevena was a very Gne.
Iovabie maid of twenty-five and Bob
Peueci'y was fue youth Of much The
same age 10 was only TO be expected
therefore. chat on summer evenings
they should fall into habit OF stroll
iug along The ellis. IL was only 20 be
expected also that one nirh. Bob
should end himself tongue tied aud
set modly anxious to speak and should
finally blurt out:
"Hldo. ! love 'eer'
Two nights later. as they sat silent
for minute OF two after a couple OF
hours OF lover talk. Hnda. from the
best of motives. Numbered.
Bob she said now we are on
gagged we can speak plainly 20 each
other Would you mind not singing I'm
the choir any moreT"
saAN-Nr
claimed On establishment mot sing in
The choir whom I've sung there since 1
were temp
"lou see. dear. I want 90 make our
choir special one. don't want any
but really good voices In It."
Every one N tell zee as I've always
had as fine a voice as any hereabouts.~
he protested.
-it may have been good once. Bob"
she said gently. but it's certainly not
good now"
lie took his arm from around her
waist and sat up sumy.
- certainly never spccted TO hear
from You, Hilda. that can't singr' he
said
Don't be angry" she pleaded.
The end OF IL was a Quarrcl-a real.
not Cornish quarrel. IN which each
said twice as much as either meant. in
ais nasty way as possible
Iida's father was undoubtedly the
leading man OF rolpenny. since ne was
the owner OF the fish factory
The news that his daughters engage
ment TO Bob PeugeIy had been sud
denly broken OF came az a time when
he was TOO much perturbcd TO give II
much attention certain dshinc
company. owning a large steam neet.
having a glut OF pilchards. had tele-
graphed him an offer OF cargo at an
extremely low price He had wired
back his acceptance, and the steamer
was due 10 arrive from Plymouth
shout half past 10. And during break
fast. while Hilda was telling her news
6nd trying 20 pretend &c him and her
self that she did not care. his thoughts
were mainly occupied with wondering
what the fishermen OF POlpenny would
say and do when the steamer aDpeared
They were all drift net fishers AT Pol
penny. ard the pllchard catch was
their principal means OF livelihood. A
bad season meant a hard winter
pinched cheeks for the mothers. tight
ened belts for the fathers and no boots
for the children. The fish factory IVES
their only market. All their fish were
sold Tor cash TO John Trevena. II he
bought the fish he needed for his GUS
toners elsewhere at a lower r,rice
what was to become or the Polpennv
fishermen?
AS John Trevena drank his coffee
that morning he regretted that he had
accepted the steam company's offer
When the steamer hove I'm sight a
group of highly Indignant fishermen
were waiting on the quay OF the little
barber 10 welcome It
What's TO do. lads?" asked one.
"Will zee stand quiet and see the bread
taken out O. our children's mouths?"
Remember the winter that's COM
Ing" said another. land let's pitch his
nsh over the side dreckly he comes
INTO harbor!"
NAY; lets prevent him landIn' at
all" suggested third Lets out WI
the boom. SOS he can; get inw
The entrance to Polpenny harbor
was passage between two rocky
cliffs. at the outside twenty-five feet
wide. and the boom was heavy beam /
which was placed across this entrance
on stormy nights TO serve the double
purpose OF breaking the force OF the
waves and preventing any or the boats /
being washed out to sea
The village policeman. who had been |
listening with interest, entered an Of |
dcial protest
look here. mates" he said al
Goan't say as doan't sympathize wi
zee. but the laws the law. and I've got
TO do my duty Any one as illegally /
prevents ship from entering will ha'
to be arrested"
'-All right Nedr' exclaimed Bob Pen \
geily us won't do anything ulegalg' I
illegal or not us have got to keep
that chap hanging about outside with
his cargo I'LL it's gone badr' said an /
old fisherman surllly
Hes took up wi Trevena's. daugh- |
ter" jeered another. so O. course he /
stand4 nm for fha old Skfndinftv