Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-10-28
An Island
Bride
How | Made a Match on
Halloween
BY Mrs. SARAH B. ROBERTS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1871.


On the coast Of Maine is an island
CBaIley's island) where have a sym
mer cottage. My place is on the east
side of the island. and on that side the
Atlantic's waves are unbroken by any
land or shoals, so that they come
singing In upon the rocks. Surround
ing the house. except ON the sea side.
are fir trees, whose oder hangs pleas
antly upon the air. especially pure In
that region. The people who live ON
Bailey's aid on orr's island, being
next north of Balley's, are mostly fish
er folk, though some of them do lit
tie farming In vegetables and milk.
The several summers during my &C.
cupaney of my cottage a girl about
seventeen years old-Myra Crofts was
her name-brought me milk. She
drove about among her customers In
"a little blackboard wagon drawn by
small horse, SO used to his mistress
stops that he, would stand quietly
wherever he was pluced. Myra was a
study for an artist. Her clothes were
of the poorest. but her face was
comely and her figure At for model
for u statue. did my own house
work and used to receive the girl at
the kitchen door. and since i liked
her would always speak pleasant
word. One day said to her:
"Myrn, 1t seems to me that 1t Is
nearly time you were getting hus-
band"
"Oh. dear. no." she replied, showing
by toss of her head that the subject
deeply interested her. There's no one
on the island who wants me, and |
never go or 1t. And. as for the sum
mer visitors the young men are all too
much taken up with the visiting girls
to notice one who peddies milk"
had my eye on a young fisher
man, to whom | had taken as much
fancy as had for Myra. During the
months OF July and August he gave
his attention to the summer visitors,
taking them out In his mOtorboat.
but after they had gone he would re-
turn to his fishing. | went out with
him frequently and had every conf
dence In his ability as skipper. There
are numerous lodges in Casco bay,
and Ned Ballard could sail among
them almost with his eyes shut.
was once with him in fog some seven
or eight miles out to the eastward
numerous islands and reefs interven-
+, Ing between us and home. Ballard
brought me into port safely. never ~,
| Ing to for moment, and when we
landed | said to him:
BLOW in the world did you do III"
"Oh. to me-. be replied. Its like your
walking about in your own house In
the dark | notice the flow of the tide
by the direction of the buoys, oc
pasionaily get q glimpse of rock. 8
bit of shore. q point, which confirms
me In my opinion as to whore ! am"
This was all unintelligable to me, fol
l had during the whole period seer
nothing but that driving fog so com
mon on that coast
1t occurred to me that Ned Ballard
and Myra Crofts would make goot
match. Ned brawny and strong. Myrs
a fine specimen of a country girl. 81
Interested was | In bringing the two
together by plan | conceived tina
when the season ended and the othel
summer residents and visitors departed
! stayed on. For few days after tht
hegira from country to city fel
lonely at the changed appearance thu
region took on. but as soon as | be
came accustomed to the new regime
felt more pleasure in my surround
lngs than ever. There was above mi
the great blue dome of the heavens
j about ME the waters of the bay. ant
breathed in as pure air as 1t is pos
sible to find on the globe.
To carry out my scheme for bringing
my two favorites together l wal
obliged to stay till after Halloween
Ifor on that day 1t was TO be put II
practice. My sailing days were not S,
frequent now since Ned Ballard wa
engaged with his fishing. His worl
was in the night. and be slept by day
He fished principally for mackerel
spreading his nets at set of sun an,
taking them up at its rising, and. whel
lucky would fipd,them well filed wit
fish. which be sold at a handsom
price. He told me that in one hau
he once took In 1900 pounds.
Moonlight nights were his favorit
time to fish. There was suficien
light by which to work. but no
enough for the fish down in the waite
to see the nets in which their. I'm
were caught. 1 have myself seen hin
out between my cottage and Ragge
island called from its ragged shor
and when his boat would lie in tn
moons simmer could almost recoe
nize the silhouette of his figures
That year Halloween came at tn
full of the moon. I had thought o
inviting Ned and Myra to my cottag
unknown to each other and contriy
jng to have them see each others re
aertion In mirrors. but Ned was hay
Ing such luck with his fishing and tn
light of the moon was so valuable {
him that | could not prevail upon hir
10 give me even one night. So wa
Obliged to invent another plan.
Ned knew very little abou. Ha
'oween He had heard of it. but d.
NOT know that on that evening girl
We're liable to get vision of the ma
they would marry. There was n
| Tuperstitiou about him, and l knew