The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-12-13
An Island
Bride
How | Made a Match on
Halloween
By Mrs. SARAH B. ROBERTS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. l.ll

On the coast Of Maine is IN island
(Bailey's island, where have sum
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 Odor hangs pleas
antly upon the air, especially pure in
that region. The people who live on
Baileys and on Orr's island. being
next north Of Bailey's, are mostly fish
er folk, though some OF them do lit
tie farming In vegetables and milk.
The several summers during my Oc.
cupancy Of my cottage girl about
seventeen years Old-Myra Crofts was
her name-brought me milk. She
drove about among her customers in
little blackboard wagon drawn by a
small horse, SO used TO his mistress
stops that he would stand quietly
wherever he was placed. Myra was
study for an artist. Her clothes were
of the poorest, but her face was
comcly and her figure fit for Il model
for statue. | did my own house
work and used to receive the girl at
the kitchen door, and since ! liked
her would always speak pleasant
word. One day said to her:
"Myra, 1t seems to ME that 1t Is
nearly time you were getting a hus
band"
'Ob, dear, no." she replied, showing
by a toss Of her head that the subject
deeply interested her. "'rheres no one
on the island who wants me. and !
never go of it. And, as for the sum
mer visitors, the young men are all too
much taken up with the visiting girls
to notice one who peddles milk"
had my eye on young fisher
man. to whom I had taken as much
fancy as | Ind 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. l went out with
him frequently and had every conf
dencc In his ability rs skipper. There
are numerous lodges in CascO bay
and Ned Ballard could sail among
them almost with bis eyes shut.
was once with him In fog some sever
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 n moment. and when W
landed said to him:
"IlOw In the world did you do it?"
"Oh. to me-" he replied. Its like youl
walking about in your own house In
the dark. | notice the flow Of the tide
by the direction Of the buoys. Oc
casionaIly get glimpse Of rock. q
bit OF shore. a point, which confirms
me in my opinion as to where | am"
This was all unintelligablc 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, Myr,
a fine specimen Of country girl. s.
interested was in bringing the tw'
together by a plan conceived tina
when the season ended and the othc
summer residents and visitors dcpartc,
I stayed on. For few days after tn
hegira from country to city l fol
lonely at the changed appearance tn
region took on. but as soon as | be
came accustomed to the new regim
I felt more pleasure In my surround
ipCs than ever. There was above m
Che great blue dome of the heavens
about me the waters Of the bay. an
I breathed In as pure air as 1t Is pos
sible to find on the globe.
To carry out my scheme for bringin
my two favoritcs together l wa
obliged to stay till after Halloween
for on that day it was to be put
practice. My sailing days were not
frequent now since Ned Ballard W.
engaged with his fishing. His woI
was in the night. and he slept by da'
He fished principally for mackert
spreading his nets at set OF sun nj
taking them up at its rising. and wht
lucky would find them well filed wi
fish. which he sold at q madison
price. He told me that In one ha
he once took in 1900 pounds.
Moonlight nights were his favorl
time to fish. There was sufficie
light by which to work. but n
enough for the fish down in the wat
to see the nets in which their II
we're caught. I have myself seen hi
out between my cottage and Ragg
island-so called from its ragged sho
and when his boat would lie In I
moon's simmer could almost recd
nize the silhouette of his figure.
That year Halloween came ut I
full of the moon. l had thought
inviting Ned and Myra to my Gotta
unknown to each other and contr
ING to have them see each others