The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-10-26
An Island
Bride
How | Made a Match on
Halloween
By Mrs. SARAH B. ROBERTS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1871

os-.-s-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
On the coast of Maine is an island
(Bailey's island where l have a sum
mer cottage. My place is ON the east
side OF the island, and on that side the
Allantic'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
Bailey's and on Orr's island. being
next north Of Bailey's, are mostly fish
er folk, though some of them do a lit
tie farming in vegetables and milk.
The several summers during my oc-
cupancy of my cottage a girl about
seventeen years old-Myra Crofts was
her name-brought me milk. She
drove about among her customers in
Titles blackboard wagon drawn by a
small horse, SO used TO his mistress
stops that he would stand quietly
wherever he was placed Myra was a.
study for an artist. Her clothes were
of the poorest, but her face was
comely and her figure fit for a 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 a pleasant
word. One day | said to her:
"Myra, it seems TO me that il is
nearly time you were getting a 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 l
never go off 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 peddes milk"
had my eye on Il young fisher
man, 10 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,
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 interyen-
ing between us and home. Ballard
brought me into port safely, never ly-
ing to for moment, and when we
landed said to him.
How in the world did you do it?"
"Oh, to me-" he 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-
casionaly get glimpse of a Iocln
bit of shore, point, which confirms
me in my opinion as to where am"
This was all unintelligable to me, for
had during the whole period seen
nothing but that driving fog so com
mon on that coast.
1t occurred to me that Ned Ballard
and Myra Crofts would make a good
match, Ned brawny and strong Myra
a fine specimen of country girl. SO
interested was | in bringing the two
together by a plan | conceived that |
when the season ended and the other
summer residents and visitors departed |
stayed on. For few days after the |
hegira from country to city | felt |
onely at the changed appearance the |
region took on. but as soon as | be-
came accustomed to the new regime |
felt more pleasure In my surround |
ngs than ever There was above me |
he great blue dome of the heavens,
about me the waters of the bay, and
breathed in as pure air as it is pos
sible TO find on the globe.
To carry out my scheme for bringing
my two favorites together / was
obliged to stay till after Halloween,
FOR on that day 1t was to be put in
practice. My sailing days were not so
'requent now since Ned Ballard was
engaged with his fishing. His work
was in the night, and he slept by day.
He fshed principally for mackerel
his nets at set of sun and
aking them up at its rising. and when
ucky would find them well filed with
ish, which he sold at handsome
)rlce. He told me that in one haul
le once took in 1900 pounds.
Moonlight nights were his favorite
ime to fish. There was sufficient
light by which to work, but not
enough for the fish down in the water
o see the nets in which their fins
we're caught. | have myself seen him
Dut between my cottage and Ragged
sland-so called from its ragged shore
and when his boat would lie in the
Moons simmer ! could almost recog-
lize the silhouette of his figure.
That year Halloween came at the
'ull of the moon. had thought of
INVITING Ned and Myra to my cottage
unknown TO each other and contriv-
ne to have them see each others re-
lection in mirrors, but Ned was hav-
ng such luck with his fishing and the
light of the moon was so valuable to
lin that could not prevail upon him
o give me even one night. SO | was
obliged TO invent another plan.
Ned knew very little about Hal
Oween. He had heard of it. but did
lot know that on that evening girls
we're liable TO get a vision of the man
hey would marry. There was no
about him, and knew it