Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-10-25
Copyright by American Press Asso'
citation, 1@l

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On the coast Of Maine is an island
'Bailey's island where I have sum-
mer cottage. Ny place is on the east
side of the island. and on that side the
Atlanuc's waves are unbroken by any
land or shoals, 80 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 1t
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
a little blackboard wagon drawn by
small horse, so used to his mistress
stops that he would stand quietly
wherever be was placed. Myra was
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 I liked
her would always speak a pleasant
word. One day said to Der:
"Myra. it seems to me that It Is
nearly time you were getting q 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 peddles milk"
l had my eye on young fisher.
man, to whom 1 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. l 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 a moment. and when we
landed l said to him:
How in the world did you do it?"
'"Oh. to me-" he replied. ''it's like your
walking about in your own house in
the dark. / notice the flow Of the tide
by the direction Of the buoys. &C.
casionally get glimpse of a rock, a
bit Of shore, point, which confirms
me in my opinion as to where ! am"
This was all unintelligable to me, fol-
/ 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 q good
match, Ned brawny and strong. Myra
q 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
lonely 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
ings than ever. There was above me
the great blue dome Of the heavens,
about me the waters Of the bay, and
I 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 1 was
obliged to stay till after Halloween,
for on that day it was to be put in
practice. My sailing days were not so
frequent now since Ned Ballard was
engaged with his fishing. Els work
was in the'night, and he slept by day.
He fished principally for mackerel,
spreading his nets at set of sun and
taking them UP at its rising, and when
lucky would find them we'll filed with
fish. which he sold at q handsome
price. He told me that in one haul
he once took in 1900 pounds.
Moonlight nights were his favorite
time to fish. There was sufficient
light by which to work, but not
enough for the fish down in the water
to see the nets In which their fms
were caught. l have myself seen him
out between my cottage and Ragged
island-so called from its ragged shore
and when his boat would lie in the
moons simmer l could almost recog-
nize the silhouette Of his figure.
That year Halloween came at the
full Of the moon. ! had thought OF
inviting Ned and Myra to my cottage
unknown to each other and contriy-
ing to have them see each others re-