The record., 1912-05-09

But II was at low lldc lldi Malti .
little dory slipped down the silver
pathway of the streams that cut their
way through the slarShes.
Sometimes she met sim Gregory
coming back with Holsters from the
early morning catch. and Sim would
shake back his black loch, and would
ask in his surly way. what coed
things are you taking 10 your dad this
morning. Marta?" and Marta would
pipe Up with her clear nct". It's fried
clans"
For Marta's father worked on the
new CauseNay. helping with his labor
10 make permanent WAY 10 the
rocky rromontogy which was cut of
from the mainland at high tide.
Sim Gregory. or. as the people of
the town called him. "Elacl Gregory.
did not work on the causcway. lie
preferred the free method Of earning
his living in the sea. He sold his lob
sters TO the summer hotels. and in
winter sent them 10 the CITY sim
cared little for money. Perhaps that
was the reason he had The name OF be-
ing peculiar.
IL was because Marta carried her
fathers dinner down the silver hiSn-
WAYS that Sim Gregory came through
the marshes with his mornings catch
rather than land at he decks in deep
or water
Sim loved Marta. Every ds' he
brought her seme Offering from the
sea. Sometimes Marta refused the
Eifts. Il can't take them" she said 70
Sim. one morning. as he held out 10
her a pair OF shining mackcrel.
why mote"
Marta looked away from him as she
answered. Mother says it isn't right
She wants-she wants ne 20 marry
Edward Pond. Sim"
Sim leaned far over and drew hei
dory close TO his own with q stIonz
hand.
Marta" he said. with sharp in
take OF his breath. MARTA, arc yor
going 10 marry Ed?"
She shook her head. mo no.
don't love him, but mother has set he
heart on IT,"
why does she want to-sell--you?'
Marta raised her head quickly
Don't you speak of it that way Moth
or doesn't realige-she only THINKS
that Edward is prosperous.
That night the wind blow away th'
fog. but it also blew itself into ;
,-l,s,t, ft-g - III,
day advanced. until, at sunset sky an'
water showed the blackness OF ;
storm.
1t was not until miioicht. however
that tho rcorle CT the town began f
be afraid Then it was learned that ;
half-Gozen OF the boats that he'd gen
cut early IN the morning had not com
hack. The mcn frcu, to lifo--avir'
station were on The wat-h, ard FIRE
were lighted and h-,ls vcra rurg.
J'p AID down ~ beach vet ~
poorle whose SONS and husbands aa
fathers were 1T soa. Mothers wer
for their boys, Children Cor tacir pg
rents.
Bet nobody wept for Sin. Only MAJ
ta. strainiyg her eyes Through. II
biackness. prayed that he might b
safc-that he might come back to Ec'
4 shout went ur. rs somewhere, OF
In the leaping b!ackncss. there shor
q Iicht like star. TIE lifcboa
working its way against wind aS
wave brought back five mon.
Everybody is SAFE said some On
near Marta.
Marta. searching the brongcd faces
asked. "rid you--did you find Sir
GreScry!"
we saw him iuzt as tho storr
broke." said one of tic men. Nv
shouted, but lie was too far away I
aear us-we haven't seen him since"
All night long the life guards p;
rolled the beach. All night long Ma
n strained her eyes ont to sea. Whe
lawn came the wind died, and the su
came up, rosy red above the horizoi
And as it rose IL showed far ont on tn
tossing waters a black speck.
It's a boat" said Marta.
"And there's q man in it, miss
said one of the guards.
Then Marta fed homeward TO hea
he reproaches OF her mother.
Il was nearly noon wien Mart
went across the red marshes with hC
fathers lunch.
When she met Sim Gregory 81
dared not look up.
Marta" he called. and brought h
beat close 20 hers, and his voice W.
eager as he SPOKE. they told me, c
the beach. that you waited all nisl
for news of me-"
She answered him as she had q
swcrcd her mother, surely man h.
right TO have one heart cry out for hi
when he's at the mercy OF the wiz
and waves"
Did your heart cTy. Marta?"
In spite of her se!f-consciou5nes
size told him the truth. 'if you h;
died nay heart would have died Wi
you, Sim"
No one could have called him "Bla'
Gregory il they could have seen hi
at that moment His face was melt'
into tenderness.
Il think | came back because u
called me, Marta he said. The
was one moment when in the bi9c
ness I lost LoDe hut something see
ed TO urge 'MaIta's waiting a1d So
came"