The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1912-03-08

she drank several cups of strong green
tea. | could not help associating her
gloom with the advent OF the bluefish
on the table. There was a mystery
connected with the catching of this
fish that tantalized me.
AS | sauntered around the frostbit-
ten garden became aware that Lucy
Drake was moving listlessly among
her gorgeous chrysanthemums. Her
delicate face, with its long, thin, pink
nose, was dolorous enough. I went
out of the gate and walked along the
fence by Lucy's flowers.
Your chrysanthemums are lovely,
Miss Drake" ventured socially.
Lucy turned toward me- .'They are
pretty" she admitted. her weak eyes
filling with tears.
You have cold?" asked.
mo. oh, no, but | have suffered-a
loss" She came close to the fence
and leaned over, speaking freely as
though glad of listener.
Il am sorry. Miss Drake. May !
ask what it Isl"
My fish," she whispered. 1.-The love-
lest bluefish you ever saw. The cat
stole it,"
What cat?" asked mechanically.
II am not sure whether it was my
SNOWFALL or Maria Weeks Ginger
You see. it was all ready to fry for
dlnner-setting right on the shelf in
the butt'ry window, and the window
was wide open. When l went to get
it 1t was gone" She spoke as tragi-
eally as though she had lost dear
friend.
"a buefsh?' I was thinking guilt
lily of the one / had eaten at dinner,
and had n mental vision of Miss
Maria leaning from her buttery win
dow and coolly fishing for Lucy
brakes fish with the late Mr.. Weeks
boat hook. wanted to laugh, 1t was
all so. funny and so unaccountable.
why should Maria st-Maria's cat
steal your bluefshT asked to cover
my embarrassment.
ITO eat. | would not have cared
only" Lucy Dlushed painfully and
hhi hNN away hNA hNoos
at is too bad. Perhaps Captain
Rarnabas could catch another one,"
suggested.
He doesn't seem to have very good
luck fshlng," she said and hurried into
the house without ceremony.
walked down to the end Of the row
Of low. comfortable houses that strag-
ged along the beach road, and then
turning went back to my boarding
place. Dinner would be cleared away
by this time and Maria taking her af-
ternoon nap. | wanted q nap myself.
When reached the front door the
gate changed noisily and I turned to
see Captain Barnabas tramping heav-
lily up the graveled path. He came up
the steps and stood. grim and unsmil-
ing, beside me.
Miss Weeks to homeY he asked i'm
politely.
II believe so. Come In and sit down,
captain" And ushered him into Ma
ria's sitting room.
To my surprise she was in there, sit
ting very pale and unhappy looking in
a big rocking chair.
"Maria!" Numbered Captain Barna-
bas. And when would have fed Ma
ria beckoned me to remain. Therefore
| lowered near the door. feeling very
uncomfortable.
Don't you Maria me. Barnabas
Fish," said Maria coldly.
Miss Weeks. what did you do 1t
for?" he demanded, fixing his bright
blue eyes on her swapping black ones.
"Do what for?" Maria's tone was
surprised.
Captain Fish pulled back the window
curtain and pointed horny forefinger
at the graceful lines Of the Indus, an
chored opposite the Weeks cottage.
Yes. see it. | don't see how can
help seeing it, planted right there in
front of Lucy brakes cottage" Maria
WIS Jealous. Now began to under.
stand
II was sitting out there just before
dinner. and | had the glasses. was
looking at your house. l was Cap
tain Barnabas blushed and cast about
for an excuse for his lovers foolish
ness. II was wondering If Miss Tel
ham had gone for walk. | was look
INF when | saw you, Maria Weeks,
steal Lucy's fish off herewith boat
hookm Did Captain Fish chuckle?
Maria bushed and then paled. ut
was my fish," she said obstinately.
You had promised 1t to me-"
Il promised one to her every day I'M
tii--until she collected her interest
monex She's been hard up. Fish amt
SO terrible hardy, but they're brain
food anyway, and you know Lucy
Drake amt got amy too many brains.
She needs all the fish she can eat"
The captain was trying to cover his
own kindness with a clumsy joke. Il
promised her Il fish every morning. l
thought it would be easy to keteb
.-plcnty OF EN-. but. drat 1t all, I never
.nueht but one every day, and she
needed it, Mariar His tone ended In
mn apologize note.
Maria Weeks arose, conscience strick-
en- II took her ashland she's hun
gry / must go and see her at once.
she must come to supper and
Il will go and ask her, Miss Maria :
said hastily. and as | went ! heard
Cantain Fish's voice growing out
some question and Maria's smothereo
shrek of dismay
"Oh. Barnabas. ! could never keep
house on that schooner
knew Maria had caught another