Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-27
The Red
Marshes
puSyissss IN. =. 1ssoa...d ntsrT Pr..1


Beyond the red marshes lay the sea-
In the gray November days 1t was .
tumblins. sea. with the waves topped
with white foam. and coming in heav
lily through the rusty marsh grass.
But 1t was at low. tide that Msrta's
little dory slipped down tbs silver
pathway Of the streams that cut sheii
way through tho marshes.
Sometimes she met Sim Gregory
coming back with Holsters from the
carly morning catch, and Sim would
shake back his black lock, and would
ask in his surly way, What good
things ara you taking to your dad this
morning. Marta" and Marta would
pipe up with her clear note. Its fried
clamz."
For Narta's father worked on the
new causeway, helping with his labor
to make a permanent way TO the
rocky promontory which was cut on
from the mainland at high tide.
Sim Gregory, or, as the people OF
the town called him. BLACK GREGORY
did not work on tbs causeway. He
preferred the free method OF earning
his living In the sea. He sold his lob
stsrs to the summer hotels. and IN
winter sent them to- tho city BIN
cared little for money. Perhaps that
was tho reason he had the nane OF be-
Ing peculiar. ~. e..
It was because Marta carried her
fathers dinner down the: silver high.
ways that Sim Gregory came through
the, narshe5 with his mornings catch
rathsr than land 1t the docks in deep
or water.
Sim loved Marta. Every day he
brought her some offering from the
SEA. Sometimes Marta refused tns
Gifts. 81 cant;take:thenn," she said ia
Sim, one morning, as he held out to
her pair Of shining ndackerel.
"Why mott"
Marta: looked away from him as she
ansr sred: Mother says;it isn't right.
She wsnts-xhs wants me- to marry
Edward Pond, Sim :; ~.
SIN Leaned far over, and drew her
dory: close TO, his own, with a strong
hand. - =, r'....:,...r
%::,"Msrta:". heTsaid, with. = sharp In.
take ;ostt his breath. mi rta, are you
going 10 mArrF Ed" r.. 80.
She shook her. head; NO, mo-,
doh't love him, but mother has oct her
hears on IT. :: ~: x, < :. :.
."Why does sho want rto-sell--you!'
Marta raised her head quickly.
Don't yo,l speak OF it that way: Moth,
e. doesn't yealizs-she only thinks
that Edward is prosperous"
That nie.N. the wind blew away'the
ioc, bat it also blew itself into a
slrons gale, which Increased as the
day advanced. until, al. sunset, SKY and
wafer showed the blackness OF =
storm.
Il Has not until midnight. however,
that the people Of the town began 10
be afraid. Then it was learned that a
haIl.dozan OF the boats that had gone
out early in the morning had not come
hack. the men from the hfe:saving
,ts tion we're on the watch. and fres
we're Iigh!ed ana bells were rung.
Irp and down the beach went the
p.op!e whose sons and husbands ana
fs;nar,, were at sea. Mothers wept
for their boys. children for their pa
rents.
Bu: pobody wspt for Sim. Only Mar
"a. straining her eyes through the
b!sckness. prayed that he might be
sats-that he might come back to her
4 shout vent up, as somewhere OUT
In tho leapias blackness. there shone
a Iixbt Ike q star. The .liteboat,
wording It's way against wind ana
wave brought back five men.
everybody Is safe. said some one
near Marta. -e :. -,
Marta. searching the bronzed faces,
asked. did you--d!d you And Sim
Gregory"
Wa say him just as the storm
broke" said one OF the men. I'VE
| shouted, but ne was. loo lar away ~
hear us-w.e haven't seen him since
All night long the life guards pa
trolled the beach. All night long Mar
ia strained her eyes QUITO sea: When
dawn came the wind died, and the sun
came Up. rosy red aboresthe horizon
AND a. |, rose 1t showed far out on the
tossing waters a black speck.
TITS boat" said Marta.
And there's a man In 1t, miss
said one Of the guards.
Then Marta fed homeward to hear
tho reproaches Of her mother.
IL was nearly noon when Marta
went across tho red marshes with her
fathers lunch
wien she met Sim Gregory she
dared not look up,
"Mirts." he called, and brought bis
booat close to. herr, and his voice was
sassrr as be, spoke, "they told me. Oh
III. beach, that you waited all night
Sor, news Of me-" -
She answered him as she had an:
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