The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-03-19
The Red
Marshes
(Copyrisht. isli. b. Asaociated ussraly P1ssal

Beyond the red marshes lay the sea.
In the gray November days 1t was q
tumbling 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 Marta's
little dory slipped down the silver
pathway Of the streams that cut their
way through the marshes.
Sometimes she met Sim Gregory
coming back with Holsters from the
early morning catch, and Sim would
shake back his black lock. and would
ask in his surly way, what good
things are you taking to your dad this
morning, Marta?" and Marta would
pipe up with her clear note, ITS fried
clans"
For Marta's father worked on the
new causeway. helping with his labor
to make permanent way to the
rocky promontory which was cut of
from the mainland at high tide.
Sim Gregory. or, as the people Of
| the town called him "Black Gregory"
did not work on the causeway. He
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 to the city Sim
cared little for money. Perhaps that
was the reason he had the name of be-
ing peculiar.
1t was because Marta carried her
fathers dinner down the silver high.
ways that Sim Gregory came through
the marshes with his mornings catch
rather than land at the docks in deep.
er water.
Sim loved Marta. Every day he
brought her some Offering from the
sea. Sometimes Marta refused the
gifts. Il can't take them" she said to
Sim, one morning, as he held out to
her pair Of shining mackerel.
"Why not?"
Marta looked away from him AZ she
answered. Mother says 1t isn't right.
She wants-she wants mo to marry
Edward Pond, SIM"
Sim leaned far over and drew her
dory close to bis own with strong
hand.
Marta" he said. with sharp In.
take Of his breath, marta. are you
going to marry Ed"
She shook her head. mo. no. I
don't love him. but mother has set her
heart on Il"
why does she want to-sell-you!"
Marta raised her head quickly.
Don't you speak Of It that way. Moth.
er doesn't realize-she only thinks
that Edward 10 prosperous"
That night the wind blew away the
fog, but It also blew Itself into .
strong gale. which increased Is the
day advanced, until. at sunset. sky and
water showed the blackness Of .
storm.
It was not until midnight, however,
that the people Of the town began to
be afraid. Then It was learned that .
half.dozen Of the boats that had gone
out early in the morning had not come
back. The men from the life-saving
station were on thu watch, and fires
were lighted and bells were rung.
Tn and down the beach went the
people whose sons and husbands and
fathers were at sea. Mothers wept
for their boys, children for their pa.
rents
But nobody wept for Sim. Only Mar.
ia, straining her eyes through the
blackness. prayed that he might be
safe-that he might come back to her.
A shout went up, as somewhere, out
in the leaping blackness. there shone
light like star. The lifeboat.
working its way against wind and
wave brought back five men.
Everybody is SAFE" said some one
near Marta.
Marta. searching the bronzed faces.
asked. did you-did you find Sim
Gregory"
I'VE saw him Just as the storm
broke" said one of the men. I'VE
shouted, but he was too far away to
hear us-we haven't seen him since"
All night long the life guards pa.
trolled the beach. All night long Mar
ia strained her eyes out to sea. When
dawn came the wind died, and the sun
came up. rosy red above the horizon.
And as it rose it showed far out on the
tossing waters a black speck.
Its boat" said Marta.
and there's a man in it, miss"
said one of the guards.
Then Marta fed homeward to hear
the reproaches of her mother.
It was nearly noon when Marta
went across the red marshes with her
fathers lunch.
When she met Sim Gregory she
dared not look up.
Il .