Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1912-02-02
Maria's
iiShing
She Had a Novel Way
Of Doing Il
By cLARIssA MAcxIE


"'Talnt nn iishlng weather today .
said Captain imrnabas Fish when I
expressed surprise at his idleness one
crisp October morniuE
TOO much scar inquired
He nodded and scratched Ills gray
stubbly beard winds been east for
three days now. and that there oily roll
would turn my dory hull up'ards In no
time No. ma'am. you can tell Miss
Weeks'-
You can tell her yourself. capn.
came Miss Maria's sharp voice from
the gate. Here be-"
There's some roll on today he said.
looking away over the greenish gray
waters Of the bay.
First time ever suspected you was
a fair weather salior" shifted Maria
scorufully.
1T amt me; lis the fish, explained
Captain Barnabas hastily. Il Ant
afraid Of weather Is
Il shouldn't think the fish would b
either. they being more used to tho
water than you are"
They Won't bite" explained the cap
tain with dignity.
Fiddle" snappgd Muria so sharply
thar Captaln Barlnbas jumped in bis
sea boots How Is It rye smell, dsl
frying over at Lucy brakes every
night this weeks Somebody must
catch 'eri-I'il find on who It Is. She
turned away rnd went up the gray
elad psih to the iittle white house that
fired Quin:e narhor After She had
slammed The side door stole q glance
af Captain Eainahns Fish
Leaning against the nirlkcf fence.
hts hands IN the roekets u his blue
tiannel trousers. his blue eyes squint-
ing across the bay NJ the black line
Of breakwater. Captain Barnabas seem
cd Indifferent to the anger of the
plump little woman toward whom |
was sure he nourished secret attach.
ment.
Somebody must catch fish tor Lucy
Drake" | whispered softly. - wo.
der who II is.
A red flush crefi from the captains
sunhurut neck IN % his esrs and dis
appearcd Miss Telhrni." he said sol
emnly. ITS me-"
II thought-you said The fish would
not bite" ! eaSped Indignantly was
loyal to Maria, for she was fine soul
in spite Of her affected crustiness.
I.uey Drake | did not like turned to
the gate. hnt the raptain lifted huge
brown hand to cheek mY departure.
1T may seem queer to you. ma'am.
after my promising Maria I'd bring her
the first ketch of fsh. but had to
take them fish 70 Lucy Draker'
Why as1Nd bluntly.
'Becuz. he said, with discouraging
brevity,
You could easily have brought some
TO Miss Maria as weIl,'' said disap-
provingly
Luck was ag'in it, be returned
gloomily. eYou may 15tNRe it.
Miss Telham. but been out every day
for week past aud ain't caught but
one fish each day--and that there fish
had TO give to Lncy Drake"
Then you have been out fishing this
motningT
DO look Ike fair weather sailor.
ma'amY' he asked coldly. II went out
at daybreak, and caught one fish.
same as usual, and suspect that you
and Maria will soon be ketching the
smell OF frying fish from Lucy
sDrnkes."
| turned my head toward the neat
white cottage next door to Maria's.
Surely | could detect smell of frying
fish,
The whistle OF the -four min smote
the stiffness OF the day.
ITS dinner time. observed Captain
Fish. and. with the same nervous haste
exhibited by all ounce Harborites at
the hour Of noon. he nodded briefly and
plunged down the beach toward the
dory drawn up on the sand
He slei,t end ate and made his home
on board Of his schooner. the Indus
named after ship In the Calcutta
trade uf which he had once been mas
ter.
A half hour afterwnrd / went up the
path into Maria's house. shifting rath-
er guilty at the smell of frying blue
fish. which seemed to emanate from
Lucy brakes little kitchen. To my
surprise caught glimpse OF Lucy
brakes thin uosed face at the window.
and she was dabbing q handkerchief
against her eyes
When ! entered Maria's house was
instantly hungry On the oval table
in the low dining room was platter
On the PLATTER was still sizzling de.
llcions looking blue6sh. brown and
crisp from the frying pan There were
pIate Of corn bread and dish Of
ereamed potatoes and other good
Thugs
Miss Maria few in from the kitchen
her cheeks bright crimson and her
black eyes snapping with some inward
excitement
u was just going to call ynu to din
hcr. Miss Te,ham." She said shortly
As we sat down she nsbl,ed her head
and uttered hasty Nd rather un-
gracions benedietion over the fish plat
ter
Have some iishT' She asked shortly.
III ycu please So yon got one. aft
er ail?" ! remarked
YES. got il" She said significantly.
with a silver huok. suppose
said, with an attempt ut humor
5---Spring And Summer--I9lI