Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1912-03-01
Maria
Fishing
She Had a Novel Way
Of Doing II

By cLARIssA mAckIE

"'Taint no fishing weather today"
said Captain Barnabas Fish when !
expressed surprise at his idleness one
crisp October morning.
TOO much sea p inquired
He nodded and scratched his 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, cap'n.''
came Miss Maria's sharp voice from
the gate Here beF'
There's some roll on today" he said.
looking away over the greenish gray
waters OF the bay.
"First time | ever suspected you was
fair weather sailor" shifted Maria
scornfully.
ut amt me; it's the fish," explained
Captain Barnabas hastily. II amt
afraid of weather"
~ shouldn't think the fish would be
either. they being more used to the
water than you are"
They won't bite" explained the cap
tain with dignity.
"Fiddlei" snapped Maria 30 sharply
that Captain Barnabas jumped in his
sea boots. How is 1t I've smelt fish
frying over at Lucy brakes every
night this week? Somebody must
catch 'em-I'll find ont who 1t is" She
turned away aud went up the grav-
eled path to the little white house that
faced Ounce harbor, After she had
slammed the side door stole n glance
at Captain Barnabas Fish.
Leaning against the picket fence.
his hands in the pockets OF his blue
flannel trousers. his blue eyes squlnt-
ing across the bay NJ the black line
Of hreakwater. Captain Barnabas seem
ed Indifferent to the anger Of the
plump little woman toward whom |
was sure he nourishcd secret attach
inent
somebody must catch fish for Lucy
Drake whispered softly. Il won
der who 1t isr
A red flush crept from the captains
sunhurnt neck up to his ears and dis
appeared Miss Telham." he said sol
EMMY. ITS me-
II thought-you said-the Ash would
not bite gasped Indignantly. was
loyal to Maria. for she WINS fine soul
IN spite Of her affected crustiness.
Lucy Drake did not like turned to
the gate. hut the captain lifted huge
brown hand to check my departure.
at may seem queer to you, ma'am
after my promising Maria I'D bring her
the first ketch of fish. but | had to
take them fish to Lucy DrakeF'
WHY" asked bluntly.
"Becuz." he said. with discouraging
brevity.
you could easily have brought some
to Miss Maria as WELL" l said disap-
proyingly.
Luck was ag'in It," be returned
gloomily You may not believe It.
Miss Telham. but been out every day
for week past. aud amt caught but
one fish each day-and that there fish
had to give to Lucy Drake"
Then you have been out fishing this
morning?"
do | look like fair weather sailor.
ma'am?" he asked eoldly. II went out
at daybreak. and caught one fsh.
same as usual, and suspect that you
and Maria will soon be ketching the
smell of frying fish from Lucy
| Drake's'
| 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 mill 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 slept aud ate and made his home
on board OF his Schooner. the Indus.
named after Il ship IN the Calcutta
trade Of which he had once been mas
ter.
A half hour afterward went up the
path into Mnria'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 a glimpse Of Lucy
brakes thin nosed face at the window.
and she was dabhing a handkerchief
against her eyes
When ] entered Maria's house was
instantly hungry On the oval table
in the low dining room was a platter
| On the platter was still sizzling a de-
licious looking bluefish. brown and
crisp from the frying pan There were
a plate of corn bread and dish Of
creamed potatoes and other good
things.
Miss Maria flew in from the kitchen,
her cheeks bright crimson and her
black eyes swapping with some inward
excitement
Il was just going to call you to din
ner, Miss Te,ham." she said shortly
As we sat down she bobbed her head
and uttered hasty and rather I'M
gracious benediction over the fish plat
ter
"Have some fish," she asked shortly.
III you please So you got one. aft
er all?' | remarked
"Yes. got IT, she said significantly
with silver hook suppose"
said, with an attempt at humor
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