The Red Cloud chief., 1912-05-02
The Red
Marshes

tumbling sea, with the waves topped |
with white foam, and coming In heav-
lily through the rusty marsh grass.
But It 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 a 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 Gca. He sold his lob.
sters to the summer hotels. and In
winter sent them to the city Sim
cared little for money. Perhaps tha<
was the reason he had the name Of be.
Ing peculiar.
It 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. II can't take them." she said to
Sim, one morning, as he held out to
her a pair of shining mackerel.
"Why not?"
Marta looked away from him as she
answered. "Mother says 1t isn't right.
She wants-she wants me to marry
Edward Pond, Sim" s,-
Sim leaned far over and drew her
dory close to his cwn with strong
hand.
Marta" he said. with sharp in.
take of his breath. Marta, are you
going to marry Ed?"
She shook her head. "No. no.
don't love him, but mother has set her
heart on It,"
"Why does she want to--sell-you?"
Marta raised her head quickly.
Don't you speak Of 1t that way. Moth.
er doesn't realize-she only thinks
that Edward Ia prosperous.
That night the wind blew away the
fog, but 1t also blew itself into a
strong gale, which increased as the
day advanced. until, at sunset, sky and
water showed the blackness Of q
storm.
1t was not until midnight. however
that the people Of the town began to
be afraid. Then 1t was learned that a
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 the watch. and fires
were lighted and bells were rung. MI,
Up 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
5 near Marta.
Marta, searching the bronzed faces
asked. Ibid you-did you find Sim
= Gregory"
1--WE saw him just as the storm
broke" said one of the men. 1--WE
shouted, but he was too far away tc
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. Wher
dawn came the wind died. and the sur
r came up. rosy red. above the horizon
: And % It rose It showed far out on tn
}. tossing waters q black speck.
l. Its q boat" said Marta.
y "And there's q man In It, miss.
a said one of the guards.
Il, linen M6rt6 ucO uOMcWdIu W uC0
: the reproaches Of her mother.
= It was nearly noon when Mart
u went across the red marshes with he
Is fathers lunch.
% When she met Sim Gregory Oh
ID dared not look up.
,r Marta" he called. and brought hi
st boat close to hers. and his voice wa
va eager as he spoke. '.they told me. o
a the beach. that you waited all nigh
for news Of me-"
y She answered him as she had Al
&c swered her mother. Surely man hs
:" right to have one heart cry out for hii
y when he's at the mercy Of the win
G. and waves"
r. did your heart cry. Marta?"
~ In spite of her self-consciouenes
- A~OA Nlvn ho tr,,th vsNu N