The Press., 1912-02-28
Maria S
Fishing
She Had a Novel Way
of Doing II
By cLARISSA MAcKIE

faint no fishing weather today"
said Captain Barnabas Fish when
expressed surprise at his idleness one
crisp October morning.
'aToo much scar 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 beT'
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 sailor" shifted Maria
scornfully.
ut amt me; it's the fish," explained
Captain Barnabas hastily. 81 amt
afraid of weather"
81 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.
Fiddler snapped Maria so sharply
that Captain Barnabas jumped In his
sea boots. How Is it I've smelt fish
frying over at Lucy brakes every
night this week? Somebody must
catch 'em-Pn find out who it is" She
turned away and went up the grav-
eled path to the little white house that
faced Ounce harbor. After she had
slammed the side door stole a glance
at Captain Barnabas Fish.
Leaning against the picket fence.
his hands in the pockets of his blue
flannel trousers, his blue eyes squint
ing across the bay at the black line
Of breakwater. Captain Barnabas seem
ed Indifferent to the anger of the
plump little woman toward whom |
was sure he nourished a secret attach
ment
Somebody must catch fish for Lucy
Drake" l whispered softly. 81 Won
der who 1t isp'
A red flush crept from the captains
sunburnt neck up to his ears and dis
appeared Miss Telham." he said sol
EMMY. Its meT
81 thought-you said-the fish would
not bitter 1 gasped Indignantly. I was
loyal to Maria, for she was a fine soul
in spite of her affected crustiness.
the gate, but 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 I had to
take them fish to Lucy DrakeT'
"Why?' asked bluntly.
''Becuz," he said. with discouraging
brevity.
You could easily have brought some
to Miss Maria as WE'LL" l said disap-
provingly.
Luck was ag'in it." he returned
gloomily. You may not believe it,
Miss Telham, but been out every day
for a week past, and l amt caught but
one fish each day-and that there fish
had to give to Lucy Drake"
''Then you have been out fishing this
uorningT"
do look like fair weather sailor.
ma'am?" he asked coldly. 81 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
Brakes"
turned my head toward the neat
white cottage next door to Marias
Surely l could detect a 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 and ate and made his home
on board Of his schooner, the Indus.
named after a ship in the Calcutta
trade of which he had once been mas
ter.
A half hour afterward l went up the
path into Maria's house, shifting rath-
er guiltily 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 dabbing 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-
hcious looking bluefish, brown and
crisp from the frying pan. There were
a plate Of corn bread and q dish of
creamed potatoes and other good
things.
Miss Maria few in from the kitchen,
her cheeks a bright crimson and her
black eyes swapping with some inward
excitement
Il was just going to call you to din
ner. Miss Telham." she said shortly
As we sat down she bobbed her head
and uttered hasty and rather IN
gracious benedlction over the fish plat
ter.
Have some fsh2" she asked shortly.
'If you please. So you got one. aft
er all?" | remarked
yes. | got it," she said significantly. |
with a silver hook. suppose" !
said. with an attempt at humor
II caught it with TaLDer ) old boat
hook, and l fished for it from the
butt'ry window" returned Maria def
antly.
l stared. From the buttery win |
down. repeated incredulOusIy.
Yes" she said crisply and closed
the conversation with that monosylla- |
BILE.
AS the meal progressed noticed
that Maria did not eat any of the fish. |
In fact, she ate very little dinner, but |
she drank several cups of strong green |
tea. could not help associating her |
gloom with the advent of the bluefish |
on the table. There was a mystery |
connected with the catching of this |
fish that tantaIized me.
AS l sauntered around the frostbit-