The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-09-18
The Red
Marshes
(Copy light, 1911. By Associated Literary Prsss.)


In the gray November days it was a
tumbling sea, with the waves topped
with white foam, and coming In heay-
fly through the rusty marsh grass.
But 1t was at low tide that Marta's
little dory slipped down tbs 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, Marital" and Marta would
pipe up with her clear note. It's 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 on
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
STEERS 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 fl n him as she
answered. Mother says 1t isn't right
She wants-she wants me to marry
Edward Pond. Sim
Sim leaned far over and drew her
dory close to his own with a 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,
don't love him, but mother has set heI
heart on it."
"Why does she want to-sell-you?'
Marta raised her head quickly
Don't you speak of it that way, Moth
err doesn't realize-she only thinks
that Edward is prosperous
That night the wind blew away the
fog. but It also blew itself into q
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 tt
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-savfne
station were on the watch, and fires
were lighted and bells were rung.
I'D and down the beach went the
people whose sons and husbands anc
fathers were at sea Mothers wep'
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, az somewhere. Out
in the leaping blackness there shone
a light like star. The lifeboat
working it's way against wind anc
wave brought back five men.
Everybody Is safe" said some one
near Marta.
Marta, searching the bronzed faces
asked, did you-did you find Sin
Gregory"
1--WE saw him just as the storm
broke" said one OF the men. ave
shouted, but he was too far away tt
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 SUI
came up rosy red above the horizon
And as it rose 1t showed far out on the
tossing waters a black speck.
ITS boat" said Marta.
"And there's man In 1t. miss,
said one OF the guards.
Then Marta fled homeward to hea
the reproaches Of her mother
1t was nearly noon when Mart;
went across the red marshes with he
fathers lunch.
When she met Sim Gregory sh'
dared not look UP.
Marta" he called, and brought hi
boat close to hers, and his voice wa
eager as he spoke, they told me, OF
the beach, that you waited all nigh
for news Of me-"
She answered him as she had an
swered her mother, "Surely man ha
right to have one heart cry out for hin
when he's at the mercy OF the vim
and waves"
"Did your heart cry, Marta?"
In spite OF her self-consciousness
she told him the truth. ~ you ha'
died my heart would have died Wit
you, Sim"
No one could have called him "Blac
Gregory" II they could have seen hir
at that moment His face was melte
into tenderness.
II think came back because yo
called me, Marta" he said. "Ther
was one moment when In the blacl
ness ] lost hope, but something seen
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