The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-08-14
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
The Lobsternan.
BIZ Will 7. AMEs.


fcopyright 1918. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
-PIPUT! Far down the
today river a stubby motorboat
4 announced It's identity to the
girl In the canoe. It was a lobster
mans boat; she recognized its rhyth-
mic skip. Using her paddle just fire.
quently enough to stem the drift Of the
canoe, the girl held her position in
the mouth OF the little cove. To reach
its mooring in the cove the motorboat
must pass within a handful OF yards
Presently the lobster boat grew from
a speck to a spot and from spot
TO fun dimensions. The girl could
make out the sunbeaten face OF the
lobsterman, and could see that as usu
al, he did not intend to notice her
at all. He was sturdy. rugged sort
OF man. with plenty or lightish hair.
and he wore long red rubber boots.
He stood at the wheel OF the motor
boat as IL he were alone in the whole
world.
Just as the motorboat was almost
abreast Of the canoe the girl attempt
ed to shift her position, to7pled, threw
up both hands and tumbled overheard
when the canoe cranktly capsized.
The man in the lobster boat gave no
sign OF witnessing the impending
tragedy. He swept by without cast
ing a glance, apparently at the strug-
Cling girl or the drifting canoe, but
gave all his attention to his boat
and the matter OF making a speedy
mooring.
"swtne!" spluttered the girl. Then
she swan ashore. She sat on rock
IN the sun for an hour before she was
dry enough to go home by the road;
and 1t was necessary TO pay the Per-
kins boy a dollar to recover the ca
noe, which he found a good way down
the river, beached.
Catherine Mason was at Mallory's
cove, not from choice, but because
the doctor had given her the alterna-
tive Of a couple of months in the
country or an early dissertation from
her Job as fashion artist. from her
one room and kitchenette apartment
IN The Village" and from all her
other earthly cares and interests as
q permanent condition. And being as
nearly broke as she always was, the
extraordinary economy of Miss He'd
den's Mallory cove menage had been
discovered as godsend.
Catherine was mending in health
very rapidly But she was bored to
distraction. On the day of her arrival
she would have drawn her skirts aside
from contact with Il lobsterman who
wore red rubber boots and whose
boat smelled somewhat Of ancient fish
lobster bait. A week later, because
she had discovered that there was
neither male nor female society at
Mallory cove that was not either ell
derby or SO utterly dead level that
there was no handle anywhere to take
hold OF. the lobsterman had become
a person Of keen interest to Miss Ma
son. He was type. He was a son
OF nature. He was doubtless a per-
feet child in the simplicity of his
outlook. Miss Mason knew many men
who wore longish hair and windsor
ties and talked isms across CANDLE
lighted tables in smoky restaurants.
But she had never encountered prim-
five manhood. 1t should prove an
Interesting study.
Catherine was good looking and on
the under side Of thirty. She was
long legged and svelte and had big
dark eyes and much black hair, and
was withal a very sophisticated and
impressive looking figure-especiall
would be flattered by her notice.
But twice before today had Gather
tne put herself and her canoe in the
way OF the lobster boat-and twice
had she been snubbed. And now the
hopeless creature showed his true
worth by passing a drowning woman
with infinitely less concern than he
would have displayed over a derelict
lobster pot. Catherine should have
been utterly disguised. Instead she
found herself unaccountably angry.
Angry at such stupid lump as this!
Il was rldiculousl And yet Gather
Inc grew angrter and angrier.
Next day she met the lobsterman
Unexpectedly on the road that led to
the downward trolley. She had Just
boon thinking about him, and she
assured herself. that of course he must
DO completely ignored. Yet Catha-
Inc to her amazement found herself
etnuding squarely in his path and
ypeaking to him.
you are the person who saw me
Tall overheard yesterday and made no
effort to save me, wish to tell you
What the world-whaE real human
beings call a man who does a thing
Ike that. He is called coward"
Eyes, ma'am; know" The lobster
man was not nearly as frustrated as
he should have been somehow. Was
L possible that Catherine was right
In suspecting flicker OF a smile
4 around the corners of his mouth. And
sufely-surely-there was at least a
trace Of fun In his wide open blue
eyes. It was unbelievable. II know
the lobsterman said, and generally
tt would be right. But not In this
pase."
"And why not in this case, prayP
what special exemption do you claim
from the most ordinary obligation OF
humanity"
''Nene, me'am. But,you weren't IN
any danger, and.I was liable to miss
my mooring. You see," and the
ghost OF smile took on a definite
shape. "I was a swimming instructor
for aeverai seasons. No woman who
isn't q perfect fish in the water ever
CNNl SsA.2 "a At