The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1920-12-17
ROMANCE
BY MARY CONNOLLY.

the winter months, on this particular
occasion they were simply fisherman
and his sweetheart going lobster
catching at 5 O'Clock of a summers
morning, and as the man steered for
the open sea he divided his atten-
ton between the girl opposite him and
the brightly painted buoys which
bobbed in the green water, marking
the place where the lobster pots lay
hidden.
Sea-gulls screamed overhead, and
occasionally skinned the water grace
fully a few yards from the side of
their boat; Mother Carey's chick
ems" with their ministerial coats of
! black and white fluttered to within
a few feet of them in answer to the
fisherman's coaXing whistle; and now
and then a buoy foated calmly by
with a solitary mackerel-duck as pas
senger. The sun rose higher and high
er, and the southwest wind sent the
salt spray into their faces as they
sped over the water.
The fisherman spoke for the first
time since they had become entangled
in the rope of buoy.
Here's trap I haven't pulled for
a week." he said, as he leaned over
the side of the boat and drew the line
toward him. The sound of his voice,
quite normal and showing no hint of
the conflicting emotions that had been
going on within his breast that morn
ing, gave him courage. He turned
toward the girl, a half-smile on his
lips.
Lets bet on it," she suggested, and
she returned his smile quietly.
ut will be empty" she said, begin
ming to show interest
He laughed merrily, "Impossiblew
he exclaimed; "after a week there
ought to be something here. It's near
rocks, too. If you lose" he added
you pay a forfeit you know"
There was complete silence as he
drew the pot from the bottom hand
over hand, and as 1t came to the sur
face covered with dank sea-weed and
full of tiny star fish, they both leaned
over it eagerly.
Empty" exclaimed the girl, as she
sank back in her seat with a little
laugh of triumph. The man dropped
the trap back into the water and flung
the dripping buoy angrily from him.
Her laughter hurt him in his dlsap-
pontment.
We'll have to try three times" he |
told her; tits the only way to make
it fair for both of u.s."
Again he stopped the motor and |
caught at the buoy as it swept past. |
The game was growing exciting and |
the girl came and stood beside him. |
She wasn't exactly sure whether or
not she wanted to win this time AS
the trap neared the surface he closed
his eyes and guessed quickly.
"There'll be two" he said, almost
grimly, as he unfastened the little
door. A perch imprisoned within sent
the salt water into his eyes with its
terrified Tapping, and it was a mo-
ment or two before ne could exam
Inc the contents of his trap. One
large lobster, and, yes, hidden in one
corner; a little chicken lobster. He
it critically and then smiled.
mine and One-half inches" he told
her, 81 win this time"
Preparations were made for the
third and final catch. A snowy-capped
,-.1,g hnl,hGpr, fpt
view and the girl felt little tug at
her heart-strings as she watched the
man lean over and pull 1t from the
water Suddenly, with all her heart
she prayed that he would lose. The
game had gone too far. She saw it
In his eager glance and felt it in the
luickened beating of her own heart.
It seemed almost as though her lib
erty were slowly slipping from her,
and she wanted so much to be always
free. 1t was her turn to guess, and
she glanced about her quickly. They
we're far out to sea by this time, and
he rocks were no longer visible. She
repeated her first bet.
at will be empty here" she said.
He looked at her and sighed. Il
vas afraid that you would say that"
he said gravely. 81 seldom get much
,ut here at the present time"
Hand over hand he drew in the rope
Until the trap rested dripping upon
he side Of the boat. He cleared away
he sea-weed and looked into the trap
while the girl sat with averted head
lmost as though II mattered nothing
o her how It would all come out. Then
glad little ehuckle from her com
.anlon made her turn. and she saw
i'm standing with a giant lobster held
" the back. She did not know wheth-
r to be angry or glad, but as she
aw the unmistakable look Of happi-
ess IN his eyes she began TO smile at
i'm. Hurriedly he snapped the lob
ter's claws and cast IL into the barrel
they both felt that fate
ad decided more than a mere forfeit
or them. Shutting or the motor he
anne toward her. and suddenly realized
has ubo ,roe ruHaufnh lV clad To see