The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1921-02-24
LOBSTER ROMANCE
by MARY CONNOLLY.


occasion they were simply fisherman
and his sweetheart going lobster
catching nj o'clock Of summers
morning. and ns the man stcered for
the open sea he divided his ntteu.
tlon between the girl opposite him and
the brightly painted buoys which
bodied Ia the green water. marking
the place where the lobster pots lay
hidden
Sea gulls screamed overhead. and
occasionally skinned the water grace.
fully few yards from the side "
their boat Mother Carey's chick.
eus" with their ministerial coats ~
black and white futtered 60 within
few feet ~ them In answer Co the
tsherman's coaNing whistle and nov
and then buoy noaied calmly 10y
with a solitary mackerel duck n pas.
senger. The sun rose higher and high
er. and the southwest wind sent the
salt spray into their faces a. they
sped over the water
The fisherman spoke Tor the first
Ia the rope Of = buoy
Here's trap haven't pulled for
week. he said. as be leaned over
the side 81 the boat and drew the line
toward him The sound ~ his voice.
quite normal aud showing uo hint %
tie conflicting emotions that had been
going on within his breast that morn.
ing, gave him courage lie turned
toward the girl half smile on his
lips.
Let's bet on A." She suggested. and
she returned his smile quietly.
III will be- empty" she said. begin
ming 10 show interest.
He laughed merrily. Impossible -
lac exclaimed after week Their.
ought 10 hc something here It's near
rocks too. n YOU lose" be added
''you rny forfeit. YOU know"
There was complete silence ~ be
drew the pot from the bottom hand
over hand. and ~ IL came to the sur
face covered with dank sen Nrrd und
fun ~ tiny star fish. they both leaned
over n eagerly
Empty p" exclaimed The girl. as she
sank hack iu her sent with little
laugh ~ triumph The man dropped
the trap back into the water and Hung
the dripping buoy augrily from him.
Her laughter hurt him % his disap-
pointmcnt
Wen have 20 Try three times " he
told her; "it> the only WAY 20 make
IL fair Tor both ~ us"
Again hc stopped the motor and
caught az the buoy as IL swept past
The game was growing exciting and
the girl came and stood hs.sIdr him.
She wasn't exactly sure whether or
not she wanted To- win this time ~
the trap ncarrd the surface be- closed
his ewes aIsi Guessed quickly
"Therc'I be- two he said almost
grimly, us be- uufnstcnrd the lifti"
door perch imprisoned within sent
the salt water into his eyes with ~
terrified Mapping and Il was mo
ment ar two before be could exam
Inc the contents 81 his trap one
large lobster and yes. hidden To- one
corner; little chicken lobster lie
measured II critically and then smiled
"Nlne aud one half inches" he told
her. Il win this time"
Preparations were made for the
third and final catch. \ snowy-capped
wave sent white buoy bohbius into
al. - Sill Mt
her heart-strlugs as she watched the
man lean over and pull Il from the
water. suddenly with all her heart
she prayed that he would lose The
game had gone too far She saw 10
In his eager glance aud felt IL In the
quIckened beating Of her own heart.
II seemed almost as though her Iib.
erty were slowly slipping from her
and she wanted 50 much 10 b. always
free II was her turn 10 guess. aud
She glanced about her quickly They
were FAR out To sea by this time. aud
the rocks we're no longer visible. Sh.
repeated her FIRST bet.
III will be- empty here, she aid.
~. looked AT her and sighed Il
was afraid that you would say that,
he said grayely II seldom get much
out here at the present time
Hand over hand he drew Ia the rope
until the trap rested dripping upon
the slide Of the boat lie cleared away
the sea.weed and looked into the trap
while the girl sat with ayerted head
almost as though II matteres nothing
10 her how II would all come out. Then
n glad littl. chuckle from her coin
panion made her turn. and she saw
him standing with giant lobster held
by the back. She did not know wheth'
er 10 be angry or glad. but as she
saw the unmlstakable look ~ happi'
ness In his eyes she began Ia smile a,
him. iIurrledly he snapped the lob
ster's claws and cast II into the barrel
Inslinctlyely they both felt that fate
had decided more than mere forfeit
for them. shutting on the motor he
came toward her, aud suddenly realized
that she was undenlably glad to see
him coming.
Whether or not the man asked the
girl the all-important question that
4.