Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-05-19
WHEN TIDES LIFT
BY w. BERT FOSTER.
copy riKht.)

The tide waits upon no mup There
fore. the farmer-tiShermen OF Block
Island watch its moods and fancies
closely; for the sea, n tickle mistress,
holds the island in an embrace which
Is today caressing. but may tomorrow
he as the clutch Of n ravening beast.
I'm the spring and fall, when the heavy
iideS bring in their burden OF ROCK
weed and other deep sea vegetation,
torn from its roots by the ground
swell. the windrowS cast up along the
shores must needs be secured 10 feed
the sterile farms
Shore rights" are jealousy guarded
then. for the weed. together with the
shacklrti>h from the traps, constitutes
The i.lanuS main supply Of fertilizer.
When the pr"lriciorS of these tide
water privileges have stacked such
, weed - they need for the year. their
less fortunate ncighhorS are allowed
to CLEAN as they may among the rocks
, ana along the stretches of beach. And
il CALLED Abram Biddie nightly 10 be
cl:s>cd with the cleaners.
The Riddle place had fallen to him
heavily mortgagcd. however, and when
lie sold the home lot to Arson
Srrague the shore rights went with ii.
Ii is i'll for one man TO consider an
other ''lucky" when he himself has
been unfortunate: but Abrams feeling
had been passive until the day he saw
Arson walking about the old farm with
! Belle.
is.l-
went his way, and no longer fingered
! at the church door for Belle on Sun
day evenings, or drove roundabout
why TO the harbor for the sake Of pass
Ing her fathers door.
His gloomy eyes noted the tide lift
Ing among the rocks, heavy with its
burden of brown and green weeds.
He turned his team ut the foot Of the
bluff, and then. with the fork in his
hand. waded into the water and began
10 draw the green masses Of weed
ashore.
suddenly the rattle Of raOther wagon
smote upon his ears. He glanced swift
ly upward, to sec Anson's span Of
grays coming over the bluff.
"Hullo, Abe" yelled Arson. Got
ahead of me, didn't yea" Abrum
grunted and lifted huge forkful of
| dripping weed into his cart.
Abram kept at his work fever
ishly. He feared TO speak. He de-
| sired 10 get his load and depart.
"Them HOSES O. yourn don't draw
| much, do they:" shouted Arson.
Belle said to me she didn't think We
| was dom as we'll as common"
Abram dropped the reins and turned
on him In a rage chat smothered in his
eyes and whitenCd his lips.
$50 you and she discuss me atween
ye, do ye? Ain'tye got nothin'. better
| to do?"
"Oh. you'm mad thiS morning, Able"
There was 81 hot mist in Abrams
| eyes. Through II he saw the leering
| face of the man he hated, and ut this
he struck. Then Abram delivered a
| mighty blow and his antagonist went
| down.
Arson fell fat upon his back, his
| head coming in contact with stone.
A single gasp, Ind-he Gid not move
| again.
AbraEl, unsof,ened by the sight.
turned away. He picked up his rc:ns
| and chrrupcd TO the horses.
| He rode on past the Allen house with
his head on his breast, 10; noticing
the girl who watched him from the
! window. He was throwing of the
last weed In the harnyard when Uncle
Bozzle puffcd into view.
"Jes' what I heen telln' EN-"
Nheczcd the old man. "Anoiher slice
Of II gone. Some o You boys II have
a wreck over there yit." Abram looked
at him duly. More of the bluff
gone. Jes' seen il myself
"'rhe bluff caved ueain?" gasped
AbIam. "WhereT
Abram shrieked aloud. md. lCaping
from the cart. seized the first nipple
mcnt 10 'tjs hand-a shovcl-and start
| cd for ;he shore. Uncle BoZzle
| watched r!m hrcathleSSly.
WAL, III dern fool" he calculated
st last.
| Ahram plunged down the size of the
| bluff. his heavy boots rlowing deep
! burrows through the clay. Once upOn
he beach he began to dig madly into
| The heap.
What IN tnrnati"n We dom there,
Ahc-hurrcrin' like rround.haug?"
"An>"r--heS under there
Cit &out. He amt nuthcr."
HE is. | tell you. Allen: See his
|