The Argosy — page 238: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Story of the Sea-shore. 221 and he loved Serena Moncton with the first and best love of his honest heart. He was a well-to-do young sailor-fisherman, owned a | good house and a large share in a fishing schooner, and a larger share in a merchant vessel that traded to the ends of the world. He had already a nest-egg of savings laid by, and was the best match in all | Transea. But the old dames shook their heads, and declared him a fool to go making love to that white-faced, flighty Moncton girl, who was not good enough for him, and was half a lady, while scores of steady girls, who would make the best of wives, were holding their hearts in their hands, and all but asking him to take them. The fisherwives might gossip, and the young maidens might simper : it was all to no purpose. ‘Tom Reece’s heart was not to be so easily shaken from its allegiance. It was bound and fettered by the bronze-brown locks, the bewildering eyes of Serena Moncton, and he could not get it free. Neither did he wish to. And there she stood now, right in his very sight, dazzling him with her beauty. ‘Ts it you, Tom ?” cried the elder man, in a warm tone, as though the young fellow brought his welcome with him. ‘“‘ What’s that fish for ?” “T thought I’d take a few up to Sennet’s. He’s bad abed to-day, and she'll be glad of it.” ‘Bad through his own fault,” retorted Moncton: ‘‘he has been drinking again.” “Tis so, I believe,” acknowledged Reece, who was too kindly natured to blame the worst sinner. ‘“‘ But it’s hard for er, poor thing! and a mouthful o’ fish, if there’s none in the cupboard, mightn’t come in amiss.” ‘‘T doubt if there’s bread in the cupboard, let alone fish,” returned Moncton. ‘‘Sennet has spent his last ha’penny, you may be sure.” ‘A fine day, Miss Serena,” spoke Reece, as he was turning away, courage having failed him to speak before. In the presence of this love of his he was timid as a bleating lamb. ‘Fine enough,” she answered carelessly, and pretended to be busy at the table. “What is your grievance against Tom Reece, girl ?” questioned her father, as the fisherman went away. ‘Grievance, father? I have none,” she replied, calmly and steadily. E “You don’t encourage him at all; rather repel him, as it seems to me. Don’t you like him P” ‘Yes, I like him very well—very much. He is as worthy as he can be; I know that.” | ‘‘Then why do you give him no encouragement ? You can’t be off seeing, Serena, that his thoughts are fixed upon you.” ‘“‘I—don’t know, father, that I—care to give him encourage- ment,” she replied, with hesitation. ‘‘I have seen that you wish me to give it.” COMMICOOOKS.CO©