The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-08-19

/ shall die soon, suppose, whether mar
ry or not"
After that she never spoke of viii, and
Mrs. Moore told rue she was engaged and
she wore a diamond ring upon her finger.
And the day before the ship sailed she
was to marry Captain Kincaid, so that she
might go to Europe with him.
A year and three months since the Col
den Dove went down. Well, no one can
tell what changes little while will bring.
l used to hope that hadn't had much
hand in it after all, when thought it over,
and remembered poor Will, and how he
stood holding her in his arms under the
sycamore.
But then, you see, Mrs. Moore's sight
had failed so that she could not do fine
sewing, and Fanny wasn't of much account
except to look at. 1t was hard life that
lay before Milly. 1t was good for her to
marry Captain Kincaid, and have rest and
comfort, wasn't it?
Tomorrow is the wedding" said 1 to
Job, cts going to be in the church. Miss
Salisbury is finishing my silver-gray poplin.
1t sets splendid. Wen have Ben Barnes
in to keep store, and go, won't we? You'll
like to see Milly off won't you?'
81 wish it was Will Masset," said Job.
"Poor Will ~ says I, and 1 went on
tidying, though it was on Friday. Ishould
be so busy next day. l got out my big
paper of sugar, and got down my japanned
sugar box, never empty yet since that day
l filled it up. And Job, sorting the letters,
looked up at me.
"Never begrudged you anything so
much as do that box" says he. Best
thing ever put the mail into This
mere wooden thing with slide is pesky
bother"
CLAW me-" says l, "if I'd knowed you
wanted it, you should have had it. didn't
think you had any plan in it. Jest stick
them anywhere, thought you would. I'll
empty the box I've got one that'll do
And am glad you spoke before filled it
up"
So with that l spread out a big paper on
the counter, and emptied out the sugar
1t had packed little, and came out in a
sort of cake. There it laid, white and
shining, and on top of it, whittier and shin
ier, laid letter-a letter with ship mark
upon it, and this superscription
"Miss Milly Moore, anchor Port, Maine,
United States Of america.
Three months ago--poor stupid had
emptied my coffee-crushed in upon it, and
there it was.
Three months ago she had come down
to me and asked for a letter, and thought
her half crazy; and I'd have given more
money than there was in the till to have
dared to tear that letter open on the spot
and read it, though knew the hand was
Will Masset's.
"This can't wait" say l.
"No," says Job, sit can't, with the
wedding comm off tomorrow"
Then stopped and thought, let it lie
until it's called for, and she'll be Mrs. Cap
tain Kincaid, with her silks and her vel
vets and her fine house and her carriages,
all the same This comes from ship
wrecked sailor, poorer now than when he
went away.
"Perhaps I'd better wait until the we'd
ding is over job" says I.
And my old man came across the room
and put his arm about my waist.
" Nancy" says he, "you and was
young folks once. l used to think some
thing was better than money and fine
doings, then. And though we old folks
may get little hard-though to be up in
the world seems SO much, and all that old
sweetness so silly, why, it will come back
some times. You remember how he kissed
her under the sycamore and-Nancy, we
couldn't wait until after the wedding,
either of u.s."
lput my arms about Jobs neck, and
kissed him and then got my sunbonnet
and ran over to Mrs. Moore's.
Captain Kincaid was there. | stood at
the door with the letter behind my back.
"Won't You walk IMP" said Mrs Moore.
"I-1I haven't time" said I. ats only
an Grant. It's singular Milly, there's
a-a--'
"My letter mylererr' cried Milly-
at has come at last p
How she knew it, Heaven knows. She
hadn't had glimpse of it.
1t was the old sailors story; sbipwreck,
deserted island, wretched months spent in
hope of succor, and a sail at last. He
would be home in three months.