The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-02-24
THE OLD MANS WILL.

the denial was faint.
ssBut / shall write" said the young man
warmly; cit is all the comfort l have. l
don't ask you to write TO me, but l will
write to you, and"
"He would be angry" said Alice,
shaking her head "no, you really
musn't'' Vt
"All right, said the sailor, with warm
sunny smile "to your sister then--all
right. Iknow youth go and ask her for
letter sometimes. Good-by, darling-one
kiss
The kiss was given hurriedly and sur
reptitiously, and the sailor sprang from the
landing-stage into a boat that was waiting
alongside, and presently the oars were
flashing in the sunshine as she made rap
idly for bark lying in the stream. Alice
stood and watched the receding boat,
watched it till it reached the ship and was
hauled up on the davits. Presently the
CHEEKY song of the sailors was heard over
the water the clinl of the windlass as
they hauled the anchor home. Then she
shook out her sails and departed A
shore-boat, however, had put off from the
ship at the very last moment, and came
slowly against the tide towards the land.
1t reached the landing stage, and wizened
elderly man landed and came up the stairs
"Well, Alice" he said, "well, you've
waited long time for Dicky-good girl,
good girl Now, my birdie, wen go home
to our little cage" Haa IFi"
Alice sighed and put her hand in his arm
and they went of, he with spfingy
shambling gait, meant to be sprightly and
juvenile she with a slow lifeless step that
yet kept pace with him.
Richard Toft the ship-owner, who had
just landed, was seventy years old or more,
and he had married Alice Graham, who
was only nineteen But then Toft was the
richest man in the port of Melford Regis,
and everybody said she had done well for
herself. There had been some silly love
passages between her and William Black,
the son of Widow Black, of Woodbine
Cottage, but he was only a mate in one OF
Richards ships, and could never have made
cry of marrying a sailor, and being wild
Ow, as il were, for four years out of five.
Now it wasn't in the course Of nature that
DicIxy ToCt should live forever; and then
If she played her cards we'll what a happy
woman she might be She would have to
play her cards, mind you, for she was a
poor girl when she married, and Dicky had
kept all his money at his own disposal
but then what fool like an old fool? and a
pretty girl, like Alice, ought to be able Ia
wind him round her little finger bi 300 q.
Certainly Mr.. Toft was wonderfully
proud Of his wife, and with good cause, fol
she was one of the prettest girls in Mel.
ford. To be sure, after her marriage she
seemed TO fade little, whilst Dicky seem
ed to grow young and green again, and re.
spoDded to all the railery Of which he was
the subject as archly and wickedly as any
grizzled old monkey on perch af'h 1H
Nothing was too good for Alice in Mr.
Toft's opinion. He bought her shawl,
from the Indies, beautiful muslins and
silks that would stand on end he gave hei
jewels too, and deeked her out with chain,
and trinkets and earrings, till she grew
ashamed of her splendor t1L
BY and by, Willie Black came home
from a long voyage, and one Of the first
TO welcome him and invite him TO hi
house was Mr.. Toft, the ship-owner. Hi
had heard all about this little love affair
but he had such confidence in his WIFE
she was such jewel, SO devoted to him
he was anxious that his rival should SEE
how completely she had forgotten. t1
"You brought him YOURSELF" said Alice
in her own heart looking rather hardly
at her husband, as he toiled up the steeI
hill that led to their house, painting ant
shaking, but refusing to acknowledge thai
he was tired. 81 had schooled myself Il
be content, and with your own hand yor
shattered all my good resolves" aia'
Let MS stay here for a moment" sale
Mr.. Tofs "and admire this pleasant view
On, Pm not tircd-no, no-not at all bu
see the ship standing out to sea- She's /
capital sailer, eh ah, yes"
Her sails were spread out far in the dis
tance, rosy with the beams Of the setting
sun, but chilly mist was creeping up, ant
presently the glow vanished and the whit,
sails were blOtted out, disappearing in tn,
great vague world Of mist and sea ant
shadow. va
why, what's the matter, Alice P' salt
Mr.. Toft, turning sharply round. "rears
All well. yes. yes we know--a little hyh