The Arizona sentinel., 1875-12-04
Bill Walkers Wife.
BY r. C.. NJ E Y E RS.

ldlIluS uI0dIIly dTOuuus Cu0 oil
dying away and then coming in
swift twirls down the chimney,
bringing with it a burden of snow
which Kissed as it touched the
roaring fire. QUietness within. A
comelv matron was sitting alone
by the hearth, mending child's
frock. The three little pairs of
shoes lying to dry before the fame
told that the quietnesS was only a
temporary peace, to be broken af-
ter the little active brains were
recuperated by sleep. Sitting
there alone, the woman heard a
knock at the door. Hurriedly
rising, she unlocked and opened
it. A mans voice said:
''Do Bill Walkers wife live
here?"
eyes" she answered; ppm she.
What do you want with me?"
"LasS, may | come in? I've
news from Bill"
"From Bill? Come in, sailor,
for the love of Heaven, and tell
HE WIldG yOu'kHOW.
Out of the wintry darkness into
the light and heat Of the pungent
wood-fire stepped big, brawny
fellow, dressed in the rough garb
of a common sailor. He shook
the snow from him, and looked
down into the little woman's face
in close inquiry. She returned
the look with a startled express
ion, as of one beWildered; and
then a new look came into her
face, as of comprehension.
"Sit by the fire." she said to
him; ''you must be chilled "
81 am that, Bill Walkers wife.
Are We all alone?"
mo" she said. pointing to the
three pairs of little shoes
The man looked at them, and
then drew his hand roughly across
his ewes.
"Now, sailor" said she, whats
your news"
"BilI Walkers wife, can't tell
ye much just now. Ye must bear
VII me. Pm but a rough sailor,
and don't hardly know how to
commence my yarn"
so, it's yarn, is it? Well, wait
till / put some wood on the fire,
then commence" She suited the
action to the word, sat down on a
low stool in the red light from the
blazing fire, and took up her work.
Now" she said, Ppm ready"
The man seemed a little con-
fused.
Aren't We a little nervous?"
he asked.
"I've got over that. l was
little afraid afore you came in.
Now Pm steady like"
"BiIl Walkers wife, I've that
to tell We which I'll not make We
easy in yer mind. Bill's been
gone three year. When did We
hear from him last?"
"Five months ago. He was
sailing by Madagascar, and hadn't
time to write much"
Lass" said the man solemnly,
"ye'll not hear from Bill in a hur-
ry again."
"I expect not. There amt much
use of his writing, seeing | can
never answer his letters, as I don't
know if they'd find him"
"Lass, he'll never write to We
again."
THAT'S a pity for Bill. for he
likes me, | know"
The man looked at her in as
tOnishment.
"Bill Walkers wife, now Pn
commence my yarn"
"SailOr, Pm waiting"
aye know five months ago Bill
sailed around Madagascar. | was
along o. Bill. Him and me was
fast chums. Whatsomever he
done, that done L. WheresOm-
ever he went, there wentI. When
he writ to We, | saw that ere let
ter When he thought of We, |
knew that ere thought. But
there's storms at sea, lass. There's
storms as make We think o. home
an all that's near an dear, while
Heaven seems to be fightin' VII
the sea, which upraiSeS to buffet
it VII mad waves. There's storms
as make even a sailors heart
quiet, while his lips cuss and cuss
at the work he is tryin' to do.
Who knew more about storms nor
Bill an me? We fOllered the sea
for nigh twenty year, an never
separated. | can't tell We all, for
yell feel bad"
"No, / won't sailor. I like to
hear you talk. 1t sounds like old
times"
"Old times, lass?'
eyes, when Bill used to sit
there and tell his awful yarns, and
try to make me swallow them.
You see | never believe all /
hear"
aye don't think Pm deceiving
We, do YEP"
f'Of conrse not, sailor. I don't
think anything like that. And
you mustn't have that in your