The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-06-11


then, wasn't she ?''
"Well, yes," said Mr.. McKibbon
''Sailed in the Sphynx," said the post
master "And we all know that the
SphyDx went Gown on that voyage, all
hands along with her. The rest of the
women put on widows weeds them that
lost husbands-four in this town itself
They took what the Almighty sent, and
didn't rebel. She set up that her husband
wasn't dead, and would come back. She's
kept it up ever since comes for his Letters
regular, and he was drowned along with all
the rest, of course, ten years ago. She
must be thirty. Well, she's changed a
good deal in that time"
Yes said the other man 'but there's
my son Job wild over her yet. He'd offer
himself again any day-ready to be father
to her boy and a good husband to her.
He's better off than i be. His mothers
father left him all he had. He's crazy, is
Job--crazy call it. Plenty of pretty gals,
and healthy, smart widows, and he sees
no one but that pale, slim little thing that's
just gone out into the mud and she-why
of course she lost her senses, OF she'd have
him. Works Ike a slave to keep herself
and the child, lives in rickety shanty
again. Why every one knows Charlie
Lester was drowned in the Sphynx. There
wasn't soul saved, not one. 1t was in
the paper how a bottle was found with
letter in it, written by some one just
before the ship sunk. Aud she's wait
ing for him yet!
"Crazy on that point,' said the post
master. "Well poor SOUL she d only been
married a week when the Sphynx sailed
that makes difference
"Ob," said the farmer.
Then, the parcels being ready, they
having stared out into the rainy night
awhile, put up his shutters and went to
bed.
Meanwhile the woman plodded through
the mud. "Walking off her disappoint-
ment,'' she should have been used to- and
now the absurdity of it seems to strike her
for the first time in all these years.
''They laugh at me-" she muttered to
herself. 81 know they laugh at me. Per-
haps | am mad but they don't know what
love is. Charlie wouldn't have left me
like that. If he had died he would have
given me some sign; and yet--set if he
were alive, it would 6e stranger still. No,
no they are right am wrong. He must
surely be dead"
And as though the news had just been
whispered to her, she elasped her hand to
her forehead, gave cry aud sank down on
her knees in the road.
She knelt there few moments and then
arose. IL this interval the wind had blown
the clouds from The sky, and the moon
light lay white npon the path and lit her
on her way to her poor home.
There at the door sat mana strong,
determined looking fellow, who arose as
she approached, ard held out his hand.
''Here you come,' he said, tired to
death, worn out, still on that fruitless er-
rand. Jessie Lester, can't you give up
this nonsense and think of the living a
little. Think of me, Jessie, for just half
an hour
81 do think of you,' she said. ''Tm
very sorry you should be so good to me
when must seem SO bad to you
Then she sat down on the porch and
took her little hood off, and leaned her
head wearily against the wall of the house,
and the man arose and crossed over and
sat down beside her.
CSf,ive IL Snftp- ,eStipu r,Ioca JPSeie. -
he said, ''here on my heart"
She looked out into the night, not at him,
AS she spoke.
'Job," she said, 81 begin to think you
are right; that he went down on the Sphynx
with the rest ten years ago. But what
good would l do you? What do you want
to marry me for ?'
The man drew closer still as he answered:
"Before you were married to Charles
Lester I loved you. While you were
married woman l loved you. All these ten
years since that vessel went down | loved
YOU a man must have the woman he
loves if he gives his soul for her."
''What a horrible thought ~ said she.
"His soul ~
81 should have said his life" said job.
az don't want to shock you. But you don't
know what it would be to me to have you.
And then I'll do everything for your boy"
eyes" she answered; Il know you
would
There was psnse. Then she gave him
her hand.
''Job," she said very softly, 81 shall
pretend nothing don't feel, but know
I've been crazy all this time. and if you
want me you may have me. It's very good
of you to love me So"
And then it seemed to have enoed, that
ten years watching and waiting. and there
was triumph in Jobs eyes as he turned
away and left her with his first kiss upon
her IIrs Rut az the end of the green lane