Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-12-02

BY K. G. MEYERS.

the woman heard knock at the door. dur-
ridy rising, she unlocked and opened It.
man 8 voice said:
'.Do Bill Walkers wife live here?''
ayes" she answered; Il ana she What
do you want with me:
LASS. NAV | come in: Tpe news from
Bill"
''From Bill: Conc in. sailoc, for the love
of heaven, and tell me what you know"
Out of the wintry darkness into the light
and heat of the pungent wood fire stepped a
big, brawny fellow, dressed in the rough garb
of 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 startled expression, as of one
I 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
+, Il am that, Bill Walkers wife Are We all
I alone:'
! mo-" she said, pointing to the three pair
I, of little shoes.
The man looked at them, and then drew
his hand roughly across his eyes.
''Now, sailor" said she, "what' your news"
''Bill Walkers wife, can't tell We much
just now Ye must bear wi me. I'm but a
rough sailor. and don't hardly know how to
commence my yarn
! 80. it's warn, 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,
''Im ready
The man seemed q little confused.
'sAren't ye little nervous" he asked.
''Ive got over that. was a little afraid
afore you came in. Now I'm steady like
''Bill Walkers wife, I've that to tell We
which II not make We easy in yer mind. Bills
been gone three year. When did We hear
from him last?'
| Give months ago. He was sailing by
Madagascar, and hadn't time to write much y
''Lass," said the man, solemnly, ''ye'll not
hear from Bill in a hurry again."
Il expect not. There ANT much use of
letters, as don't know if they d find him.
LASS, he'll never write to We again."
''That's pity for Bill, for he likes me,
know"
The man looked at her in asonishment.
''Bill Walkers wife, now I'll commence
my yarn
eye know five months ago Bill sailed
around Madagascar. l was along O. Bill.
Him and me was fast chums. Whatsomever
he done. that done l. Wheresomever he
went, there went l. When he writ to We,
saw that ere letter. When he thought of ye,
knew that ere thought. But there's storms
O. home an all that's near an dear, while
heaven seems to be fghtin' wi the sea, which
uprises to buffet it wi mad waves. There's
storms as make EVEN 9 sailors heart quiet,
while his lips cuss and cuss at the work he's
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. l like to hear you
talk. It sounds like old times"
cold 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.
Eye don't think I'm deceiving We, do YEP
''Of course not, sailor. don't think any
thing like that And so you mustn't have
that in your noddle Go on now."
''Well, there come storm one day. The
skipper comes to us, and says, says he, Lads,
It's all up wi us unless we get out in ten min
utes. But, says Bill, 'where'll we go?
"'Anywhere ye can, says the skipper,
says he.
''Ye see cam talk like book, an l jist
tell We this as it were. The ship had sprung
leak-in fact, the whole side were stove in
on rock-an' the pumps was no use, an we
was goin' down, an 0, Bill Walkers wife!
yer husband wouldn't forsake that ere ship"
''That's right in him." she said. Il wouldn't
have man who would forsake his work
when it got troublesome"
''Well-but, lass, Bill was aboard till the
very last. He wouldn't 60. He got all the
others off, an there he stayed, looking to-
wards home, an thin O We an the babies"
''Good for Bill" she said, her pleasant eyes
sparkling with tears.
But why don't ye get excited: Didn't ye
care for Bill: Why don't ye get excited?'
20, I'll get all that after while
"But, didn't We care for Bill ?"
''Now, look here, sailor. You knew Bill,
You say, so well, and you don't know that +?
Didn't Bill ever know of the many weary
times when l sat here alone in the night
when the snow was falling and the wind was
screaming. and the little ones tucked up in
bed? Didn't Bill ever know that at such
times my heart left these pretty things and
went far over the cruel seas hunting for him?
Didn't he ever know how chung to every
hope-to every dream of him-to every prayer
for his good that learned over and over
again? And how used to 60 to the little
children's crib when the wind grew stronger