The Republican journal., 1876-08-17

to write to Lois and pack up some thing.
mad bought tor her at one place and an
other, and get my traps ashore. | wa5n'
afraid OF what Lois would say, though O.
course | knew she would feel it at first
BY night-tall, however, it was all done
L hired decent lodging - decent fol
those parts not far from the hospital
and then l went back to Ed He had
fallen into q kind Of stupor again, and
the nurse said that unless he took turn
for the better she didn't think he could
last many hours. You see, he had been
almost starved to death, and as sometimes
happens in such cases. he seemed to have
lost the power of taking nourishment l
won't deny that as sat by Eds bedside
about two o'clock in the morning, with
the lights burning low, and everything
| quiet, only some poor crazy women who
was crying and screaming in another part
of the house,-l won't deny that wished
myself back on shipboard again. thought
of Lois and the baby that had never seen
and might never see OF the chances there
We're against my getting direct passage
| home; of Uncle Jethro's arrival at home.
and the way Lois and my mother would
| look when they found that had not come.
| remembered how delicate mother was.
and how many things might happen, and
| won't deny but | made something of y
fool of myself If there is any time in the
| twenty -four hours when the devil has par
ticular control of a mans thoughts, it is
between two and four o'clock in the morn
ing
Some folks would say that your second
thoughts were best, and that your first
duty was towards your wife = remarked
Captain Burton.
i don't believe second thoughts are
best ! answered Asa his dark face flush
ing u little; Il believe when Il man is in
the habit Of trying to do and think the
thing that is right, his first thoughts are
almost always best. And | think a man s
first duty to his wife is to do his duty like
Il man, whatever it costs him. If my wife
had been in any need or danger, she
would have had the first claim, but she
wasn't. She was safe at home among
her own folks, and nobody knows what
those four words mean - among your
own folks-till he has been sick among
strangers in a strange land
That ) usi as true as you iive! said
Captain Burton emphatically. 4 think
you did the right thing. Go ahead y
Il knew that kind OF thing wouldn't an
swer, Of course continued Asa. 80 |
took out Il little Testament mother gave
me when | went my first voyage, and
which | always carried in my pocket ;
and after | had read and thought il little
while, was all right again. Still, the
night was pretty long, and | didn't dare
to 60 to sleep because the lady had told
me that Ed might be taken worse at any
time. had got out my letter, to have
another look at the lock of the baby's hair
which Lois had pinned at the top Of the
paper when Ed moved and opened his
eyes | saw at once that he knew me.
You have got a letter from home P says
he ii. a kind of ghostly whisper, after !
had given him u drink and laid down
again.
Yes, from my wife. says i. He gave u
deep sigh and closed his eyes, but present.
ly opened them again.
Is Susan-is she we'll p he asked
4 suppose so, though Lois doesn't men
ton her, answered l.; she has so much to
tell about the baby, that size has no room
for anything else, only to say generally
that all our folks are Welt
Ed opened his eyes so wide that they
ocomcd to osvallo,~ up all the lesL OF hin
face
'Loisn says he Who's Los?'
why, Lois Macy, that was forgot
thee didn'. know | was married. Yes, Lois
and | were joined more than u year ago,
and now she has a nice little girl
'Loisn he repeated i'll the same dazeti
way. and then u minute afterwards, i
don't understand; thought you Were go
ing to marry Susan Coffin
I'm rather Il bad Quaker, | know, but
| was never given to swearing. However,
did swear q little then
i swear to thunder if thee amt the big
gest fool that ever sailed out Of harbor. 7
saws | Susan Coffin never would have
had me if | had wanted her, and never
did want her What should want of a
little red-headcd wax doll like Susan.
when could have such Il Girl is Lois Ma
ccy p says l.
That touched Ed, as meant it should.
He was 50 excited that he sat right up in
bed Red headed WAX doll I! said he in
quite a fury; Susan Coffin is handsomer
than Lois Macey ever thought she was,
and her hair is 70 more red than yours
Well. we won't quarrel about that,
says | laughing. Susan is u good girl
anyhow, AS nobody knows better than |
and as for beauty, she ) handsome enough
Tor thee, any day. But what put such II
notion in thy head p
We'll, Luldah GreenaWay told me first.
"A pretty business for thee to be listen
inc to old lIuldah As if thee didn't know
what size was =
And then saw you walking together
SO late in Step Lane that night before |
came away. net you just above the
steps, said Ed but he looked ashamed as
he spoke.
Edward Swayne. if thee wasn't sick,
thee'd deserve to have thy head broke for
a fool if nothing worsen says |. III thee'd
n spoken out like a man, instead OF sneak
ing along in the dark, thee'd have heard
all about it. Grandma was taken worse,
and mother was feeble and had little
baby, so | went for Susan to stay with
grandma. There's the explanation of the
whole mystery Susan cares more for thy
thick head than for all her cousins put to-
gether, and if thee hadn't been q jealous
pated idiot, we might both have been 60
inc home to our wives in the old island
this minute
ed groaned and hid his face. BY and
by he said without looking up-'l don't
suppose Susan will ever speak 10 me
again
Thee don't deserve that she should,
said |, but I'll tell thee what she said to
me the last thing, Asa if thee should
meet Ed anywhere, tell him how it was
we were both silent a good while after
this, but by and by u bird chirped out by
the window, and says Ed
Its morning isn't it?'
Yes, Why?
Because Pm hungry; and | want my
breaklastn y answered Ed. Asa, yesterday
| gave self up to die. thought | never
should see another morning, and | didn't
want to. But now must get we'll if can,
if only to go home and tell Susan that
am sorry. ! don't know whether she will
have me, and | shan't blame her if she
don't; but must try any way. | haven't
wanted to eat anything since they picked
me up. but now am hungry, and | want
| NV brnaE f.,