The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-10-14
rummaged out their white dresses. and

and the wedding suit, though he didn't
much believe in the wedding till he got
on board. And just after him came
Ben, showing the minister ahead of him
up the ladder He'd followed round
after that poor man all the afternoon.
and he never let go of him till he had
him safe on deck.
'SJust at two bells we were married.
Ben and Julia, the second girl, stood up
with us, and the mother gave her
away; then we had supper and 4
smashing ball, and I was the happiest
man alive.
Give days after that their ship sailed
and my wife went with them: and a.
week after set off an my return voy-
age. Then, when [ reached New York
the owner gave me larger vessel, and
sent me to Europe, and then to India:
and so, in one way and another, it was
a whole year before could get back to
where was married.
"That was a long year, can tell YOU:
and the worst of it was that didn't see
any prospects of seeing her very soon.
She was off on that cussed island with
her father; and, though I would be
comparatively near her again, l could
not leave the ship long enough to go
and see her. l wrote to her every
chance [ got, but mail matters are so
uncertain in that part of the world, that
my letters were often q perfect age in
reaching her; and, though I always
knew where she was, she often didn't
know for week together what had be-
come of me. So when got into port
on the first anniversary of my wedding
day, Ididn't expect anything better
than some letters; but the ship had
scarcely come to her moorings when
Ben Roland came tumbling up the lad
der.
"Hullo, Fred!" said he. "Come
ashore; your wife's in town, and
reckon she'd like to see YOU.
"My wife! says I. And rushed in
to my cabin and jumped into my best
clothes and was in the boat in twink
ling.
"'Where is she? How did she Get
here?' I shouted. Thunder. man!
why don't you talk? and I shook him
by the back of his neck. But he only
laughed and said she was at his house.
81 didn't know you had Il house,
~ have though. I've married
Julia; and when your wife got your
letter, saying you were coming here,
she told her father she couldn't stay
from you any longer. So she's been
waiting for you week.
''Shes an angel said l; and | said
all the way to the house.
'She didn't know the ship had ar
rived. Ben had seen her from down
town, and she and her sister were sit
ting in the parlor entertaining some
ladies, when Ben let me in with his
latch-key. opened the door, and
there she was on the sofa, locking just
as sweet as when I saw her last. I
didn't stop for any ceremony, can as
rure you. 1t wouldn't have made any
difference if there had been fifty peo-
pie in the room. Why, she was most
eaten up in minute, and all the ladies
got up and laughed and said they guess
ed they had better go. I didn't say
anything against it, and I don't think
Julia did either; SO they went away and
left us to ourselves.
''Then had to do all my counting
over again, for we'd been separated SO
long we were hardly acquainted. And
this time it was just as pleasant as it
was the first, and for me a great deal
pleasanter; fo- you see there wasn't the
least bit Of doubt about the result; she
hadn't even t ghost of chance to
say No. So bought house next to
Julia and Ben, and I've sailed out of
the same port ever since. I only go
on short voyages now, and seldom am
away from her more than two months
at q time. We have two sons and a
daughter now, and she seems to be
pretty well contented. As for me. you
see | am not pining. am getting old,
but my boys are growing up, and
dear dear tonight is just as beauti-
full as the night I was mraried."
"What q nice story" said Deb, smil-
ing. "Well, I suppose some people are
interesting when they are at seal know
I am not.''
Some people are interesting at sea-"
said the captain. Il guess they are.
People have nothing else to do at sea,
and SO Cupid has full swing. Its
mighty dangerous situation for one
when a pretty little landsman is put
under his charge; and he may as we'll
strike his colors at once. But it isn't
so with a lady. If she's sea-sick, she
won't pay any attention to love-mak-
ing; and while ones counting her as
hard as he can, she's generally thinking
about laundering headache she has,
or wiShinp she had q little m, ro ico r
tell you, sailors are much abused ami
mails" And the gallant captain shook
his head mournfully.
By this time the sun had hidden his
diminished head, and the moon was
having it all her own way. The purple
and crimson country had vanished into
night. the silver ship had sailed away
down below the horizon and the tirad