The Dickinson press., 1883-09-29

manage without her-how Jack would
ever manage without her, should she
take a notion to grow restless and hail
another stage coach for that school
among the hills.
Aunt Prim need not have bothered,
for the girl was gay. self-satistied little
creature, liked things that came in her
way, and among them Jack and his dim
pie. AS to Aunt Frim-she simply
adored Aunt Prim.
Young and pink and velvetry-that
was Miss Paulina Davis-with braids and
braids OF copper-silt hair, and fresh,
fearless voice that loved to hear itself
sing. She was singing as she sat there
in the twilight singingin Il low, confden-
tial fashion that ought to have put Aunt
Prim to sleep as usual, except for-what
was it that shocked her into conscious.
ness again?
"A-saiing, a-sailing, my love has gone
"Don't, my DEAR" cried Aunt Prim,
never do come back, aud it seems 50
useless to expect them"
"Meaning ships?" Intercepted Miss
Davis, vaguely.
''Ships-and Sailors" answered Aunt
Prim with the molrnful experience of
one who knows.
"Bless you, Miss Prim!" she laughed
out with sudden interest. You noun
tain folks here get your horrors from the
papers. You just ought 10 go down to
the coast and see them swarming there
as plentiful as shrimps! You see, can't
help knowing all about it, because my
father was sailor once, and many's the
| time we used to stroll down the sands
with the waves booming in and all the
world smelling of salt and seaweed. and
[ would sing and he would reel off his
yarns, as happy as pirate-poor
| lear pa! We had our squall some.
times," she went on, with regretful
sigh, land down to the very last never
would give in to pa about. Ofcourse,
| didn't blame him for marrying my
mother in a squirt of hurry like he did.
because his luck was blowing dead
against him; but to send word home
that he was drowned, just to get rid of
the girl he was engaged to-now you
know that wasn't right, and up and
told pa so over and over again."
/ Aunt Prim, remembered the hero who
Mou'd not have acted so for kingdoms,
pose.
"Once pa told me to consider the cir.
cumstances and look at mn. and did
consider; and the more blamed him
for Allowing her to wait and hone and
mourn at last for tie loy.r VINO md
gone down honorcd to the grave. That's
what told pa, and at last-to show yon
now lt was only pas thoughtfulness, of.
.er all-he said to me one night, Par
meie, my DEAR"
Far what?" gasped Aunt Prim. as
she saia turned around blankly IN Miss Da.
S's; s:c !. .hought your name was@"
..n,oo 20 IL is, she answered, luuphinely.
,,dan, my was "as Just notion of pas, poor
gear! and so when went To his hedsiI,.
ne never got up out oft, moor Ioye-he
saln, 'Farmelie, my dear. von war.
right, and here's your father at death's
door. wishing to God he had gone down
honest and true on the Sea Shell
but Aunt prim had not spoken q sin.
gi!e word. She had moved her chair n
oi', lhat was all; and Jacks tram ,irps
up the patti! lust then sent Miss Davis 10
.he we a9of m with such glad, careless haste
her story. ''' Vic ies' VI
When at last thoy entered the room
tnoge,ller they found Aunt prim waiting
ior !hem, and this is what she said-sai,l
" ar M,,h :ucll 81: broken up, old wolnanish
heart like a chill. ~ '''N
~, beeause | can't help loving you,'
She said, putting her hand on his shonl.
der, "and because you were sorry for the
girl who walled and hoped and muurned
her lover in his honest grave, | forgive
you both. Liam going to bed now;
good night, John! Good night, pollv!"
And to save their lives tl:ev never
could guess how Aunt Prim had found
out about the dancing Jack rom Shanty-
vile, and of course she never told them