St. Paul daily globe., 1888-07-30
A SAILORS SWEETHEART.

the sea, and she was sailors daughter
and they spent their honeymoon in an
old canalboat that had been fitted up for
their reception, as happy as two turtle
doves.
Then the time came for Jack to go on
his voyage, and Polly was wretched
thinking of the storms and 'perils that
he was going through; even the parrot
squeaked out ''Poor Polly" when he saw
how sad she was.
Jack wiped away her tears, however,
and kissed her and cheered her up by
saying that it would be only for little
while, and tramped away with his bum
die, feeling rather moist himself about
the eyes.
Jack did not have many opportunities
to write to her, but the year slowly
rolled around. and she polished and
secured everything in the little cabin,
! made herself new dress and waited
for news of his ship.
The vessel was one day reported at
quarantine, and she was getting nerv-
Gus and anxious towards evening be-
cause he did not come, and stood in the
doorway looking up and down the road
for his familiar figure, when all of a
sudden she saw woman coming up
the garden path, between the clam-Shell
borders that held in the lady-slippers
and marigOldS, china-astorS and sun
flowers.
1t was an odd, foreign looking woman,
with short dress, a big shawl and
worsted mitts; and, though it was sum-
mer. she had a black lace veil on her
head: and she marched straight UP to
Polly and nodded to hnr
'You are Polly Price, think, that
married Jack Braggan?"
II am Jack Braggan's wife, Polly"
said the young woman. And what
may you want of me, ma'am?"
'Pm friend of Jack Braggan's,"
said the woman. AREN'T you going to
ask me in?''
ooh! certainly. ma'am," said Polly.
'Any friend of Jacks is a friend of
mine."
And though she felt sorry that
stranger should come to be present
when Jack first arrived, she meant it.
She motioned the woman into the room
and set the big Boston rOcking-chair
for her.
"a friend of Jacks is a friend of
mine,'' said she, land if knew the
name"
'NIy name is Braggan," said the
woman. 'And you are sure. Polly
Price, that any friend of Jacks is a
friend of yOurs?"
''Pm named Braggan. too. for the
matter of that" said Polly, land, as l
said, his friend is my friend, and his
enemy my enemy"
Polly, my girl" said the woman,
''Tm rather too dear friend of Jacks
to be yours, too. Pm his first wife. We
n N
gland to marry you; and | have been
with him ever since he left you. He
thinks more of me than he does of any
body else, and if was to die, he'd die,
too. That | swear to-"
Polly started to her feet, and retreat
ed to the end of the room.
''What a frightful storyw she said;
''dOn't think l believe it. Jack never
cared for woman before he fell in love
with me. AS for being married, | should
be crazy to think that. Get out of the
house. Go away!'
"Ah, go away-eh?" said the woman.
You expect Jack to-day, don't you.
Fve seen him already. l ate breakfast
with him this morning. Don't believe
me, eh? Why, here's the ring you gave
him, and that Eve got now. LookW
And she held it out. 'tAnd here's the
lock of your hair, set in scarf-pin.
that he said he'd never part with. Go
away? No. | am going to stay and
live with Jack here in this house.
Hasn't his lawful wife right to stay?"
''Oh, dear, dearH' cried Polly, tossing
her arms about. ''It's the ring and it's
the locket, but that proves nothing.
Maybe you've robbed my Jack? Maybe
he's dead, but you can't make me be-
lieve him false. The ship may be a
rn
but Jacks heart is true to Polly"
.'And you don't believe I'm his first
wife?" asked the woman.
No, no, no. l DON'T" said Polly.
''f Jack tells me so himself, = I'll be-
lieye it-nOt else"
And then the woman got up and came
toward her. And what was she going
to do?'' Strike her? No. Squeeze her
to death! 1t seemed more like that.
go away!" screamed Polly. SO
away! Help, help! You're no woman
you're man. Stop hugging me, stop
kissing me. You're man. | feel the
beard on your rough chin"
And then off went the bonnet and
veil, Off went the big shawl, and there
was Jack himself.
"Oh, Jack. Jackv' cried Polly, chow
could you play me such trick? It's a
sin and shame, trick like that on
mel"
But she could not be angry with him,
after all. And she kissed him back when
he told her how he had made bet with
his mates that Polly loved him too well
to believe word against him, even with
proof. And there they were at the win
dow, Sam and Bill, and in half an hour
more Polly had made coffee and fried
griddle cakes enough for all, and they
all sat down to supper.