The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-21
SHE sIGHs FOR A SAILOR LOVER.
Thirty Years Ago She Said Goodby,
but She Waits Nightly for Him Yet.

AAAA Wy oAI6 ABO QUO oSl0 dOO0DYa
but She Waits Nightly for Him Yet
From the Manchester IN h Union.
Shortly after O'Clock last evening a
woman took up her station near the south
east corner Of the passenger station. She
was not far from from 80 years of age. Her
form was bent, her hair was silvered with
years and anxiety, and her face was wrin-
kled and care-worn. Her round gray eyes
were deep-set, and seemed weary from con-
slant watching. The womaa's complexion
must have been Of the fairest blonde type
years ago, as it was still white and well pre-
served, considering her years. She was clad
in dress of dinger dark brown material
Closely wrapped about her shoulders was a
rusty plaid shawl and upon her head rested
hat of faded black material, Of a style, or
rather lack of style, unkno wn to the women
of the present day. In her claSped hands
she grasped well-worn leather travelling
bag. The sun was almost an hour from
setting when she took up her position. 1t
had sunk into the west and twilight had
long given place to darkness, when she
ceased her weary vigil and sadly turned
away.
And not last night alone was the woman
at her post. She has been there night
after night, not for weeks and months only,
but for long weary years. The frost and
blizzard of winter have given place to the
sunshine and showers of spring, and the
seed time has been succeeded by the harvest
many times over since she first took up her
station in almost the self-same spot that she
did last night. Babies have been born,
passed through their infancy, enjoyed the
sports and pastimes OF childhood, grown
through youth to maturity, married and
seen children of their own come to gladden.
the homes which they have made, since this
woman first began her weary vigils.
Nearly thirty years ago this woman, then
young and fair, was courted ard admired
by many But upon one she fixed her af-
fections, and to him through oil the years
that have since interviewed she has remained
as constant as the needle to the polar star.
| Her lover followed the sea as q means of
livelihood, and one day he left her and went
away on voyage. Before he let they had
plighted their faith, and when he returned
from his perilous journey in the glad spring
time. when the buds blossoined and tue
birds carroled, and all nature seemed to re-
! joice, he was to lead her to the altar. But
when the spring came her sailor lover did
not return and no message came to explain
| his absence. Whether disaster or death pre-
vented, or whether he proved false and por-
| fidious is not known, but he never came
back. The grief and disappointment caused
the woman long sickness, and when her
bodily ills were healed, her mind, alas, was
diseased. She became possessed with the
hallucination that her lover was coming
| back and as soon as she was able she went
! to the railway station to greet him home,
and almost every day since, winter and
| summer, spring and autumn, in fair
weather and foul, she has been there on the
same errand. She is very retiring in her
| disposition, and seldom ever frequents the
waiting rooms. or mingles with the crowd
upon the platform, but just outside the sta
| ton she takes up position where she can
see the trains as they draw in, and there she
waits and waits, in vain Eagerly she scans
| the face of each stranger who passes her
way, but when anyone addresses her. which
| is seldom she stares at them vacantly and
| makes no reply When the last train has
come and gone for the night and the en-
ployes about the station are extfnguishing
the lights she generally walks YEARLY
away, only to return and resume her vigil
Oh the succeeding day. Since she began
waiting the population of Manchester has
doubled and trebled, a score of trains now
come where three or four came formerly,
the oil lamps have given place to gas, and
gas ia turn to electricity. generation has
been born and grown TO manhood and
womanhood. But seemingly taking no
note OF the passage OF the time, the poor
creature daily seeks the railway station,
and probably will continue to do so until
disease and death shall release her from her
self -imposed task.