Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-12-21

- ~ III: :
ooh, don't say that, father, don't say
that" she cried. Ned will come some
time He will find us yet. 1t seems so
strange this long waiting. But he said
he would come to claim me as his wife
when he was able to support me, and
he'll do it. l remember when he went
away. He said to me: 'Libbie your
father forces me to this. Come with me
or stay with him, which ever you wish,
but depend upon it that l shall be back
soon to claim you, my little wife, and
when I do I'll come like a man, will
ing and able to take care of you and
take odds from no one.' Then he said :
Whenever you see that ring think of
me and remember that will be working
hard to keep my word He went away
then and l have tried never to doubt
him. But it is so hard to wait and wait
and hear nothing. He may be dead. He
cannot be untrue. Disappointed and
perplexed as [ am l will not believe it.
killing me-"
Old Tom arose and walked the length
of his cabin, then turned about and came
back to the seat on the box. Then he
leaned over to her and said:
"Tm agoin' to tell you somethin' Lib
bic. It's somethin' | oughter told you
long ago but | didn't have the courage,
me gal, to own up to what scoundrel [
WIS"
The woman dried her tears and there
was look of interest in the pale face
that encouraged him to go on. But he
still hesitated and said to her with
trembling voice, "You won't cuss me,
Libbie, will you; bad as l may be you'll
forgive me now that I've come around
and mean to do better"
She remained impassive and only said
go on, father"
81 will. l will, if it kills me. Libbie,
don't you worry yourself on account O.
Ned's stickln by you. He wus true to
you all along. He wrote to you. He
you, poor boy, and II tuck letters,
money and all.
The man groveled down upon his
knees beside the box and his head sunk
upon his hands. He was that moment
the veriest picture of humiliation and re-
morse. But she before whom he hum
bled himself did not seem to see him
Her eyes were fixed on vacancy and her
lips opened and closed as though she
were speaking to some one unseen.
Then she rose with cry of Edward,
my husband, whom 1 would have
wronged by doubling, come to me; come,
or | will die" and fell on the floor in a
swoOn.
The old man, all in a tremble, crept to
her, raised her in his arms, dashed water
into her face, laid her down again, and
rushing to a shelf, felt for bottle ard
held it to the light. Empty A curse
upon the fiery brew that had brought
ruin and was gone when it might do
good! He knelt again, beat her hands,
wrung his own. and then starting up
like a mailman, dashed out into the air,
leaving the woman lying in the cabin as
though she were dead Over to the pier
and across it he hurried. He ran to the
side Of the big bark. There was no
gang-plank there, but he sprang for the
lower rigging, grabbed it and clambered
on the deck.
He saw a figure pacing up and down
in the dark. and the yellow light for
ward showed a couple of seamen who
had risen from coil of rope. He turned
u dISl Il4SIu, oLNl Will uduOS SlT0lCuSu
entreatingly, he called out:
''For Gods sake, mates, let me have
drop of grog, or somethin'. Me gal.
me daughters dyin' over on the boat
there, and I've nothin' to bring her too.
A drop O. somethin' and bite to
strengthen her, eff you're men"
The figure in the dark stopped, and
voice asked: Whats all this hubbub
about?"
"Please, SIR" said one of the sailors,
ga mans come aboard to say woman's
sick in a boat lynn off there, and he
wants somethin' to help her out"
"Send him to the steward said the
voice, and the form melted in the dark
ness aft.
Up and down, up and down it went
over the smooth deck-a manly figure,
but with stopping head and a solemn,
thoughtful face. Once or twice the lat !
tor f11rpo6 70 tho hior oi+ h.