Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-09-27

on Nantucket shoals, when the first
sperm whale was caught ana the hrs'
Whalers went forth.
'.Tisn't so lonesome since Samuoi
Jefferson began to come regularly,
Miss Samantha said. Mahala always
agreed to everything The fourth week
Of her engagement was going fast, there
were but two days left. The evening
was rainy, sheets of water swept against
the cottage windows, but that night old
Jefferson came all the same.
"I'm neither sugar nor salt, ne salu,
as Samantha remarked upon his cour.-
age, and he took off his wet coat ana
carried it into the shed to drip.
When he returned he sat down before
the stove, between the two women;
summer though it was, the warmth was
grateful. The tea-kettle sung It's little
Song, Mahala was pale. Whenever the
rain beat in that fashion she fell to
thinking of Daniel Dane. They were
very quiet for little while, much quiet
er than usual; old Jefferson spoke first.
you'll be surprised, Mahala," he
said. "You'll be surprised. I'm going
to act as funny rs ever man did act, put
| I've cot good reasons, real solid ones,
Mahala. / -" he stopped and grew
very red. 81 don't know how to say 1T
after all, ;" said he, "only Just straight.
Mahala, / want we should break with
each other" Mahala turned q startled
face toward him, little pang shot
through her heart, she had begun TO
| like him so we'll. AS for Miss Samantha
she uttered sharp shrek.
81 mean it," said he. 81 don't want
to marry you, but we'll be friends to the
last of our lives. Shake hands, Ma
hala."
Don't Mahala,'' cried Miss Saman-
tina. cts an insult. The clothes are
all made, the -"
"Oh, hush, Aunty," said Mahala. She
held out her hand to old Jefferson
'Friends,' she said, friends always"
He took her hand and kept it.
"Nantucket oilers wus a place for sur
prises," said he. 81 had one jest be-
fore came here. Went into the store
to Get somethin' another to chew on to
make it more agreeable, and | did buy
some figs, left in my pocket, and when
/ was payin' fur 'em Rogers, that keeps
the store, he says, "Heerd the news"
ono, | hain't," says |.
| "'For conscience sake said he, why,
old Capt. Pogram has come back, Capt.
Pogram of the Sally Jane of Siasconset.
He's been on desert island five years,
and you never did see nobody carry on
like Miss Pogram and her gals when he
walked in That's what he said. 1
want to know seq |. alone on des-
ert island for five years" >,
"Well no. sez Rogers. He warn't
alone" he paused. Mahala still hold
ing old Jefferson's hand, had slipped to
her knees beside him.
$50 on" she breathed, almost maud
IDLY. =.
III be goin' on" said the old man."
patting her hand.
"'No,' says Rogers. No, there wuz
three more with him, two sailors. He
left them to Boston where their folks
| be, but the other man, he came along
with him. He was the second mate,
his name was Daniel Dane.'" He put
his arm about Mahala now, she was sob
! bing heavily.
~ went over to Pogram's" he said,
''and / guess we all talked a streak,
then said to this young fellow, Dane,
come along with me to your sweet
hearts, I'll go in fust and break it to
to be too sudden So he, he is out
there in the shed waitin'. Sort of
thin he is and starved lookin', but he'll
pick up; go along, Mahaly." Mahala
| was gone.
81 feel as if I was going out of my
mind" said Aunt Samantha.
Samantha" said old Jefferson, II
h ink Providence has fixed things all
right. Fur quite spell I've felt as if
I'd made mistake, you and me is more
suitable for partners than me and
Mahaly."
"Why, Mr.. Jeferson!' cried sa-
mantha.
| "Will you hev me?" said Samuel.
| "Gour clothes is fixed, we can say we
meant it all along and only played a
joke on folks. Well be married day
arter to-morrer. Samanthy, when I
was lookin for second wife / thought
of you some considerable, but I reck-
oned you wouldn't have me-"
"Why, l don't know but T would"
said Samantha. eff you had spoken"
"Then you will now?" said old Samuel.
Il was a fool not to ask you fust," and
he kissed her.
So the wedding was Samantha's. and
not only the corner room, but all it's con-
tents, its owner included, became hers.
and as for Mahala, all the youth and
sweetness and JOY and hope that she
thought the cruel sea had robbed her
of, came back again in one strong flood
as Daniel Dane clasped her to his bosom.
He Got Job.