San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-05-24
SISTER MARTHA.
By AUGUSTA HARMED.

WullS. she COUluu llIG OF Work nara
and you, George, needed a wife tina
could help You along-could go in an(
rough it if there was any need; anC
there was more than one woman in thi
town that would have been glad to do it
But, Of course, with land adjoining anG
you Twin neighbors and seein her every
time you was home from sea, you fell in
love with Vinie. But she wasn't the one
cut out for you. always knew it and
so did Mother Mayhem, partly on ac-
count of Vinie's being such weaklin
and partly because she knew you would
never be professin Christian"
A slight culver seemed to pass over
the captains strong frame, and when
Mrs. Whitcumb came to pause he was
silent moment before he put out his
hand and said in strange, hoarse voice,
al won't hear any more of this"
you've got to hear it, said the widow
in tremulous tones, sitting bolt upright
in the rocking chair. Il can't go on this
way much longer with my appetite a
comm and goin like the old woman's
soap, and me turnin a marigold vel
low that always had good, clear skin,
and my nights on a bed of thorns instead
of good hair mattress with the best
springs"
'sFor Gods sake try to keep before the
wind, muttered the captain, as he puck
cred his forehead and moved impatiently
in his chair.
You know" she went on nervously.
sit was at that time Josiah Whitcumb
was paying attention to me. Josiah was
a kind of lubberly, thick skulled boy,
but he had inherited a good farm at
Bath from his father, Deacon Whitcumb
that was, Mother Mayhew's first hus-
band, and his mother wanted to get him
married off. There wasn't many girls
that would look at Josiah in spite of the
farm, and Mother Mayhem worried
good deal about it. She thought it would
be just the maxim of Josiah to get mar
ried, and bein right there in the family
and havin nothing of my own it did look
as if it might be intended. Mother May
hew was always talking about the pint
ings of providence. She was a very re-
hgious woman. But you see | couldn't
love Josiah no way. | never pretended
l loved him even when thought it best
to take him. | was a girl then, and |
had my fancy for dark man, with
fine fgger and high spirit. | always
did admire high strung men, and while
you was lookin at Vinie, Cap'n Bligh.
l was lookin at you, which | hadn't
ought to-"
Here she paused, and fumbling in her
pocket for her handkerchief put it to her
eyes.
F! $50 ony' shouted the captain impa.
tiently, ''for Gods sake let's warp into
dock"
Sister Martha had turned pale under
the sallow tint of her skin.
"Cap'n Bhgh," she faltered, 81 feel as
If was exposin myself dreadfully, but
I've got to do it. Have you got that
Testament you saved from your last ship
wreck along with the demijohn of whis-
ky2 want to see it"
The captain got up and strobe to his
bedroom, adjoining the room they were
in. Mrs. Whitcumb could see through
the open door the tumbled bed and
confusion of garments. He seemed to be
searching for some time in the drawers
OF . bureau, whirling over the contents
with large, impatient hand. At length
he came out, bringing a small thick vol.
ume bound in leather, with the leaves
discolored and the covers warped by
wetting in salt water. Mrs. Whitcumh
took it and turned to the fly leaf.
Its got your sister Angelinas name
in it" she said, land guess you'd have
to respect an oath if you took it on this
book"
The captain was standing before her
with his. hands in his pockets glowering,
and knitting his brows in his effort to
understand. "An OATH" said he aston.
ished; ''what do you mean?'
81 mean there's secret weighing on
my mind, aud if it does look bad for me
I've got to tell it."
keep your secrets for all me-" said
he, turning abruptly on his heel; 1--WE nc
doubt it's some id piece of foolishness.'
Il can't keep it and won't, George
Bligh. It's KILN me by inches. My legs
are all a-tremble after sleepless night
when something comes and stands bv
my bed and says, You've got to do it.
It's about you and me and Vinie and
them old times"
The captain looked startled and his
keen eye rested suspiciously for mo.
ment on the woman's agitated face.
well" said he, laying his hand lightly
on the book, 'I'll promise not to tell, as
you make such point of it."
She stood up and faced him, putting
herself between him and the door; ewing