The Portland daily press., 1895-05-15
THE TAR'S RETURN.


sugar to my locker, and was lo6kine
forward to settling down quietly as a sor1
of amphibious animal at Laneing. Thu
e200 1 had saved would help me to buy {
fishing boat and leave little to furnisl, G
snug place knew Of for Elsie and me.
Elsie Beal was as taut q craft as you
would find in any port. had known hel
when she was not much higher than my
sea chest. She had seen me off on my first
voyage, and when l returned she was ono
of the first to greet me. OF course we be-
came sweethearts, ami though they say
that sailor has sweetheart in every port
there was only one knew of in which my
heart was anchored.
f'Elsie, my LASS" had said to her, just
before going on my last voyage, ''it'f
about time we settled down. So, if you've
no objection, Well get spliced when re
turn
My lass put her little hand in my big
rough one, and-she kissed me. What
palmer signal could tar have than that?
And here 1 was returning-the last voy
age over-with nothing but fair weather
sailing before me. How I longed to f1nisl
that bright picture of domestic happinesi
which [ had been filling in all the way
from the Indies!
I didn't expect to find her whsa ]
reached Southampton, but I must say
that was disappointed when didn' find
her waiting for me at the railroad station,
for had sent her telegram saying exact
ly when I'd reach Lancing. hurried to
her home but she WASH t there. Her moth
er said she had gone to Wcrthing, but she
was expecting her in every minute.
Presently my lass came in. But
couldn't make her out. Her greeting was
cold. She wasn't the happy Elsie 1 had
left. was SO full of the future-of the
home and the boat was going to set up
that didn't trouble much about it at the
time
Next morning I paid a visit to old limbs
boathouse along the coast. He had always
taken an interest in me and my voyages,
and wanted to talk over with him the
boat intended building. When entered,
old limbs was gossiping to a swell of a
fellow about ships, sailing and navigation
generally AS I reckoned knew some
thing of navigation, put in my spoke.
"Wna is our nautical friend?' said the
gent in a tone of voice that didn't like.
"Paul Allison" said old Timbs, "jeest
back from the Injies and a jinun tar OF
the first water"
"Oh!' said the gent, looking at me
through an eyeglass. After that inspection
he went out
'And who is that swell, Tinibs?" ]
asked.
ga swell he is. His name is Mr.. Will
lerby Seaton, and he's staying at Worth
ing, but he comes down here for his boat
ing"
Well, after had had my chat with old
limbs I went to see Elsie. AS reached
the cottage 1 CHANGED to glance down the
lane running at the side.
Gould it be? Yes, I had no doubt of it.
There was Elsie taking leave of stranger,
and that stranger was a. man had seen
in the boathouse-Mr. Mllloughby Seaton.
waited at the door till she came up.
When she saw me- she turned white as a
new trimmed sailing sheet.
"Elsie,' said I, ''that's strange craft
] saw you with just now
"Why, Paul, you re not going to be jeal-
ousp He's only visitor in these parts,
who's been very kind to Granny Mills
the old lady's down with rheumatism, you
know. I met him when I was visiting
there, and I couldn't do more than say
uoou oay 10 nun, couiu IL
IooNeo very sneepish al0on onaO anu !,
quichiy s1eereo OH III anoOiloi ulieouion'
oaiAeo 70 ner aooul GU. ooining inairiase,
apou' 1ne iioele Heso l wae preparing any .
tne poao ,ntenue.' ouiioiiis W oe os'iiou
aiser nerLSne H1sie.
u inus' nave peeh elieo uays alUel slla'
wnen' oh ooniihs uo"n W NY piooAAo's0 y.
l louau d no'o d" aiUihs iie ~ ien'
DEAR PAuL--Don't tnlnK ane thlng more OF
me- an aa ~ 30 y 4 sne .''Ie ICY yoa
sna 80 sorei1e a-'A-- -'''' '''- ,''- '- E,s,r
~ ,o 4;,,o hof, o,oa 81, =,
a5; mese tS; ao ylLao Do 1nta H. @ nna
,,a;++ass Iii ,sorol..a; WI, 5;5 ,,. WV
s.1..o. - - "aun 4L SO NJ tr;I,aIh. -,
60. 80 " 80 w go, - IL ~, - .,.a eoy ~,
thiS ns .r,as o. xay ga0'soA' WIZ n"o 'o-'e 'ii'
'o s s,';'. ~.oe W.. L4 hA :. ,4 ,,.a
vr-'e oop' ~ ~ "soA Sse.ou
th to lSle Inlis'eneS IL .ne nlaais, a.Osr
s o-S "o,5.an "no, yoal Isool, oeonto i'ly
mio. oop,o iouna ~ f'opuo .'It were 0aiAlne VI
a., 81 ~, % o.1o JItooe ;tieS1 oi.- a.,
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~ m'zs I'M No. w Tntal,ot :. an"
~ was nasal.a ia1uolo.ooA 49, "a son e.''iie "
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