Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-05-09

told her SO; but l took her into my
little back parlor. and made her sit
down there.
ooh. Aunty." says she. Il know it
seems as if l was a fool; but l walked
up hoping this morning. l don't be
lieve he is gone. 1 can't. I can't"
At that She burst into tears. and put
her head down on my knee.
L must tell YOU, She said. They
want me to marry Capt. Kincaid. And
how can l, how can l, when my poor
heart is in the sea with Willie:"
Capt. Kincaid,' l said. and couldn't
say any more: she took my breath
away. She was a nice, pretty girl;
but the captain was rich and stylish
An old family he came of. too. II was
an honor for Milly More.
Not just yet" said 1. after a while
Perhaps you'll feel better. Hos Old
l know, but he's a splendid man.
You. too" said she. You, too. No
body understands. 1t isn't as if l had
made up my mind, like all the rest
Will will always be living man in my
mind. l don't think any one ever
loved but me-"
Once having given NE her confidence,
Milly didn't stop, and Mrs More came
over to talk about it, too, until at last
l fairly up and sided with the old
lady
"Milly," says l, will is gone. and
you aren't his widow, to wear weeds
all your life-nOt that many do. if they
can help it, seems to me-and Capt.
Kincaid is as good as man can be, and
you'll be happy with him. You can't
help loving him as much as there's
any need to love"
The captain stayed at the port three
months, and at last we worried her into
promising to be his wife-old Mrs.
More, Fannie and l. She just gave up
at last
1t don't matter much, after ALL, she
said, Il shall die soon, l suppose,
whether l marry or not"
After that she never spoke of Will,
and Mrs. More told me she was en-
gagged. The day before the ship sailed
she WAS to marry Capt. Kincaid, so
that she might go TO Europe with him.
\ year and three months since the
Golden Dove went down. Well, no one
can tell what changes a little while will
bring. l used to hope that l hadn't
much hand in it after all, when |
thought it over, and remembered poor
VIII. and how he took her in his arms
under the sycamore.
But then. you see, Mrs. MOre's sight
had failed, and Fanny wasn't Of much
account except to look at. 1t was a
hard life that lay before Milly. 1t was
good for her to marry Capt Kincaid
and nave rest and comfort, wasn't it?
Tomorrow is the wedding" said l to
Job It's going to be in the church
You'll like to see Milly off, won't you?"
Il wish it was Will Masset," says
Job.
Poor Will"' says I, and l went on
tidying. l got out my big paper of
sugar, and l got down by japanned
Sugar-bOX, never empty yet since that
day filled it up. And then Job, sort
ing the letters, looks up at me.
Never begrudged you anything so
much as l do that box" says he.
Best thing l ever put the mail into.
This here wooden thing with a slide is
a pesky bother
Law mer' says l, ''if I'd knowed
you wanted it, you should have had it.
l didn't think you had any plan in it;
jest stick 'em anywhere, l thought
you would. Ill empty the box"
SO with that l spread a big paper on
the counter and emptied out the sugar.
1t had packed a little and came out
in a sort of cake. There it laid white
and shiny, and on top of it laid let
ter-a letter with a ship mark upon it
and this superscription:
Three months ago she had come
down to me and asked for a letter,
and I'd thought her half crazy; and
I'd have given more money than there
was in the till to have dared to tear
that letter open on the spot and read
it, though l knew the hand was Will
MaSSetS.
This can't watt says l.
No" says Job, sit can't, with that
wedding coming off tomorrow"
Then l stopped and thought. Let it
lie until it is called for, and she'll be
Mrs. Capt. Kincaid.
perhaps I'd better wait until the
wedding is over Job" said l.
And my old man came across the
room and put his arm about my waist.
Nancy" says he, you and l was
young folks once. And though we old
folks may get a little hard-though to
be up in the world seems so much.
and all that old sweetness so silly;
why, it will come back sometimes.
You remember how he kissed her there
under the sycamore; and-Nancy. we
couldn't wait until after the wedding,
either Of us
Then l got my sun-bonnet and ran
over to Mrs. Mores.
Capt Kincaid was there. I stood at
the door with my letter behind my
back
Wont you walk in?" says Mrs.
More.
"I-haven't time" says l. It's only
an errand. Milly, there's 49,
My letter! my letter." cried NIilly.
at has come at last"'
How she knew it, heavens knows
She hadn't had a glimpse of it.
1t was the old sailors story; a ship
wreck. a deserted island, wretched
months spent in hoping for succOr and
Il sail at last. A vessel outward bound
had picked him up. He would be home