Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-04-29

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R2OO / had saved would help mo 20 buy "a
fishing boat and leave IA little 10 furnish a
snug place knew Of for elsie and me.
Elsie Beal was as taut craft as you
would find I'm any port. i had known her
when she was not much higher than my
sea chest. She had seen mo off on my first
voyage, and when returned she was one
Of the first TO greet me. or course wo be-
camo sweethearts, and though they say
that n sailor has "a sweetheart In every port
there was only one knew Of In which my
heart was anchored.
"Elsic, my lass, had said to her, just
before going on my last VOYAGE "it's
about time we settled down. So II you've
no objection, we'll get spliced when re-
turn"
My lass put her little hand in my big
rough one, and--shc kissed me. What
palmer signal could tar have than that?
And here was returning--the last voy-
age ovcr-with nothing but fair weather
sailing before me- How longed to finish
that bright picture Of domestic happiness
which had been filling In all the way
from the Indiesl
I didn't expect to find her when
reached Southampton, but l must say
that was disappointed when didn't lind
Dcr WulUl0R IOr Ilc uU tHc sth1ioh,
for 1 had sent her n telegram saying exact
ly when I'd reach Lancing. hurried to
her home, but she wasn't there. Her moth
er said she had gone to Worthing, 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 / had
left. was so full Of tho future-of the
home and the boat was going to set up
that didn't trouble much about 1t Mt the
time.
Next morning paid 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 u swell OF q
fellow about ships, sailing and navigation
generally. AS 1 reckoned knew some
thing OF navigation, put in my spoke.
"Who Is our nautical friend?" said the
gent In tone of voice that / didn't like.
"Paul Allison" said old limbs, 'jeost
back from tho Injics and jinun tar OF
the first water"
"Ohn' said the gent, looking mt me
through an eyeglass After that inspection
he went out
"And who is that swell, Timbs?" I
asked.
"a swell he is. His name is Mr.. Will
lcrby Seaton, and he's u staying at Worth
ing, but he comes down here for his boat
ing"
Well, after had had my chat with old
Timbs went to see Elsie AS / reached
the cottage chanced to glance down the
lane running at the side.
Could 1t be? Yes, had no doubt Of it.
There was Elsie taking leave Of n stranger,
and that stranger was the man had seen
In the boathouse-Mr Willoughby Seaton.
Iwaited at the door till viie came up.
When she saw me- she turned white as q
new trimmed sailing sheet.
"Elsie," said /, "that's a 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. / met him when / was visiting
there and / couldn't do more than say
Good day to hir. could I?'
1 looked very 81 cpish after that and
quickly steered of in another direction. !
talked to her about our coming marriage,
about the little nest was preparing and
the boat 1 intended building to be called
after her-the Elsie.
1t must have been three days after that
when, on coming down to my breakfast,
found note awaiting me. 1t ran:
DEAR PAUL-Don't think anything moro OF
me. am unworthy OF you. BY the time you
read this shall have married another. Forget
and forgive. ELSIE
1t was long time before moved after
reading this heartless note. I was like one
smitten with paralysis When did move,
IL was to curse tho man, Mr.. Willoughby
Seaton, as 1 guessed, who had done me
this great wrong.
built that boat, but It wasn't called
the Elsie. christencd it the Maria, after
the woman who, a year later, became my
wife. People round about were talking OF
me, you see, as the Tilted man, and as
didn't care for that sort of pity married.
never regretted 1t, for IL ever woman
was born to comfort disappointed man,
1t was Maria Esterbrook. A son came tC
us, and as the boat was christened after
the wife 1t was only fit and proper that the
boy should be christcned after his father
Paul Allison.
Things went along pretty prosperously
with me. Sometimes the old wound would
reopen bit; then, when looked at little
Paul, it would close again. After all
was happy. Could she, that false one, say
the same?
Paul had reached his tenth year. have
cause to recollcct that night. The March
wind had been sweeping in big gusts over
the sands, sending them like needles into
the flesh. The waves had risen into fury,
writhing, leaping and curling in the churn
of old Father Neptune.
There was no light Of stars or moon, and
xLn,, t1,,, hun .lncnnn1oI I'm, ht,r mn
had difficulty in reaching home, though
knew every inch of the road, SO dark was
IL.
can awful night, Paul" said my wife
taking from mo my wet oilskins.
Eyes, 1ass-awful It Is. Thereu bt
many wrecks tonight"
"Gdd grant there'll be none In these
partsP'
Little Paul had just brought me my
slippers, and tho words were scarcely out
Of nv mouth when there came the boom.