Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-09-28
A WiFE'S ANSWER.
BY Christine Marines.
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no c-I.i~.s SECS hod SGT ont early in
the morning from the little harbor OF
Leeport. The atmosphere was very
clear. and the boats could still be seen
IL the distance, strung our III a long
line across the horizon, far cut at sea.
A few sailors wives, children, and
old men. still Ioitered on the wharYeS,
all i'm excellent humor, for with such
weather there could certainly be a
fine haul of fish. The sea was admir-,
ably blue. but dashed by the wind. 1t
broke into little waves which rushed,
white-capped toward the shore.
do you see papa's sloop yet. mann.
MAJ" asked little fellow, who had
stayed away from school that morning
in order to see his father start with
the feet.
His mother had a fine telescope-a
luxury that her neighbors enyied her.
In such clear weather as this if they
could not distinguish the men, they
could at least recognize most OF the
fishing smacks.
The boy would have remained long
time watching his fathers sloop, the
Laurent, as it grew smaller and SMALL
er in the distance, but his mother led
him away. They must go back TO the
house to their work.
They loitered by the side of the har-
Dor, which had lost its animation now
that its fleet of fishing craft was
gone
Mrs. Fanshawe stopped mechanical
~ in the center of the wharf to look at
fine brig. the Harding, which came
every week with a cargo of assorted
too A ut
the rail of the ship. saw her, and wav-
ed his cap gayly to her. She turned
away and hurried up the street to her
home.
Two hours later the loungers in the
main street Of the village were greatly
surprised to see Captain Robert Fan
Shave, the owner of the fishing sloop
Ajax. Fastening angrily homeward
He had not entered the house before
the neighbors had run to learn the rea-
son of his sudden return.
Why had he come back?
The backstay of the Ajax had been
broken. and Fanshawe was compelled
to come back to port for repairs.
These We're already under way, and,
once he had seen his men at work, he
had come mp to see his wife a moment
Your wife-she has gone out; but
she will be back directly"
He was pouring out glass of cider
from the pitcher he had drawn that
morning before leaving, when he MOTTO
ed the ink stand open on the table.
and the pen beside it, still wet with
ink
It was his sons pen and inkstand
but as the little fellow never wrote
during the day, he concluded that his
wife must have been writing. Almost
at the same moment he noticed a let
ter in the blue vase on the mantel-
piece, and without thinking. he open
ed it and read:
Dear Mrs. Fanshawe:-I love you
more than 1 can tell | implore you
to set time when we can meet. You
are free-your husband is gone
Harry Evans.
''Oh, heavensr' cried Fanshawe,
Harry Evansp
He knew him we'll this handsome
sailor of the Harding, who had al
ready ruined more than one home in
Leeport-a tall fellow as tall as Fan
Shave himself, fair with the complex
ion Of girl, and tender blue eyes.
He sprang up to rush to the wharf
and strangle the audacious rascal.
when he heard his wife returning.
Evidently she had answered that in
sulting letter, and she would tell him
what answer she had given. He
trusted his wife.
Il hurried back" she said. as she
came in; Il heard of the accident as
was doing my marketing"
AS she laid on the table the pur-
chases she had made. he had time to
thrust the letter back into the vase
He would wait for her to speak.
Mrs. Fanshawe continued to busy
herself with her household duties. He
watched her, and he found her still
young. Drowned like himself, most
graceful woman in her No. 8 boots,
and with waist still slender.
From time to time she looked at him
with a smile; she was not surprised
to see him looking somber after the ac-
cident. She did not say anything
about it, for she knew to discuss the
accident would annoy him.
Wife, have you nothing new to tell
meY'
Nothing, my dear husband"
His face. contracted as with a sud
den pain. His wife thinking 1t due to
chagrin at the accident, kissed him
tenderly.
He pressed her to him with mucous
toned force. Never, even in the fierce
est tempest, had he suffered as he SUI
fered now. Suspicion entering his sim
pie. loyal heart, ravaged it terribly.
We'll, good-by. / am going to the
wharf We shall 60 out with the next
tide if the backstay is repaired Good
byw
She accompanied him to the end of
the street and babe him farewell so
frankly that he asked himself if it were
possible that such a woman could lie.
he was about to go to the Harding
and taunt Harry Evans with his in
fanny, when one of his crew saw him
and came after him. Compelled to re-
turn to his vessel he had time to re-
fleet. A sudden fit of rage-a fight
would prove nothing, and he would
never know the truth.
So he calmly watched the work of re-
pairs, which was going on apace. At