Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-27
For publication April Is. 1888,
A SAILOR LOVER.
RI MARGARET pELaNp.
Copyright. 1895. by Bachelor, johnson 8
Bachellerl
(Continued from yesterday

resign the hope that Mary would ac-
cept him. In his slow, honest. d.liber.
ate way, he went all over the situation
in his own mind. He knew Don's worth,
and he had felt, as had everybody who
had come in contact with him. the at
traction of the young fisherman's
sweet, kind, careless nature. He knew
all that with no jealousy or bitterness:
with only sober, kindly acceptance OF
| the fact. He admitted the LOYALTY of
| Mary's heart, land | like her all the
better" he said to himself stoutlv. He
even realized, in an exact, reasoning
way, the force of Mary's ideal of Don;
| and the longer she waits, the more
| she'll care Tor him." he thought, sober
| ~. lie must not lose any time. that
was clear. So he tried dozen loving
articles; he called-not too often. He
| carried fruit to Mrs. HAYES: he sent
books 90 Mary; and after awhile, to
put her at ease. he talked to her about
Don, and showed the affection which
| he had always felt for him.
1t all seemed so natural to Mary that
she began to feel, as he meant that she
should, that he was friend.
Hes forgotten all that nonsense.n
she told herself, and grew to depend on
his friendship. She was quite unem-
barrasscd when she Glanced to be alone
with him; if he met her as She was
walking home from school. or if he
found her sitting alone on the beach,
her hands locked about her knees. her
eyes on the far line of the horizon. be-
hind which Don's sails had dimmcd,
and dipped, and disappeared forever.
Another year passed in this way.
Dick never spoke, hut he went on low
ing When at last he tried to speak.
her perfect fricndliness closed his lips.
I'd better get shipwrecle1," he told
himself with a little bitterness which
was foreign to his patient nature: IF |
was dead, she'd think more of me-" He
did not give up hope, but he was dis
couraged. He hardly knew himself
how deeply So for he was surprised to
find himself half sick, and by and by,
altogether sicll-'down with q fever"
his man said, when he came to bring a
pair OF chickens to Mrs. Hayes door,
and explain that Mr.. Wheeler couldn't
come himself
poor boy!' cried Mrs. Hayes, anx-
lously; land not wife nor a mother to
take care of him. Wei. there, Mary,
it is too bGd.' Mary looked sorry, and
the next day she went to inquire about
him.
"Well, he's worse" said the hired
man, laconically. Mary took the news
back to Don's mother, and was very 81
lent.
"'Bout time to be concerned" old
Mrs. Hayes thought, severely, but that
was only for moment. Poor child"
she said TO herself, ''snc's worried about
him. There, now, Mary, cheer up"
she said aloud. Il guess it amt nothin
very bad"
81 don't know" Mary answered, ~
hope not. But I'm afraid it is" And
then, later in the evening, when they
had been talking of something else, she
said, suddenly: "He hasn't soul to
look after him, except that stupid
Jacob"
Mrs. Hayes looked at her inquiringly
81 just WISH" said Mary, TREMENDOUSLY,
that you and l could"
"Why, bless your heart" cried the
old woman, 1--WE will, | know what
you're going to say-weu 90 right up
there tomorrow. l don't know wfv l |
didn't think of it first"
Good nursing is well enough in its
way, but when added to good nursing |
the invalid hears n voice that he loves, |
talking outside his door, to his little, |
old, kind nurse, or is told that "AIarv |
made that Cruel" or watches, dream
lily, through fcverish eyes, Mary NOV.
ing about his room, or even feels her
touch upon his forchead-why. he can |
not help get well. At least that was |
what Dick Wheeler said, first to him.
self, and afterwards, shyly and awl1-
wardly, when he was better and was |
sitting up, to Mary. But, poor fellow,
Marys blank look almost landed him
back in his bed again. He began to
realize, in slow, pathetic way. that if
she had been less kind he might have
had more hope. And Don dead seven
years." he told himself, as he sat
propped up with pillows in big, black
wooden rocking chair that had roses
painted on the head rest, and gay cal
leo sleeves tied over its stiff arms.
1t was a soft spring afternoon; he
was much better: Mrs Hayes and
Mary had gone home, and only came in
for an hour or two each day to see that
he was comfortable. 1t was Mrs.
Hayes who had packed him snugly into
the big chair in the south window, and
put a footstool under his feet, and
drawn little table with his medicine
and glass of water close to his side.
"Jacob1l help you back to bed, Diclzy,
as soon as you feel tired; now. mind,
don't sit up a minute longer than vou
feel like it! And I'll come in tomorrow
morning and bring some beef tea.
Mary's great on making beef tea"
When she went away Dick sat there
in the sunshine, looking out of the win
dow. He made up his mind that he
must get over thinking about Mary;
there was no use; it only worried her.
and it kills me-" he thought simply.
He wondered if he could always feel 50