Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-04-15
THE NEW SKIPPER o.
AZ OF THE NANCY.


"And do everything else that you
ASK cried Joe, suddenly. overwhelm-
cd and conquered by the most wonder
full little face he had ever seen. What
shall do, first of all:'
Talk about something cheerful"
she urged. with a SILVER.
well. in the first place. you're GER
tainly wet, and you must he cold
"Oh. no; the night is too warm for
that"
Wont you take little taste of this
bra andy" he suggested, producing his
flask. at may save yon from catch
ing a severe cold" She took the flask,
but only the mercst drop passed her
lips.
Then Joe. in obedience to her within,
branched out into dissertations on the
most general topics. He felt that he
was talking like an idiot. but he evil
IDENTITY pleased her, for soon she joined
in his talk and displayed not only I'M
common intelligence. but vivaci1y
that was hardly to be expected.
All this time they had been speeding
up the North river. Joe suddenly
awakened from his delicious absorb
ton to find that they We're opposite
Harlem.
where shall l land YOU" he asked.
Anywhere; l must be getting
hOme.'
and may escort you there:'
ooh, no; not for WORLDS
her look was both pleading and
frightened.
AT least, may call tomorrow. to
make sure that you have not suffered
from your EXPOSURE"
please don't think of doing that,
either. And don't try to find out any
thing about me-
Il am n gentleman" said Joe. with
simplicity that much have touched
her. The boat had landed by this time.
She stood up, shook out her garments
which We're almost dry by this time
and held out her hand
"GOOd-by," she said, "and thank YOU
thank you for more than I can tell
you. We shall probably never meet
again, but l shall always look back
upon you as one of my friends. Thank
you, again, most earnestly, and good
by"
Joe held her hand for few seconds
longer than he needed to, and tipped
his hat almost reverently as she glided
away.
mo, she certainly didn't mean to
commit suicide" he soliloquized, gaZ-
ing intently at her rapidly disappear
ing form. "COnfound it, if | meet that
girl again, | shall certainly fall in love
with her. What is all the mystery
back Of this affair, wonder"
Then Joe wended his way home. his
pretty craft forgotten in the maze of
thought with which the adventure Of
that evening had filled his head.
And when, in his bed. Joe Parsons
tried in vain to WOO sleep. these words
kept running through his brain:
"1f l meet that girl again. shall
certainly fall in love with her"
But month after month went by, and
Joe did not once behold the woman
that the river had yielded up to him.
half an hour later.
1t was only a few weeks ago that
Joe had been taken from the books of
the bank and established in a small,
cOZy office to attend to the correspond
ence of the institution.
A typewriter was necessary, so he
advertised for one. There were a host
Of applicants, but many of them had
not the necessary knowledge for his
kind of work. so they We're rejected.
When the door opened to admit still
another applicant, and Joe looked up,
he almost shouted in his glee for the
newcomer was the young woman of
the river episode.
The recognition was mutual, but
each strove to ignore the fact, and Joe
plunged at once into an eXaminati ton
of her qualifications.
She gave her name as Nora Dur
we'll and responded to all his questions
so satisfactorily that he engaged her
on the spot.
II am sorry the salary is not larger"
he said, alphabetically. "but the bank
regulates that and | have no control
in the matter"
Only few days ago, an observer
might have seen Nora gazing with
truly feminine delight at pretty soil
taire ring on her finger. JOe's hand
was resting affectionately on her shout
der.
TELL me-" he said, suddenly, and
with something of an air of proprietor
ship, "how you happened to be in the
river that night:"
II was pushed n," she replied, turn.
ing pale at the recollection.
by whom"
"My husband"
"Your husband:"
Eyes; he was fearful brute That
night he inveigled me out on the pier,
with the deliberate intention of MUIR
dering me. But l am trying to forget
all that. Please never speak of it
again."
Little GIRL" said Joe. with husky
tenderness, "if you are willing to mar
ry me after such an experience in mat
rimony, what a great faith you must
have in me-"
Il have" she replied, simply.
The Nancy has a new skipper now
the most delightful skipper imagina.
ble.- Minneapolis Tribune.