Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-05-12

! ~AAu we all Know that
the Spnynx went down in that yoyae,
all hands along with her. The rest
OF the women put on widows weeds
them that lost husbands-four in tb;s
town itself. They took what the Al
mighty sent and didn't rebel. She
set up that her husband wasn't daoa
and would come back. She's kent II
up ever since; come for his letters regu-
lar; ana ne was drowned along with
al the rest, of coure, ten years ago.
She must be 30. Well, she's changed
good deal in that time"
Yes" said the other old man. .h,+
there's my son Job, wild over her vet
hes offered himself twice. He stands
ready to offer himself again any day
ready to be father to her boy and
good husband to her. He's better off
than l be- His mothers father left
him all he had. He's crazy, is Job
crazy, call it. Plenty of pretty gals
and healthy, smart widows: and he sees
no one but that pale, slim, little thing
mats just going out into the mud:
ana she-Why, of course she's lost her
senses or she'd have him. Works like
a slave to keep herself and the child.
lives in a rickety shanty, waiting and
waiting for a drowned man to come
pack again. Why, every one knows
charlie Lester was drowned in the
Sphynx. There wasn't a soul saved,
not one. 1t was in the papers. Now,
the bottle was found with a letter in
1t, writ by some one just before the
ship sunk. And she's waitin' for him
yet!'
Crazy on that point said the post
master. "Well, poor soul, she'd only
been married a week when the Sphynx
sailed; that makes difference"
"Oh, yes" said the farmer.
Then, their parcels being ready,
they went out to their wagons, and
Mr.. Fairjohn, having stared out into
the rainy night awhile, put up his
shutters and went to bed. Meanwhile
the woman plodded on through the
mud. Walking off her disappoint-
ment," she said to herself. 1t was one
she should have been used to, and now
the absurdity of it seemed to strike her
for the first time in all these years.
They laugh at me-" she muttered to
herself. II know they laugh at me.
Perhaps I am mad; but they don't
know what love is. Charlie wouldn't
have left me like that. If he had died
he would have given me some sign;
and yet-yet, If he were alive, it would
be stranger still. No, no; they are
right am wrong. He must be dead"
And as though the news had just
been whispered to her, she clasped her
hands to her forehead, gave cry,
and sank down on her knees in the road
She knelt there few moments and
then arose. In this little interval the
wind had blown the clouds from the
sky. and the moonlight lay white upon
the path, and lit her on her way to
her poor home.
| There at the door sat man,
strong, determined looking fellow, who
arose as she approached and held out
his hand. 1as4Ea
Here you come" he said, "tired to
death. Jessie Lester, can't you give up
this nonsense and think of the living
a little Think of me, Jessie, for half
an hour"
81 do think of you," she said. I'm
very sorry you should be SO good to me
when I must seem SO bad to you"
Then she sat down on the porch and
took her little hood off, and leaned her
head YEARLY against the wall of the
house; and the man arose and crossed
over and sat down beside her.
"Give it softer resting place, Jes-
sie," he said, here on my heart.
She looked out into the night, not
at him, as he spoke.
"Job," she said, II begin to think you
are right, that he went down in the
Sphynx with the rest, ten years ago.
But what good would I do you? What
do you want to marry me for?''
The man drew closer as he answer
ed.
Before you married Charles Lester
1 loved you. All these ten years since
that vessel went down in mid ocean,
I've loved you. A man must have the
woman he loves if he gives his soul
for her."
what a horrible thing!" said she.
His soul?"
81 should have said his life" said
Job. 81 don't want to shock you. But
you don't know what it would be to me
to have you. And then I'd do every
thing for your boy
"Yes," she answered. II know you
a WOULD
3 There was a pause Then she gave
him her hand.
"Job," she said, softly, II shall pre-
) tend nothing 1 don't feel, but l know
j: I've been crazy all this time, and if
| you want me you may have me. It's
very good Of you to love me So"