Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-19

.omnlctod bv the Venture $50 tb,,,
can't do without me. ne said frown-
ing. and pulling his fair beard, and
An through that lonsshore swab wbo
palmed himself off on the skipper for \
seaman. I've got to leave you, isa-
bel. and 90 up to London.
oh" she cried. with a dismaycd in
,ona;jon. How long shall you he
away"
About four days, answered Cairns.
drawing her hand about his neck.
and I shall be all alone said his
wife.
"ran.t he helped" he commented
Then his knitted brow cleared. After
an nv girl. il isn't as though the
sailing of the Venture meant our part
ing. You'll have had enough Of my
company by the time we reach ia
maica. Perhaps before We sight the
western peak Of those Blue Mountains
rye told YOU about you'll he crying.
WHY did marry me?'--like the girl
in the country song
Eut the joke was lost on Isabel
..oh. lem she uttered with a casp.
and a look Of fear rose into her eyes
IF ANYTHING should part us should
never know a happy hour again"
1t seemed to Cairns as he kissed he,-
goodby at the garden gate on the
morning of the day on which he went
NJ to London. that never any man had
had 50 beautiful OF 50 fond a wife
before. He was religious in simple
way, and as he looked up at the bright
June Sky overhead he pulled off his
hat and thanked God for the gift Of
Isabel.
Judge how the languid air ana he
| wilderinc confusion of the court of
law agreed with this man. lie lost
flesh and color in the three days that
were occupied By the lawsuit. When
| the train that was To carry him home
rolled cut of the station his spirits
revived and rose with every dozen
mics. For one thing. h. was several
hours to the good; he was going to
surprise Isabel by coming back on
! Thursday evening instead of the Fri
day afternoon. He purpOSely had lh-
stained from telling her, in order to
enjoy her rapture Of delight at SEEING
| him unexpectedly. The man was, MS
! YOU will perceive. a simpleton. In All
The years that he had gone TO and fro
upon the sea he had seen much hut
! learned nothing Of the world.
| The salt smell of the sea came I" MS
! nostrils. ana the gray marshes ana
muddy flats, with the CLEAN Of sill
very gray beyond. gave place to Grim
! port railway station. with a forest Of
nasts sticking up beyond the tidal
river bridge and the docks. His new
| mate Was getting the cargo. On" Of
beer ana aerated waters. int" che
Venture. The painters and giid"rS
had done their work upon the cabin
and statcroom the uphulstercrS W"r"
putting on the finishing touches: in six
days more the Venture would rs
worked ont of dock into the ideW1Y:
then another night at anchor h@aN-
ing in the pale. yeasty SurgeS. ana
with the green break III day the Ven
ture would sail. and hey for life upon
the salt ocean with Isabel It was 2
proper cradle Toy love. the bosom "a
the sea.
If cairns had ever read any poetry.
h" would nave known that ,1oSr
thoughts OF his were poet!cal, but
they seemed To him the merest. most
natural prose. He walked III @"od
pace along the country lanes. ms
broad shoulders well set back, his
head up. his stick swinging. He mad
left his bag at the station: it was 10
be sent ont t. the cottage later on
The quaint. matched roof Of the
cottage rose into sight against the
background Of the strip Of Woodland
where lsa bells nghtingales sang
cairns felt a sick sort of sinking at
the heart wien he saw no figure
waiting at the gate To Wclcom" hlm.
Next moment he laughed. thinking 81
the surprise in store. He would not
go in by the front gate. lest lsahel
should see him There was size
wicket. and he stole noisclesSiY IN
that way. Sailors can led as softly N
cats. Jameson Cairns stole noiSel"sSiN
across the little lawn to the muslin
ctlrtained window Of the little paflor
the first home he had ever shared with
Isabel The candles in the old-fash-
ioned china sconces that hung on each
side OF the mantel-shelf We're lighted.
1t was damp. cold June. and so Mt
tie wood fire cracked on the hearth.
And on the hearth rug stood his WIG"
his Isabel in a white gown. with 2
knot OF roses at her breast. ma
close TO her stood a man, young ahn
handsome and stranger to her nus
hand though evidently not TO her' iof
he held her Clasped. ana her hahdS
were folded round his neck. and her
faca-fushed like a rose. though iSa-
bel was usually pale-was lifted to his
with a laughing. dimpling. provoking
couuetry which Isabel's husband hau
never seen in it before.
He saw red. and clutched at the
window sill 10 keep himself from cry
inc ont. The savage lust to XIII pos
sessed him: but before they died the
traitor ana the traitress. Jameson
cairns would hear what they We're
saving one of the easements stood
omen. the words came plain enough I"
TIE greedy ears that listened
where is She" the stranger SAID
He had Il saiiorlikc look, ana Vas
dressed in "A loose but well made suit
nf serge. gilt buttoned. and with tn"
hl,n and white mohair braidng on tn"
,ufr ana colIar edge that is the uni I
fo,.n, distinction of the officers of on"
of the greatest lines of passenger
steamers.
she is lying down. She has 3een
watching all day-for him.
obviously she meant The landlddy,
Rut the man was spanking
when Will he come