Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-08-07
NANCY'S Y
LOVERS.
How They Fought For Her
Under Water.

"You didn't forget the widow, did you,
been on a pretty long cruise this time.
and like enough she'll be in need Of many
more things than the boys wages will
buy for her."
"Oh, no, Bill, / didn't forget Nancy! / put
two ten dollar bills in an envelope, one
from you and one from me, and gave
them to the young chap for his mother.
But say, Bill, think that on the next
job we'd better dress the boy and let
him make dip alongside of either one
of us, while the other tends him. My
word for it, he will make good diver
after a little practice, with such men as
you and l to teach him the business"
81 guess you're right, mate" answered
Bill. IF Neddy has a liking for the
work and the widow don't object, the lad
might as well commence now as any
time. I'll take a walk up to the cottage
tonight and see what Nancy has to say
about it. She may think it's most too
dangerous a business for her only boy;
but. Lor', Tom, amt you and l spent
half our lives under water and are none
the worse for it now?"
That's so, Bill. Why, a diver in his
armor, with a good tender at the sur
face, is just as safe as a parson in his
pulpit. Yes, you'd better go and see
Nancy" continued Tom re6ectively, "and
have talk with her. And, say, mate,
see if she wants anything, so that we can
get it for her afore we go away again"
"All right, old man. So longn
Bill had just disappeared when the
captain of the schooner emerged from
the cabin and approached the solitary fig
ure on deck.
"Ah, Tom," he began loosely; "count
ing the stars or thinking over your past
sins?'
mo, cap you're wrong about the stars,
for / haven't cast an eye aloft for the
last half hour. but as for the past-yes,
was beginning to think over that lit
tie. | often think over it. Sometimes
I'm pleased with the recollection, and
then, again, wish it had been somebody
else that had gone through what Bill and
/ have and not u.s."
"Why, man, what is it that you and
your mate have done that you dislike to
recall to mind? I've known you both for
| nearly 20 years, and, though | say it to
your face, / never saw two squarer men
on salt water in my whole life"
"Well, cap'n, | think we have done
pretty near what is right since you sailed
in our company, but shortly afore you
| fell in with us there was something that
happened which both Bill and l would
give all we are worth il it hadn't, al
though I'm beginning TO feel that it
might have been for the best. as it
brought forth what little there was of
good in the characters of two men,
Il. IL. 4 hat tts.,n
a page in your histories which would
prove of deep interest. but one which you
! have hitherto carefully guarded. Now. if
/ it is not asking too much, | beg that you
will make confidant of me ard accept
| the word of a sailor that will never re-
veal the secret"
| AT this Tom hesitated ere he began.
| cap, although Bill and | never said
| that what happened that day we wouldn't
| talk about. yet we have mutually kept
| silent on the subject. more because it
wasn't real pleasant for either of us to
| think of than because we were ashamed
to let the world know what COMPOUNDED
| fools we made of ourselves. Yes. cap'n.
| I'll tell you. 1t was way back in 80.
| when Bill and | were working together
on a wreck just inside of Chesapeake
| bay. between Cape Henry light and
| Hampton Roads.
1--WE had come down from New York
| and were pretty spruce young chaps in
| those days. Now, it seemed, although nei-
their one of us knew it, that we were both
| thinking considerable of the same girl
| We had been aboard of a wrecking
| schooner about the size of this one for
nearly two weeks when one Sunday |
was overhauling my things in the fore
castle and was just taking out picture
of the little one that I'd left up home.
Bill came along and, looking over my
shoulder, says: Hello, chum! Who have
you got there"
SAYS |, as honest as could be, handing
him the picture, That's the woman |
hope to be my wife some day.
"'Your wifep says he as he took the
photograph. My God! That's Nancy
Stewart And, glancing up, ! saw Bill
staring at the picture with his face as
white as new gaff tops'l. Then. thrust
ing the likeness into his pocket, he Kissed
through his clinched teeth, No. Tom
Baxter, she will never be your wife!'
And, turning, he sprang up the steps out
of the forecas'le before could stop him.
"As you may imagine, | was boiling
mad and surprised as well. l followed
| Bill on ueck anu saw hiiu oitunS on a
water cask, with both hands up to his
face. ! approached him, and. touching
him on the shoulder, asked as gently as
/ could for the return Of the picture.
"As he looked up to me the expression
of his countenance was that of maniac.
His features were distorted with either
anger or anguish, know not which.
"'Come, come said after pause,
during which my chum glared vacantly
at me. Give me back the photograph
"The answer l received was blow,
and down l went as though shot, with
Bill on top. / was considerably stronger
than he in those days and soon got the