Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-09-25
Well, well, he'll be turnin up one o.

these days"
Jan, DEAR" said Jane, looking
up affectionately at him, 'T could
almost think ye'd growed, it's that
fine an tall we look. There's not
another man like We in the island.
When'll We be sailin agen, JanY'
'Day after tomorrow, Jane, an
I'm off to Liverpool in the mornin."
But yen no be away so long this
time p
"Just as long as it takes LIE to
make fortune, an then it's back to
ELAN Vannin I'll be comm to get a
little Manx wife. It. terrible wish
full / am TO settle down"
"They say a sailors got wife in
every port" said Janet.
"Nay, Janet, don't We believe it,
though | tell We it's terrible fond o
white men those black beauties are.
But it's Manx lass II be my wife il
ever l get home"
When II o'clock struck, Jan got
up 81 promised I'd be down in
Port Erin before midnight" he said.
Me an my old mates are goin to
have grand old spree. Goodby, me
dears."
SO with kisses and godspeeds he
took farewell of them for the second
time. Jane sobbed in his arms,
and, as he gently unclasped her
arms from his neck, he said softly
to Janet, "Take care of her"
Life soon took on its accustomed
sober hues again and the years stole
on mOnotonously.
But changes came. The vicar
died, and his widow left the island,
and thus Janet and Jane were again
faced with the problem how to live.
They were unwilling to 90 into
fresh service, and so with their saw
ings they furnished a little house in
Castletown and took in dodgers. 1t
paid them very we'll during the
spring and summer. and they were
glad TO be quiet in the winter, for
they were now middle aged women.
Janet's hair was turning gray,
and she was scarcely so upright as
she used to be. The winter had
tried her, too, of late, and successive
attacks of pneumonia had weakened
her considerably.
Instead of getting better, she got
daily worse. Inflammation of the
lungs set in, and DR.. Kennaugh be-
gan to look very grave. At last he
said to Jane "I'm afraid I can't pull
her through this time, Miss Mad
drell \ few days will decide, but
you must be prepared for the
worst" When he had gone, Jane
went softly back into the sickroom
and sat down by the bedside. Never
before had she realized the depth
and beauty of the love that existed
between herself and Janet. Beside
the prospect of Janet's death every
thing else seemed utterly trivial.
Even JAMS long looked for home
coming failed to interest her. AS
she sat there, full of grief, a loud
knocking sounded on the street
door.
Janet started in her bed. She
had been delirious for several days,
but now she spoke quite calmly.
cts JAM" she said. "Go an open
the door, Jane"
Jane obeyed, and out of the black
night and the cutting wind there
strobe a tall figure in a rough frieze
coat.
"Jane!" he cried in a great, hearty
voice, but Jane put her finger ON her
lips and drew him gently into the
kitchen. There, when he had seat
ed himself in front of the blazing
fire, she knelt at his feet and broke
into bitter weeping. She told him
bit by bit of Janet's illness. can if
she dies, Jan, / think it'll kill me,
she whispered.
Jan was about to answer when
Janet herself entered the room
Over her nightgown she had slipped
her Sunday dress, and round heI
neck she wore the blue beads he had
given her long years ago. He rose
hastily and caught her in his arms
for she swayed as if she must fall.
"Jan," she whispered close in his
ear, and he could feel the burning
cheek against his and the hot
breath, 81 thought I'd give We a rea
good welcome this time. l was al
ways-so cold, but it wasn't because
didn't love We, Jan"
AS she said the last words her face
suddenly changed and grew set an(
strained.
"Jan, JAM" cried Jane, "take he
back to bed! It'll just kill her to b.
here"
He did as he was bid and laid he
down as she was-in her fnery-
drawing the bedclothes over he
wasted form with infinite tender
ness.
She lay silent and still.
1t was long before Jane coulC
take up the broken threads of he