The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1902-06-05

with half y dozen pthersS aid sia-
ters. Obligedsto sailaway 10 the
Indies for livelihood" he laughed,
.sin the service of her majesty, the
queen" 8
Glow long will you be away?" she
asked quickly.
1.-Two years at the very least"
1.-THE poor mems wives!" she said
thoughtfully. "What time it isl"
ooh, 1 daresay the wives don't
mind. No, won't say that! IT'S q
hard lot, that Of . sailors wife. I
should never dare to offer it to any
woman"
She looked at him curiously.
'sNever intend to marry at ALL" she
said.
.Oh, some day, suppose, when my
seafaring days are over, I shall settle
down some where with bald brow,
middle aged spouse, and money
bags"
She shook her head. "That doesn't
sound nice," she said.
s'Well, what can I do for the next
ten or fifteen years I can't be any
thing but sailor. And SO I can't
marry if I would. and wouldn't if I
could" He spoke with inward heat,
as if arguing more against himself
than to her.
She ratified the milk pans, moving
them, looking away. :,
"See here, don't let us spoil these
last moments, talking about dismal
future. You see, have come to say
goodbye. I shall often think of the
farmhouse, Roosje; think of the
times when we have oil played to-
gether in the orchard and the hay
lofts. What jolly round dozen we
were! And now one of us is dead.
eyes, one of us is Dead" she as
sented; for he had lost brother q
year ago from typhoid. She re-
peated the words once or twice
among the milk pans: "Only one of
us is dead"
"Only? Surely that is enough!" he
exclaimed, surprised.
'There might be MORE" she an
swered. and split great splash on
the floor.
"Lord, what1l your stepmother
say! You milkmaid!"
II wasn't attending. don't think
1 ever did. it before. Now, Jonker
Dirk, think you had better CO."
EGO? What nonsense! I've only
come"
"Mother doesn't like it," said
Roosje, blushing.
.'Like what! Me? Well, she won't
be troubled by my presence for the
next two years. Your father was a
fool to marry that woman, Roosje."
ooh, Jonker, hush!"
"Sailors speak their mind. And be-
sides you know it, without my say
ing anything. She makes you un-
happy, Roosje; hate to think Of
that while I'm away" With his foot
he pushed the splash of milk towards
the little farm dog, who began lap
ping, with great ways of his tail.
"She means WE'LL" said Roosje.
Goodbye, Jonker. God bless you,
goodbye"
''No, in thunder! What has the
woman been saying to you, Roosje?
Come, we have never had any secrets
from each other, never, since I told
you all my scrapes, and you'll don't
think you ever got into any scrapes,
not into real bad ones, at least, like
me. Have you got into scrape
now?" He looked at her good-natur-
edly, smiling. Then suddenly, with
an angry change Of face and voice
Don't listen to her. Don't believe.
her. Whatever she says, I've no.
doubt it's . ie!. ) III Z 5lss !
~ Roosje5 was silent for full ten secls'
onds. Then She answered, Still look
ing AWAY .she don't think 4 r. ought
to have talked with you; that's oil. 8
The great veins rose upon his
neck. Now answer me honestly;
have ever said a word-one word
to make me deserve that?' ~
mo, oh no! Not one word; But
people will talk s5A4fsss
"Talk. who talks? why, ! I IAN
going away. Il have had I . happy
month here. Who talks?D Es
"They-they-oh, it. doesn't matter
one Bit"
j "It matters. I will know" His
voice rang low, so strong she could
not have disobeyed it.
"It's only stupid servants talk, y
she said, the words coming as if they
were being dragged forth slowly
through a loophole. Your mothers
maid has told my mother lies.''
He started so violently she could
not but see it. ''Teu me exactly
what she said."
II couldn't, Jonker."
"Ycu must. At once. In an hour
I shall be gone, perhaps for good"
II couldn't" She hid her face in
her hands. "She said you had said
things you never could have said,
and everybody had heard them"
'Well, it is true" he said simply.
"see what parents we have, you and
I? told my mother, for she asked
me, and my mother told her maid!
Well, what does it matter? am going