Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-09-30
A D|SPLEAS|NG RETURN.
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When Jack Bowen came home TO the
little coast town of u. lie brought I'M
easiness TO a newly married couple,
James and Carrie Roscoe. When
Bowen had gone away on a two years
cruise he was engaged to Carrie Nor.
ris, now James Roscoe's wife.
Bowen as soon as his ship was
locked sauntered ashore and was
making straight for the house in which
he had left his sweetheart when he
met an acquaintance.
Carries all right, ! supposeT re-
marked the sailor inquiringly.
"Oh, yes; she's very WE'LL
"Fve come back to marry her"
'You can't do that. Jack, for she's
married already"
"WhatT'
"She married Jim Roscoe six months
after you went away"
Instead of the panied look in Bow
ems face one might expect in such a
case there was an ugly one. Without
word he turned and walked to a tav-
ern, where he poured out for himself
half tumbler of whisky and drank it
down.
That evening when James Roscoe
went home to his wife and informed
her that her old lover had come back
she turned pale.
''Oh, deart" she said. 81 was in
hopes he'd never come back"
HE can't bother you now that you're
married"
The wife made no reply to this, but
showed uneasiness in every feature.
Never mind him, sweetheart. I'm
a match for him any day"
The next morning Roscoe had half a
mind to leave his, days fishing and
stay at home, but he didn't know that
his wife would need him or when she
would need him. and he couldn't stay
| at home all the time, so he gave her
an extra embrace and told her if Brown
| appeared to refuse to talk with him;
| then. promising an earlier return than
| usual, he went away. His smack and
| his men were ready, waiting for him,
| and they sailed to the fishing groundsA
The day seemed never ending. When
| Roscoe thought it should be noon he
| glanced at the sun and his compass
| and saw that it could not be more than
| 10 o'clock. When he looked again,
| thinking 1t should be midafternoon, it
| was barely 2. At last he could endure
his uneasiness no longer and gave the
| order to weigh anchor and start for
| home. On reaching the beach he turned
| the smack over to the others and start
ed for his home.
| When he passed Bridget Noonan's,
| she cast an anxious glance at him, re-
marking: "I'm glad you're come, Jim
Roscoe seen Jack Brown goin' your
way some time ago, an he was mighty
ugly lookin."
| Roscoe hurried on with a great fear
in his heart, instinctively putting his
hand to his hip, where sailor carries
! his knife.
| Bowen had seen Roscoe go off in his
smack and knew that an interview
with his old sweetheart without the
| presence of her husband was possible.
but he feared such an interview. He
knew the devil had possession of him,
and he struggled to keep away. 1t was
about 3 o'clock that his evil passions
| overcame him, and, thinking Roscoe
would not return till evening, he start
ed forth. Carrie saw him coming
Running to an upper window, from
which she could get a view of the
ocean, she cast a quick glance sea
ward, and there within few miles of
shore was the smack beating inward.
Then she went down to meet Bowen.
Jack" she said, forcing a welcome
smile. Il hope you've come back we'll
and happy"
I'm well enough, but how do you
expect me to be happy with you. gone
| back on me?"
ITS better so, Jack
Better so, you jade! Do you expect
me to go away workin' and savin' for
two years for you and then come back
to find you married."
For half an hour Carrie kept the
man at bay reasoning with him, max
ing excuses for her action, begging him
to be calm when he became violent
1t was sandy about the house and no
football could be heard, but she hoped
| at every moment to see her husband
| appear in the open door. But, oh, how,
long he was In coming! She did not
know that he had been warned and
was hurrying toward his home.
As Roscoe came up he heard Bow
ems voice, and it occurred to him to
move cautiously, though not less rapid
ly, in order to confront the sailor with