Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-09
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Farewell Letter.
(Original.l


on tie old wooden United States ship
| V. when she sailed into the harbor of
| Nagasaili. Japan. 1t was soon after
the civii war, and we had got our pro-
molten rapidly, neither OF US yet being
twenty-Seven years old. Billy was in a
| fever of excitement, for his girl was at
| Nagasaki, ara he was going ashore to
meet her He insisted that l should
go with him. and we succeeded in get
ting leave among the first batch of Off
GERS permitted TO go ashore Billy met
his girl and persuaded her TO marry
him before he returned to his ship.
The wedding of course was Il very
hasty affair. Miss Etheridge was an
orphan and was in company of friends
who were not related to her.
She could marry whom she pleased
without consulting any one. Neverthe-
less l saw that there was Il hitch in
her happiness. She WAS very much in
love with Billy could see that plain
ly-but for some reason or other appear
ed not to wish to marry him. If l
have any one trait to be thankful for.
it is an ability To refrain from prying
into other peoples affairs. | noticed
all this in Miss Etheridge, but made
no inquiries. There were at the cere-
mony, which took place at hotel.
Mrs Worthington, widow. and her
daughter Clara the people with whom
Miss Etheridge was travelling, and my
self. Billy was the happicst man in
the world, the only thing TO mar his
happiness being that his honeymoon
must be deferred till the end of the
cruise, which would not be for several
months. Then the bride and groom
were TO meet i'll America. Billy was to
get long leave. which would then be
due him, and they We're to go on an cX
tended land tour.
l felt sorry for the couple when they
separated, as they did within an hour
after the ceremony. The ship was on
ly touching ut Nagasaki. and Billy and
l were expected back III twelve hours
FROM the beginning OF our leave. There
was long adieu, the bride clinging to
her sailor boy till he WAS obliged to re.
lease himself from her embrace. On
our way back Billy volunteered the in
formation that the reason of his wife's
having been reluctant TO marry him
was because in doing so she would
probably lose fortune. Billy said
that the wedding was to be kept secret
till he met his wife in America, when
they were TO break the matter as OPP
portuHcly rs possible To some one from
whom the fortune might come. He
ended his remarks by requesting me
TO keep mum. OF course / promised.
Not long after leaving japan we put
into HOugEong Billy was taken i'll
it was decided to send him ashore to
u hospital. He was Il great favorite
with the captain, who, knowing of our |
friendship. sent me with him to look |
out for him. Billy died in two days. !
When he knew he was doomed. lie !
wrote few lines on bit of paper |
which lie folded and handed to me. |
asking Inc to pat it in IN envelope and |
seal it. / did SO. and he wrote his |
wife'S name on the back. Then he |
banded the message to me, charging |
me with its delivery.
did not have Mrs. Bowen's address |
or would have sent the note to her |
at once OH my arrival in New York, |
which occurred a few months later. !
nor had l any data whatever whereby |
to find her. l expected that she would |
communicate with me- She did not /
nor with any officer aboard. The con-
sequence was l sailed again. with the
note still in my possession. OF course
Mrs. Bowen had known of her huS2
bands death since the date of its &C.
currence. for it was telegraphed to
Washington and published.
Ten years went by. during which l
passed most Of the time on long cruis-
es. 1 still retained the note in case l
should run across Mrs. Bowen. but of
course all would lee changed. She
might be married. In which case ques-
toned il ! should even mention the
message. Finally eleven years after
her marriage ! was ordered to New
port. l had served on 4 number of
ships and had been returned to the
V. as its commander We gave an
aboard. and one of the
guests whom l received was n lady
whose name was given rs Miss Eth
eridge Our eyes met as our respective
names were spoken. and we recognized
each other Immediately.
Miss Etheridge." l said guardedly
II am happy to see you aboard my
ship
And l." she replied, would be
pleased to see you at my cottage"