Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-04-15

Ten" said the postmaster. 81 know,
for 1t was the day | came here. She
was as pretty woman as you'd want
to see then, wasn't sheF
We'll, yes" said Mr.. McKibben.
SAILED In the Sphynx," said the
postmaster. And we all know that
the Sphynx went down In that voyage
all hands along with her. The rest of
the women put on widows weeds.
them that lost husbands-four in this
town itself. They took what the AL
mighty sent and didn't rebel. She set
up that her husband wasn't dead, and
would come back. She's kept II up
ever since; comes for his letter regular,
and he was drowned along with the
rest. of course, ten years ago. She
must be thirty. Well, she's changed
a good deal In that time"
Yes" said the old man; but there's
my son Job wild over her yet. He's
offered himself twice. lie stands ready
to offer himself again any day-ready
to be a father to her boy, and good
husband to her. His mothers father
left him all he had. He's crazy as Job
crazy, | call 1t. Plenty of pretty gals,
and healthy, smart widows, and he
sees no one but that pale, slim. little
thing that's just gone out into the
mud; and she-why, of course, she's
lost her senses, or she'd have him.
Works like n slave to keep herself and
child, lives In a rickety shanty waiting
and waiting for a drowned man to
come back again. Why. every one
knows that Charlie Lester was drown
ed in the Sphynx. There wasn't soul
saved not one. 1t was In the papers.
Now, the bottle was found with let
ter In It, writ by some one before the
ship sunk. And she's waitin' for him
YETI
Crazy on that point said the post
master. We'll, poor soul she'd only
been married week when the Sphynx
sailed; that makes difference"
"Oh, yes" said the farmer.
Then their parcels being ready, they
went out to their wagons, and Mr..
Fairjohn, having stared into the rainy
night awhile, put up his shutters and
went TO bed. Meanwhile, the woman
plodded on through the mud. Walk
ing off her disappointment" she said
to herself. 1t was one she should have
been used to. and now the absurdity of
| 1t seemed to strike her for the first
time in all these years.
"They laugh at me-" she muttered to
herself. Il know they laugh at me.
Perhaps l am mad; but they don't
| know what love Is. Charlie wouldn't
have left me like that. If he had died,
he would have given me a sign; and
| yet-and yet-if he were alive, 1t
would be stranger still. No, no; they
are right am wrong. He must be
dead"
And as though the news had Just
been whispered to her, she clasped her
hands to her forehead. gave cry, and
sank down on her knees In the road.
She knelt there for few moments
and then arose. In this interval. the
wind had blown the clouds from the
sky, and the moonlight lay white upon
the path. and lit her on her way to her
poor home.
There at the door sat a man, a
strong, notwithstanding fellow, who
arose as she approached and held out
his hand.
Here you come" he said, tired to
death. worn out still on that fruitless
errand. Jessie Lester, can't you give
up this nonsense and think of the liv.
ing little. Think of me- Jessie, for
just half an hour"
Il do think Of YOU" she said 81
am very sorry you should be so good to
me when | must seem so bad to you"
Then she sat down on the porch and
took her little hood off, and leaned her
head YEARLY against the wall of the
house, and the man arose and crossed
over and sat down beside her.
Give II softer resting, jessie" he
said, here on my heart"
She looked out into the night, not at
him. as she spoke:
job she said, Il begin to think
you are. right, that he went down in
iAlc NplillA Will the rest ten years
ago. But what good would | do you?
What do you want to marry me rory"
The man drew closer still as he an
swered:
Before you were married to Charles
Lester | loved you, All these ten years
since that vessel went down I've loved
you, A man must have the woman he
loves II he gives his soul for her"
What a horrible thoughtm said she.
His soul.'
Il should have said his life said
Job, Il don't want TO shock you. But
you don't know what it would be to me
to have you, And then I'd do every
thing for your boy"
Yes she answered, Il know you
would" There was a pause Then
she gave him her hand. Job" she
said very softly. Il shall pretend moth
H.. I