The Globe-republican., 1904-03-31

LIE npllyAX went down III 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 sci
up that her husband wasn't dead, and
would come back. She's kept it ur
ever since; comes for his letter regu
lar, 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"
Eyes, said the old man, "but there's
my son Job wild over her yet. He's of.
fered himself twice. He stands ready
to offer himself again any day-ready
to be father to her boy and a good
husband to her. His mothers father
left him all he had. He's crazy as Job
crazy, | call it. Plenty of pretty
gals, and healthy, smart widows, and
he sees no one but that pale, slim, lit
tie 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 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
drowned in the Sphynx. There wasn't
a soul saved, not one. 1t was in the
papers. Now, the bottle was found
with letter in it, writ by some one
before the ship sunk. And she's
waitin' for him yet"
Crazy on that point" said the post
master. well, poor soul, she'd only
been married u week when tho Sphynx
sailed; that makes a difference"
"0h, 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
it seemed to strike her fer the first
time in all these years.
THEY laugh at me-" she mutturcl TO
herself. Il know they laugh at me.
Perhaps | 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 it 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 a cry, and
sank down OH her knees in the road.
She knelt there 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, strong,
determined looking fellow, who arose
as she approached and held out bis
hand.
Here you come" he said, "tlred to
death, worn out, still on that frutless
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"
II do think Of you," she said. II am
very sorry you should be SO good 10 me
when | must seem 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 it a softer resting, JESSIE" he
said; "here on my heart"
She looked out into the night, not at
him, as she spoke:
Job" she said, II begin to think
you are right, that he went down in
the Sphynx with the restten years ago.
But what good would | do you? What
do you want to marry me forw
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 be
loves II he gives his soul for her. \
"What a horrible thought" 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 Id do
everything for your boy"
"Yes," she answered, II know you
would" There was a pause. Then
she gave him her hand. Job she
said very softly, II shall pretend moth
ing don't feel, but know I've been