The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-03-18

| husband 10 her. His mothers father
| left him all hc had. He's crazy as JOt
| crazy, ! call il. Plenty Of pretty
gals, and healthy, smart widows, and
| hc sees no one but that pale, slim, lit
| tie thing that's just gone out into the
mud, and shc-why, Of course, shes
| lost her senses, or she'd have him
| Works like slave to keep herself and
| child. lives in "A rlCkcty shanty waiting
and waiting for drowned man tC
come back again. Why, every ono
| knows that Charlie Lester was
drowned in the SphynX. There wasn't
n soul saved. not one. II was In The
papers Now, the bottle was found
with letter in it, writ by some ono
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 n week when the Sphynx
sailed; that makes difference
"Oh, yes" said the farmer.
Then. their parcels being ready, they
| went out 10 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
| 10 herself. II was one she should have
been used 10, aud now the absurdity of
| IL seemed 10 strike her for the first
time in all these years.
"Fhey laugh at me-" she mutturcd 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 sign; and
yet-and yet-if he were alive IT would
be stranger stlll. No, no; they are
right am wrong He must be dead. "
And as though the news had just
been whispered to her she claspcd her
hands TO her forehead, gave cry. and
sank down on her knees in the road.
She knclt 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 lii her on her way TO her poor
home.
There at the door sat man, strong
determined looking fellow, who arose
rs she approached and held out his
hand.
"Ilcre YOU come" ne said. "tircd tC
death, worn ont, sull on that frutlcss
| Crrand. Jessie Lester, can't YOU give
up this nonsense and think of the liv
ing n little. Think of me, Jessie, foI
| just half an hour
IL do think of you" she said. 81 am
| very sorry You should Toe 50 good 10 IN,
when | must seem bad 10 you
Then she sat down ON the porch ant
took her little hood of and leaned hcl
head wcarily against the wall of IN,
house, and the man arose and crosse,
over and sat down beside her
GIVE il softer resting, Jessie" Il,
said; here ON my heart"
She looked out into he night, not n
him. as she spoke:
Job" she said. 81 begin 20 thinl
YOU are right. that he went down il
the SphynX with the rest ten years age
But what good would | do youg Wha
do you want To marry me forY
The man drew closer still rs he an
swcrcd:
Before you were married TO Charlie
Lester loved you. All these ten year
since that vessel went down I've love,
you A man must have the woman h.
loves If he gives his soul for her
What horrible thoughtw said she
His soul"
81 should have said his life," sal,
Job II don't want To shock you Bu
you don't kLow what il would hc {
me 10 have you. And then Id d
everything for your boy
Yes" she answered. IL know yo
would" There was pause. The
she gave him her hand. Job" sh
said very softly. II shall pretend moth
ing don't feel. but know I've bee
crazy all this ..mc. and IL you want m
you may have me. It's very good q
you 20 love me So"
And thus II seems 10 have ended. tha
ten years watching and waiting, an
there was triumph n Jobs eyes as b
turned away and left her with his tirs
kiss upon her brow. But az the end q
the green lane lie paused and ios,e
back.
II told her the truth" he said. "whe
| said that when a man loved a woma
as loved her. he must have her. If th
; price were his soul itself"
And then he drew from his breast
letter with great red seal upon i
lo~Sed at IL for a moment aud hid
, away again
) Married. Yes. they were 20 be ma
ried Every one at McKibben's Co
ners knew that now. Jessie Lest,
went no more to the postoflice for h,
, long expected letter. Job was furnisl
r ing his house-had furnished u. for q
B the morning Of the morrow the we,
e ding was 60 take place. And IL W.
4 night again. A month from that nigl
when she had come for the last tim
$ as every one thought. through RAJ
:. and mud. TO make her sadly FOOLS
p query she was sensible at last-ye,