Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-02

pCnlnSs, but Captain Err had never
heard him mention the fire.
One afternoon in January Mrs. Snow
and Captain Fri were. together in the
sickroom. The rest of the household
tain Perez paying visit to the life
savers sister and Elsie staying after
school to so over some examination
papers Captain Baxter was apparent
~ asleep.
! let me see." said Mrs Snow mus
lngly in low tone. "I'vc been here
now two. three, over four months.
Seems longer somehow
Seems almost rs II you'd always
been here" replied Captain Err. "Queer
how soon we git used to a change.
don't know how we got along afQre.
But we did some way or other. il you
call it gittin' along" he added, with
shrug. II should hate to have to try
/ ktlovcr again."
cts always seemed funny to me-
remarked the lady, that you men, all
sailors and useA to dom for your
when you come to try keepin' house."
1T does. don't It? I've thought OF
that myself. Anybody d think we was
the most shif'less lot that ever lived,
but we want. Even Jerry-an he's
the wust one Of the three when it
comes to leavin' things at loose ends
always had mighty neat vessel and
had tho name Of maxim his crews toe
the mark. l honestly b'lieve it come Of
us bein' on shore an runnin' the she
bang on a share and share alike idee.
If there'd been skipper, Teller to
boss things, we'd have done better, but
when all hands was boss nobody felt
like dom anything.
Now, take that marryin' idee," he
went on. 81 laughed at that. a good
deal at fust and didn't really take any
stock in 1t, but guess twas real boss
sense after all. Anyhow it brought you
down here, and what we'd done with
out you when John was took sick
don't know. You've been so mighty
good and put up with so many things
that must have fretted you like the
nation, and the way you've managed
myw
The whole souled admiration in. the
captains voice made the housekeeper
blush like girl.
DON'T say word, Cap'n Err" she
protested. TITS been jest pleasure
1 to ne. honest. I've had mere comfort
and-well. peace, you might say, sence
I've been In this house than I've had
afore for years. don't know what
| you must think Of me answerin' an adj
vertisement for a husband that way.
1t makes me 'shamed Of myself when
I think Of it, declare. And in that
kind Of paper too"
few how you ever. got a hold Of that
paper. 'Tain't one you'd see every day
naturally, you know"
Mrs. Snow paused before she an
swered. Then she said slowly: "Well,
Pm s'prised you amt asked that afore.
I haven't said much about myself
sence I've been here, for no p'ticrar
reason that know of except that
there wasn't much to tell and it wasn't
a very interestin' yarn to other folks.
My husbands name was Jubal
Snow
You don't say!'' exclaimed the cap
tain. why, Jerry used to know him."
II shouldn't wonder. Jubal knew
lot of folks on the Cape here. He was
a good husband-no better anywheres
and he and had good life togeth-
er long as he was well. I've sailed
good many wages with him and I
/ feel pretty nigh as much at home on
the water as do on land. Our trouble
was the same that good many folks
have-we didn't callate that fair wealth
er wouldn't last all the time, that's all.
''It wasn't his fault any more than
twas mine. We saved little money,
but not enough, as it turned out. Well,
lie was took down sick and had to give
up goin' to sea, and we had a little
i place over in Nantucket and settled
down on it. Fust along, Jubal was
able to do little farmin' and so on,
and we got along pretty well, but by
and by he got SO he want able to
! work, and then twas harder. What
little we'd saved went for doctors bills
and this, that and t'other. He didn't
like to have me leave him, SO l couldn't
! earn much Of anything, and fn'lly we
come to where sonethin' had to be
done right away, and we talked the
thing over and decided to mortgage the
house. The money we got on the mort
! gage lasted until he died.
Tie had little life insurance, not
enough, of course, but little. He was
! plannin' to take Oh more, but somehow
it never seemed as If he could die, he
so big and strong, and we put it off
until he got SO he couldn't pass the
examination. When the, insurance
money come took it to ledge Briar, a
mighty good friend Of Juba]s and mine
and the one that held the mortgage on
the house, and told him wanted to
pay off the mortgage with it, SOS I'd
have the house free and clear. But the
jedge advised me not to, said the mort