Evening journal., 1910-11-16
Jack S Return
BY OLIVE EDNA MAY
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
By OLIVE EDNA MAY

snip that had JUST entered tue porl
came up to where Maggie was digging
for clans. It was commanded by the
third mate, a young fellow OF twenty,
and wien Maggie stopped work and
turned 10 look at the party stepping
ashore. shading her eyes from the sun
with her hand. her hair falling down
on her white neck. her shapely feet
without shoes or stockings. the young
officer reioiced at the sight. There was
certain native grace about her that
struck his fancy. And he was equally
comely.
When Jack Winslow sailed away he
left his heart behind and carried a
heart with him. He would not be at
that port again for three years. and
Maggie's friends all said: Hes time
enough 10 get a dozen sweethearts.
Sailors have one I'm every port" But
no one said the same about Maggie.
They all knew that her innocent heart
having once been caught. would not
swerve from the handsome sailor boy
who had captured IT,
Letters were not frequent between
them. The young man was always
moving. and communication was not
easy. But when a letter came to Mag
gle Il was all the more precious. She
would hide Il sometimes for a day or
two. that she might revel in the antici-
patton OF what there was in It. And
when, touching at some foreign port,
Jack received one from Maggie no
would go up in the foretop 60 read the
misspeled words over and over again.
One day Maggie opened a letter
from Jack after an interval OF silence
that had lasted three months. This
was fully n month longer interval than
any that had occurred. Maggie ran
away to the top OF dune and sat her
self down in the sage grass that was
| quite long enough to conceal her to
read her letter. II told her that some
thing had happened to Jack which
would surely kill her love for him.
He did not tell her what Il was. and
the poor girl was In an agony both OF
sympathy and Of disappointment Jack
told her that he would never write her
again. but he assured her that he
loved her the same and would never
have another sweetheart Indeed. he
added. no girl would be his sweet
heart. Maggie concealed the bad news
she had received. keeping IL In her
own innocent bosom. Bur those about
her saw plainly that some misfortune
had happened to her. and all shook
their heads and said: 81 told you so
A lass who loves a sailor is always e
Oe pitied. He's deserted her doubtles
Tor half civilized creature that b
has met 10 some port on the other sid
, Of the world"
/, This happened about a year afts
r Jack had sailed away. One day Ma
y gie's little brother Ben was THROWN
y stones on the beach where Maggie wa
8 digging for clans. A large stone
I threw with great force accidental
struck her In the temple. Maggie wa
laid up for a few days when she wa
: again at her work But one day 500
after this upon closing one eye 10 get
better focus on a ship that was con
r ing into the ofiing she discovered
e blur before the eye that remainel
open. 1t was not long before III
;, sight Of this eye-it was on the side o
her head that had been hit by littl
Ben-was completely lost Then II be
gan to AFFECT the other eye and with
in eighteen months OF the time the &C
] cldent occurred Maggie was entircl,
blind.
, Grave as was this calamity. it wa
r nothing compared with Maggie's dis
4 appointment IN her love. She felt tina
trouble as keenly as the day she rS
= celved Jacks letter. She began a
once to get used TO her blindness. bu
n she could not get used TO the loss Q
her lover.
Her only comfort was that she b.
: lieved JACK was sincere in saying this
he would never have any other swee
heart. While her friends did not b.
i lieve that the sailor was true TO her
any sense. they refrained from twi
g ting her with his indebtedness.
!, Maggie continued her work-fC
blind people develop the sense Of touc
r. in place OF sight-and WAS happi'
5. while occupied than while idle. Or
d day her mother told her that the shi
l. that Jack had sailed in was comm
d into port. Maggie ran far up the beaS
to get away by herself. But in tin
she was obliged to return and on e
II tering the house felt herself clasped
+ q pair OF strong arms and heard h
name spoken in Jack Winslow's fam
J. lar voice.
It "My trouble will not longer keep
y, apart. Maggie. dear" be said. 1T
~ all right now. But I'm sorry for yo
70 sweetheart. that you can't any mo
m see the beautiful world"
ID "And you"
10 'Never mind me, darling You sh
p live in comfort the rest Of your II
We fell in with a disabled ship on I
~. voyage home. and my share Of
= prize money will keep us comfortable
d. The trouble that Jack had spoken
is in his letter was plain to all exec
es Maggie. At Singapore he had cauJ
IA the smallpox. and for want Of art
IL ton his face. which bad been hal
~ ~ some. was now a sight to behold.
NV was this that had induced him
break OF with Maggie. but he had 4
H.. one who knew OF her blindness. a
on knowing that she would not see
ne ugliness. he had returned 10 her.
nng LOOKING FOR BOARDING
nc HOTrSF THU