The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-06-02
The Ways
Of Women
The Peculiar Reason a Young L lady
Cave for Loving a Chap
And Marrying Him.

|NssN sss0tt ystt6
The Anchor was tavern of some
repute in Portsmouth during the lat
ter part of the seventeenth and the
early part of the eighteenth centuries.
Situated in one of the alleys that jut-
ted off from Queen Street it was still
sufficiently near to the waterfront to
be convenient, yet not conspicuous
enough to invite the attentions of the
naval pickets. It's proprietor, Jack
Wilson, nicknamed Peggy, was one
eyed, one-legged, battlescarred vet
eran Of the Fleet who knew and so
well supplied the needs of the sea-
faring element that the tars of III. M.
Navy were wont to look forward to
night in the taproom of the Anchor
withmuch the same sentiment of feel
ing as the devout look forward to
the bliss of Paradise.
Perhaps no small factor contribute
ing to the attractions and success of
the Anchor was darkeyed, buxom Poll
Wilson, the proprietor's daughter.
Poll had inherited much of the care
free disposition OF her parent. There
was breadth and friskiness about
her strangely suggestive of the open,
which was accentuated by the clear
ring of her laughing voice. One night
in January the revelry was more than
usually boisterous. Alull in the long,
harassing war with the French had
given the Fleet the longed-for op-
portunity to accomplish some much
needed repairs.
Jack in the meantime, with a pock-
etful of money and a few days leave
was indulging in the little pleasant
ries peculiar to the 'toilers of the
deep" A platform had been inn
provised in the taproom and on it a
young curlyheaded, cleanlimbed man.
o'-war's-man, was trolling sea song
with rollicking chorus which every
man Jack swelled with the lustiness
of lungs strengthened by the pure
ozone of the ocean. Poll, too, con-
tributed not little to the gaiety OF
the evening, but principally as a
waitress, moving among the frisky
tars with confidence and selfpos-
session that comes from lifelong ac-
quaintance with their kind.
Poll was heart-free. Many wooers
had knelt in supplication, but none
had as yet met with any special favor
that might be construed into reciproc-
ity. The most persistent of all the
wooers, was big Con Driscoll, lead
ing gunner aboard the Victory. a
big, brawny, good-natured son o1
Erin, whose heart had undoubtedly
| yielded to the charms of many lass
prior to his Introduction to Poll
This particular evening his overtures
under the influence of the excitement
and liquor were exceptionally bold
but Poll with dcxterous shrewdness
had succeeded in avoiding anything
that might have proved embarrassing
This isavoidance served only to infiame
the big tar's passion, until eventually
in amoment of reckless abandonment
he seized her about the waist anG
with a cry of Avast there, messmatep
sought to plant kiss upon her lips
Before his purpose could be accom-
plished, however, clenched fist sho
out and dealt blow that sent hin
staggering. Almost simultaneousl,
the hubbub ceased and the revelers
were on their feet awaiting will
hushed expectation, the result. Dris
coll was no coward, as his messmates
were well aware, some from person
al experience, others from association
with him during times of emergency
Recovering his balance, and glarins
| in the direction whence the blow ha(
come, his gaze fell upon the trim fig
ure of the young singer, who rigit
u with clenched fists, and eyes burnin.
| with Indignation, was awaiting witt
] q certain amount of GOODNESS the con
sequence of his action. Driscolp