The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1911-02-02
Jacks Return
By OLIVE EDNA MAY
Copyright, sslo BY American Press
Association.

cu4ot. ne Nuth was uAaaAuA AVE NtAAi
and selling them. One day a boat frou
a ship that had just entered the por
came up 10 where Maggie was digging
for clans Il was commanded BY tn
third mate. a young fellow OF twenty
and when Maggie stopped work ans
turned TO look at the party steppinl
ashore. shading her eyes from the suI
with her hand. her hair falling dow
on her white neck. her shapely feet
without shoes or stockings. the young
officer rejoiced az the sight. There wal
a certain native grace about her that
struck his fancy. And he was equally
eomely.
When Jack Winslow sailed away be
left his heart behind and carried q
heart with him. He would not be Al
that port again for three years. and
Maggies friends all said; Hes time
enough to get a dozen sweethearts.
Sailors have one In every port" But
no one said the same about Maggie.
They all knew that her innocent heart,
having once been caught. would not
swerve nom the handsome sailor boy
who had captured IT,
Letters were not frequent between
them The young mar 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 IT sometimes for a day or
two. that she might revel IN the antici-
patton Of what there was IN Il. And
when. touching at some foreign port.
Jack received one from Maggie be
would go up In the foretop 70 read the
mlsspelled words over and over again
One day Maggie opened a letter
from Jack after az Interval OF silence
that had lasted three months. This
vas fully a month longer interval than
any that had occurred Maggie ran
away 70 the top Of a dune and sat her
self down 10 the sage grass that was
quite long enough 10 conceal her 10
read her letter. Il told her that some
thing had happened to Jack which
would surely XIII 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 be assured her that be
loved her the same and would never
have another sweetheart Indeed. be
added. no girl would be his sweet
heart. Maggie concealed the bad news
she had received. keeping Il 10 her
own innocent bosom. Bur those about
her saw plainly that some misfortune
had happened to her. and all shook
their heads and said: 4 told you 80
A lass who loves a sailor Is always Z
be pitied. He's deserted her doubtless
for a half civilized creature that he
has met In some port on the other side
the world
This happened about a year after
Jack had sailed away. One day Mag
gie's little brother Ben was throwing
on the beach where Maggie was
for clans. A large stone be
threw with great force accidentally
struck her In the temple. Maggie was
aid up for n few days. when she vas
lgain at her work. But one day soon
Ifter this upon closing one eye to get a
focus on n ship that was com
ng into the ohing she discovered
blur before the eye that remained
pen. II was not long before the
Of this eye-it was on the side Of
ler head that had been hit By little
3en-was completely lost. Then Il be
to affect the other eye. and with
D eighteen months Of the time the ac-
ident occurred Maggie was entirely
lind.
Grave as was this calamity. II was
compared with Maggies dis
ppointmenf 10 her love. She felt that
rouble as keenly as the day she re-
Jacks letter. She began at
nee to get used 10 her blindness. but
be could not get used to the loss Of
er lover.
Her only comfort was that she be- :
eyed Jack was sincere IN saying that
e would never have any other sweet
cart. While her friends did not be- {
eve that the sailor wal true to her IN J,
BY sense. they refraIned from twit-
ng her with bis unfalthfulness. 4
Maggie continued her work-for
ind people develop the sense OF touch (
place Of sight-and was happier J
lille occupied than while idle. One Z
y her mother told her that the ship 4
at Jack had sailed IN was coming :
to port. Maggie ran far up the beach s
get away By herself. But in time /.
was obliged to return and on en-
ring the house felt herself clasped in 4
pair Of strong arms and heard her )
Ime spoken in Jack winslow's famiL s
r voice. =
trouble viii not longer keep us I
art. Maggie. DEAR" be said. 1T Is 4
right now. But I'm sorry for you. ,
'eetheart. that you can't any more =
e the beautiful world" e
And you"
Never mind me. darling. You shall !
IN comfort the rest Of your life.
e fell in with a disabled ship on the :
yage home. and ny share Of the
Ize money will keep US comfortable"
rhs trouble that Jack had spoken Of
his letter was plain to al except
lgRie. At Singapore he had caught
A.-.NA-- - - 49, q