The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-01-19

had vision Of what life might be Il
he could make himself settle down
In some quiet place with this girl az
his wife. Surely there would be muct
that was pleasant In an existence
with such a woman by his side
While he was not conceited. he had
little fear that he could win her. They
had been friends, always, and he did
not doubt that he could rouse deeps,
feeling
He voiced some of. his feeling
when, as they sat down at the table.
no said. Il wish your. face might be
always opposite me, Anne"
She was pouring his tea and she
smiled at him brightly. You must
stay with father and me until you 20
away again"
Perhaps shall not 60 away" he
said.
i She shook her head at him. you
could never stay In one place long,
she said.
Perhaps If there was some one to
keep me-" he said, significantly.
| But she refused to take his mean.
ing. You could never settle down"
she insisted.
1t was not the time or the place to
press his suit, but when he had been
home week he asked her to marry
him. and she refused.
The spirit of the wanderer will
come upon you," she said. 1"Your ship
sails next week, you will want to 90
! with 1t, and could never live the life
that your mother lived, waiting with
the candle in the window"
Il would stay with you." he said
ardently. You would hold any man. e
But she persisted in her refusal.
You will want to 60 with your
ship" she repeated; you will grow
restless, and l shall feel that l am
second in your thoughts"
Il shall not want to co." he de,
clared, but. when the time for sailing
came, he found himself drawn IRE.
sistibly to the dock. The great steam.
or was ready for her voyage, fresh
with paint: and there was about her
the atmosphere Of mystery which be.
longs to vessels that sail, the tropic
seas. The other end Of her voyage
would find her where dark.skinned
people stood on white sands to vel.
come her. Back of them would be
waving palms. where bright-hued birds
made their nests-a land of indolencS
and allurement. !:
He realized that his love of Little
Anne was a thing of recent growth;
while, all his life. his passion for the
sea had held him. Was there any,
thing about this fair-haired girl which
would keep him contented In q future
of inaction? !;
Even as he thought of her, she
came and stood beside him on the
dock.
Il want you to 60 away, Stephen.
she said, and II, when you come back
In two years. you still care for me,
will believe that you know yourself
better than you do now" !.
1t was not easy for him to 70. yet
he realized when he was once on his
journey that 1t would not have been
easy for him to stay. The spell of
the sea was on him, and he was, be.
fore everything else. sailor. 1
But he realized, as time went on,
there was another spell upon him-the
tropic country, the lazy life did not
satisfy. He found himself buying, not
as he had bought before. useless trink-
cts, but things which would beautify
home, carved chest, embroideries
and linens-things that woman
would like. And when he bought q
ring of curious workmanship, of beat
en- gold with q dull bite stone, he
knew that he had made up his mind.
He knew, too, that he had made his
last voyage.
On the return trip his heart failed
him. What II Little Anne had not
been true? What If her love were not
waiting for him? Other men knew
her charm. and other men had not
sailed away and left her.
She was not on the dock when the
boat came in. and fearing to face the
things he dreaded he took his way to
his mothers cottage. Az he rounded
the jutting rock he looked for the
light. And it was there! Anne was
waiting!
Il shall never 60 away again" he
said. a. she welcomed him.
But won't you long for the sea!
l am Jealous of IT,
He shook his head. Il know now
that nothing has for me the charm
of the lights Of home. There IL beau
~ to be found elsewhere ana wonder
and adventure. but these things do not
count when XAi9had in thu halanci