The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1914-01-10

the bride had gone ON westward The
couple were to be united In America.
whittier the ladies' would return in
few months, though the groom told me
that he would 60 back on my ship ON
the home voyage. The affair seemed
quite unintelligible to me. Here were
two Indies travelling alone TO whom the
services and companionship Of man
should have been acceptable. He bad
married one Of them clandestinely and
had separated from her to meet her in
America some months later.
Ten days later Ainsworth sailed with
me for San Francisco. He talked with
me freely about his wife. but on the
one subject connected with 1t calcu-
lated to excite curiosity-the necessity
for keeping the marriage from his
wIfe's aunt and consequently from the
world-he said nothing.
In Alnsworth's illness on the way
out l recognized q hereditary trouble
which believed would eventually
cause his death. On the return voyage
1t attacked him again. This time
was not ~ fortunate ~ before in ar
resting It, and before we reached Homo
lulu had made up my mind that he
had best remain there In q hospital,
where he could get better attention
than aboard ship. But was unable to
remain with him. and he would not
leave the ship without me.
Shortly before reaching San Fran
cisco I was Obliged to tell my friend
aud patient that he would not be likely
to live through the voyage. and II there
was anything that needed attention
before his death he had better attend
to It He was not surprised, but said
that there was nothing to be done ex-
cept that he wished me to insert q
death notice in the San Francisco pa
pers to be copied In those Of New York.
His wife would thus be apprised Of his
death. which was all that was neces-
sary. She was young and would doubt
less marry again.
The day before bis death he handed
me q note addressed to his wife. ask
ing me to ind her and give It to her.
wished to know II there was any need
for haste in the matter. and be said
there was not, any time within year
would sumce. The note was sealed.
but there was no address given. Aims
worth in explanation Of this said that
20 long ~ his wife's aunt lived she
would be travelling. and this would
necessItate her niece being with her.
Therefore I would have to find her on
the wing. N.
On reaching port attended to what
ever my friend had charged me to do,
and 1t seemed to me that my connec-
ton with him and bis was ended. He
had attached 20 little importance to
the note be had given me to deliver to
his wife that ! put OF taking any
steps to accomplish its delivery from
time to time, till ut last II seldom came
into my mind. seven years passed.
during which ! was constantly at sea.
regretted that had doomed myself
to be 4 wanderer and wished that l
had the means with which to acquire
practice in some American city. The
only advance I made was in securing
q position as physician on an Atlantic
liner.
On one Of my voyages from London
to New York was called upon to
attend lady who was Ill In her state
room. She was suffering from nervous
ness Induced by long care of a relative
who had died abroad and was bringing
the body home on the same ship with
her. didn't learn my patients name
till had been treating her for several
days. when the stewardess referred to
her as Miss Bradley. Without dreaming
that had fallen In with one In whom
had been Interested made inquiries
and discovered that my patient was
none other than Mrs. Ainsworth.
Naturally. after this discovery we
had much to interest us mutually.
Mrs. Ainsworth kept me talking con-
stantly about her husband, and before
the voyage ended explained the mys-
terry that attended their marriage. Her
aunt. who was quite wealthy. had made
her her heir provided she would stand
BY the old lady DO long as she lived.
This. Of course. precluded marriage.
Ainsworth had Joined them in Hong.
kong for the purpose Of persuading her
to marry him. She had consented to do
20 on impulse. As to their future moth
ing had been decided when they part
ed. II the wife left her aunt for her
husband she must give mp fortune. 1t
was possible that had Ainsworth lived
the couple might have lived apart till
the aunt died. She had n mania for
travelling and had dragged her niece
all over the globe with her. The old
lady had finally died in London. and
her niece had at last acquired the for
tune for which she had paid q good
price.
bethought myself Of the note Aims
worth had given me for delivery. but
had long ceased to carry It with me at
ssa, 10 l took the lady's address and
agreed to take it to her after reaching
nort