The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1915-10-28
Mrs. Borland's
Relative
BY MAY G. ETHERlDCE.

When Tom Borland married Susan
Gilbraith. Tom being master of q
tramp steamer and ut sea nearly all
the time, he hoped that little stranger
would soon happen that way to keep
bis wife company during his absence.
Toms communications from home
were very irregular, because his timer
airy was often uncertain. If on ar
irving at one point it would pay bet
ter to 90 to another than the one he
had expected to steer for he would
alter his plans. so that letters address,
ed according to instructions would lie
in the postofiice unclaimed. His wife
heard from him with as much regu-
larity as could be expected from
sailor, but sometimes months would
intervene between his receipt of letters
from her.
The Borland home was just within
the entrance to a narrow bay into
which Captain Borland on his return
always took his ship and locked her.
When he came from the northward, as
he usually did, on turning into the har-
Dor he could see his little home nes-
thing up on the heights. and when his
wife knew that he was due she would
be on the lookout for him. Then how
joyful to her was the sight of the ship
in which he came and to him the wei
come he saw waving from an upper
window. But if soon after rounding
in he didn't see that signal he was
seized with fear that something of Il
grievous nature had happened
On one OF Captain Borand's voyages.
after having been away almost Il
year and having changed his timer
airy so often that he had not heard
from his wife for months, he turned
the bluff at the entrance Of the bay
anxiously. He had found an opportu-
nifty to send letter to her advising her
Of the probable time of his arrival and
hoping that within short time after
coming into view Of his home he would
see the usual signal.
When rounding the bluff he stood on
deck. binoculars in hand, watching for
what would relieve his anxiety and
assure him that his wife was living
and well. But. though he raised his
glasses often. he was every time disap-
pointed. At last when he reached a
point nearest to his house the figure
of a woman appeared on the porch
and waved. but with the assistance
of his glasses he saw that it was not
that of his wife.
Captain Borland hardly knew what
to think of all this. But he surmised
either that his wife was dead, that she
was Ill or that something had occurred
to take her away from home. Anxious
ly he sailed on to point near the
dock and, after dropping anchor. en-
tered boat with six sailors to pull
him to a point on the shore just below
his house. AS soon as the boats nose
scraped the ground he leaped ashore
and walked hastily up the incline.
He was met at his door by woman
in the uniform of trained nurse, who
seemed disposed to block his entrance
till he informed her that he was at his
own home. Then she told him that his
wife was i'll. but not dangerously i'll;
that the doctor was with her. that the
patient had been informed Of his ex-
pected arrival and that if he came be-
fore the doctor left he was to wait
The captain began to fire questions at
the woman, who, telling him that she
was needed in the sickroom. went up
stairs.
The captain walked the floor anx-
iously. Half an hour passed when he
heard the door Of his wife's bedroom
open; and his family physician came
out and down into the room where
Borland was waiting. After greeting
the captain he said:
your wife is i'll, and my presence
here is necessary for | can't tell just
how long She has requested me to
tell you it is her wish that you remain
away until l am able to assure you
that-well, that the crisis has passed"
"Then she is dangerously ill.,"
II don't say that, though in such
cases there is always danger. But l
can assure you that all is going well
with her and before night at furthest
she will be able to see you"
Surely she should be able to see her
husband at any time"
"She is. but it is her wish to wait
till she will not be obliged to greet
you in her present condition after your
long absence. She has commissioned
me to say that it would be well for
you to return to your ship to attend to
her docking and such other matters as
are requisite on coming in from voy-
age"
The captain assented to this and, 60
Ing down to his boat. was pulled to his
ship.
Borland was especially cast down at
to find his wife i'll, for he had
good luck on his voyage and had done
some profitable trading which would
enable him to buy his ship and there
after be its owner as we'll as master.
However, he locked the vessel and
T. A.