The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1915-12-30
Mrs. Boriand' S
Relative
By MAY c. ETHERlDCE

Gilbraith Tom being master OF
tramp steamer and at sen nearly all
the time. he hoped that Il little stranger
would soon happen that way TO keep
his wife company during his absence.
Toms communications from home
were very irregular because his timer
airy was often uncertain. Ii on ar
irving at one point II would pay bet
ter to go to another than the one he
had expected to steer for he would
alter his plans. so thar letters address
ed according TO instructions would lie
In the postoffice unclaimed. His wife
heard from him with as much regu-
larity as could lie expected from a
sailor, but sometimes months would
intervene between his receipt of letters
from her.
The Borland home was just within
the entrance to 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-
Ting up Oh the heights. And when his
wife knew that he was due she would
be OH the lookout for him. Then how
joyful to her was the sight of the ship
in which he came and to him the well
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
grievous nature had happened.
On one OF Captain Borland'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
aaxiously. 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
W nut NOhih lNiNNN us hlANAs Niih
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 Il
point nearest to his house the figure
of woman appeared on the Torch
and waved, but with the assistance
of his glasses he saw that Il WAS not
that of his wife.
Captain Borland hardly knew what
to think of all this. But he surmiscd
either that his wife WAS dead. that she
was i'll or that something had occurred
to take her away from home. Anxious
~ he sailed on Ia II point near the
dock and. after dropping anchor. en-
tered a boat with six sailors - pull
MIN to Il point on the shore just below
his house As suOn rs the boats nose
scraped the ground he leaped ashore
and walked hastily up the incline.
He was met at his door by Il woman
In the uniform OF II trained nursr. who
seemed disposed Ia block his entrance
till he informed her thai he was ut his
own home. Then she told him that his
wife was i'll. hul not dangerously i'll;
that the doctor was with her that tile
patient had been Informed of his eX.
pected arrival and that IL 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 i'm the sickroOm. went mp
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 ne 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 am able to assure you
that-well. that the crisis has passed"
"Then she is dangerously ill.,"
IL don't say that. though in such
cases there is always danger. But
can assure you that all is going well
with her and before night at furthest
she will be able 10 see you
surely she should be able TO see her
husband ut any time"
"She is. but 1t is her wish to walt
till she will not he obliged to greet
you in her present condition after your
long absence. She has commissioned
me to say that It would be we'll for
you to return to your ship tn attend TO
her docking and such other matters as
are requisite IN coming in from a voy-
age"
The captain asSented TO this and, go
ing down to his boat. WAS pulled TO his
ship.
Borland was especially cast down at
returning 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
IL.