The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-09

birthplace on Long Island before ship
ping again.
The day he arrived at hume the first
person he met was Maggie Pixley.
who's complexion of white and red
had teen ripened under the sun and
sea Ia '.ezes. Maggie noticed the hand
some young sailor, and there was add
miration In her eyes. They had known
each other as children. but had great
I ly changed since Jack when a boy Of
I fourteen had gone to sea. But each
saw something familiar In the other
! and turned ut the same time for anoth-
er look.
| "Aren't you Jack Haversham?"
Eyes. And you are Maggie Pixley"
| Jack turned from the way he was
going and walked Maggie's way. That
was the right way for him. because
they had been lovers as children, and
when he had parted with her years
ago he had sworn to be true to her.
He did not consider 1t necessary to say
that he had left wife h Japan.
He walked on. chatting glibly. asking
after this person and that person. Mag
gle the while looking up into his face
through her brown eyes. revealing by
her smiles dimple in each cheek and
her white teeth.
The loves Of an inconstant man are
| very much the same. Jacks were as
| suredly so. He fell in love as easily
| as a ship will rise and fall on a gently
| undulating sea. Naturally he was trou,
bled at remembering that there was a
barrier between him and Maggie in his
marriage with the geisha girl. but any
thing that interferes with what we de-
sire only renders that desire more keen.
Jack couldn't stay at home forever.
| for. in the first place. he had nothing
laid up and. in the second. we all need
occupation. He and Maggie became
lovers. she knowing nothing of his
marriage till he left her to sign on a
| new ship: then. when she naturally
showed that she expected him to speak
bis mind and intentions toward her
not being able to do so honorably. he
| made his confession.
II was n great blow to Maggie She
did not blame him. She only regretted
the barrier that existed between them.
The parting was very sad. both declar-
| ing that there was no use trying tn
forget each other. They must simply
| endure their mutual misfortune.
Six months after his departure Jack
found himself In Tokyo. 1t was not
his wish tn be there. He could not
help himself since his ship went there.
He did not avail himself Of permission
to 60 ashore for some time after his
arrival. but finally was ordered ashore
on some duty. The first man be met
was the broker who had made the
match for him with Apple Blossom.
"Ah. Mr.. Haversham" exclaimed the
man. How you like to marry againl
I ind you fine wife,"
marry! You son of Satan. I'm mar.
ried already. You know that as we'll
as l."
"You marry for six months. That
marriage has expired"
"Whatr'
"You no know our laws in Japan.
We have a law that a man marries a
woman for some time. He pay. the
money to 60 to the wife's father and
mother That all right in this country
Do you suppose I marry a sailor for.
ever?"
Great Scott!'
II marry Apple Blossom again-twice
since l marry her to you"
Say It again. you heathen!" cried
Jack. gripping the man on each shout
der and shaking him till his teeth rat
tied.
II say 1t a hundred times. l show
you the contract"
"Show fright orr
An investigation ensued. which con-
vinced Jack that he had made limit.
ed marriage recognized by the laws OF
Japan and considered there perfectly
honorable to both parties. He secured
papers to show that he could be mar
ried again in his native country with.
out committing bigamy.
swell, you satisfed?" asked the
broker.
Yes; l am mighty well satisfied"
''Then ] get you another wife"
mo, you won't!'
"Our law very fine law for sailor
man." said the broker urgently.
Il dare say 1t Is. 1t has proved the
best kind for me. but l have 10 fur
ther use for it."
"You like to see Apple BlossomT
mo. Why would l want to see herr
apple Blossom not married now.
make new marriage for yeu with bel
cheap"
Jack took the little man by the collar
and the seat Of the breeches and threw
him up into q cherry tree. where b,
chung to the branches while his Glen
walked away.
On his way home Jack took very
good care Of himself. declining to g,
ashore lest he fall under the spell u
some fair damsel. for. though his hear
was really true to Maggie. he knew
that II was not wise to expose himself
to temptation.
When he and his regular sweethear
met he took her to his arms. she ne
sisting till he assured her that be wa
free to marry her. After more trans
. ports he explained the japanese Law
, by which he had been married.
!. That's very good law" she said
for sailors"
| NavorfbalaSs MavVio would pot con