The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-04-16

L
Jack concluded To pay a visit TO his
| birthplace on Long Island before ship
| ping again.
The day he arrived at home the first
person he met was Maggie Pixley
| whose complexion of white and red
| had been ripened under the sun and
sea breezes. Maggie noticed the hand
some young sailor, and there was ad-
miration in her eyes. They had known
each other Us children, but had great
| ly changed since Jack when q boy of
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?"
"ies. 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 it necessary to say
that he had left a wife in 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 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 gesha 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
his mind and intentions toward her,
not being able to do SO honorably, he
made his confession.
1t was a 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 to
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 To be there. He could not
help himself since his ship went there.
He did not avail himself OF permission
to go ashore for some time after his
arrival, but finally WAS ordered ashore
on some duty. The first man he 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 again:
find you Il fine wife"
"Marry. You son Of Satan. I'm mar
as l."
"You marry for six months. That
marriage has expired"
What
''YOu no know our laws in Japan.
We have q law that 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 l marry a sailor for
ever?"
"Great Scott
81 marry Apple Blossom again-twice
since l marry her to you
"Say 1t again. you heathenw cried
Jack, gripping the man on each shout
der and shaking him till his teeth rat
tied.
II say it a hundred times. l show
you the contract"
''Show fright off,
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 he mar
ried again in his native country with
out committing bigamy.
well, you satisfied asked the
broker.
YES; | am mighty well satisfied
''Then | get you another wife"
"No. you WON'T
Our law very fine law for sailor
man." said the broker urgently.
II dare say il is. Ii has proved the
best kind for me, but | have no fur
Their use for it,
You like to see Apple Blossom?"
mo. Why would | want to see herr"
apple Blossom not married now.
make a new murriage for you with her
cheap"
Jack took the little man by the collar
and the seat of the breeches and threw
him up into Il cherry tree. where he
chung to the branches while his client
walked away.
On his way home Jack took very
good care of himself, declining to go
ashore lest he fall under the spell of
some fair damsel, for, though his heart
was really true to Maggie. he knew
that 1t was not wise to expose himself
to temptation.
When he and his regular sweetheart
met he took her to his arms, she re-
sisting till Ire assured her THAT he was