Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-11-19
TheCruiSeOf
TheLaStt1Ope
A Thanksgiving Day
Story.
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

88atsts i 'ts'tstsessas'
Johnny Baxter was born on the
Maine coast and was more at home on
the water when he was ten years old
than on land. At any rate, he liked
the water better, for, as he put it, the
boat did his walking for him, and
that was much better than using his
legs. Johnny flOurished as a boy be-
fore the period of motorboats, but he
was scarcely into his teens when he
had rugged little three cornered sail
on a six foot pole i'll Il punt and seemed
to know by instinct how to navigate.
He used to frighten his mother by go
ing out in his punt into open water,
but he was never frightened himself.
We are not usually frightened at that
to which we are accustomed. Johnny
was several times caught In storm
out in water where the force of the
waves was unbroken by any interven-
ing land, but he never lost his head.
But one day he dropped a lighted
match in a thicket dried after a long
drought and started a blaze. He ran
to the nearest house so frightened that
he was scarcely able to warn the in,
mates of the danger that threatened
the region. When the fire was put out
he sailed away in his boat When
asked why he did so he replied that he
didn't like being ashore; 1t made him
afraid
Bessie Andrews, a couple of years
younger than Johnny, was as amphib-
ious as he. They went to and from
school together; but, as to play their
playing was done i'll Johnnys boat.
Bessies mother objected to her child
going out with Johnny till she found
herself unable to prevent 1t, then con-
scented on condition that they never sail
outside the cove. Conditions with chill.
dren when they are beyond reach are Il
dead letter. When Johnny was reprov
ed for breaking the agreement he laid
1t to the tide or the wind, or both Thai
ended the argument
Johnny and Bessie grew up together
and when Johnny came to manhood
and tho nrohlom of MAKING his own
living presented itself he naturally
chose the sea. There was, however,
great obstacle in the way of his doing
so He and Ressin had become 81 usa1
70 being together that y snnaration was
terrible 70 think Of Though Ress was
AQUATIC, being Girl she couId NOT shi,
with Johnny ON fine Same vessel Ross
proposed dressing MS 4 bov in order f.
90 with him but Johnny wouldn't bnor
OF it. He said the tfght fitting sailor
toys would Give her AWAY inf once.
johnny Shippcd before the mast
there were few steamers in those DAYS
for cruise TO the west coast of
South America to brjng back hides
He was gone two years and would
have entoycd the. VOYAGE immensely If
he could have had BESSIE Andrews
with him. As it was. he was might,
glad to get back. When they parted
they had not entirely thrown off the
childhood companionsbin that had OK.
listed between them. when John re.
turned they flew to each others arms
as a pair of lovers.
John found that during his absence
another barrier than tho sea had como
between him and Bess. An uncle of
hers. Nathan Barrows. when a bov
had gone to kJe CITY and had prospered
as a shining merchant. but since his
wife had not borne him children. he
had no one to whom TO leave his ac-
foundations. Besides. his wife was an
invalid and needed the attention Of y
younger woman. The couple had snent
a summer at Mr. Rarrows' old homo
where Bessie lived had taken fancy
TO her and had nronosed to adont her
and. provided she would remain with
them so long as they lived. leave her
their propertv.
This was a severe complication for
John Baxter. who couId not claim Ress
as his bride without doing so to her
serious DISADVANTAGE. As the wife of
a sailor she would he without the
companionship of her husband nine.
tenths of the time and must live in
comparative poverty. As her uncles
adopted daughter she would have all
the advantages wealth could bestow
John was made of such stuff that he
would not stand in the way of the girl
he loved, though it required all his
resolution to give her I'D. He not only
advised his sweetheart to accept the
offer, but insisted upon her doing so.
She consented at last with the hope
that if she and John should outlive
Mr.. and Mrs. Barrows they might be
united Such result did not enter
Johns calculations, and Bess made no