Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1916-03-31
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!. TheLaStHODe;
A Thanksgiving Day
Story. ;
By LOUISE 8. CUMMINGS


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 a little three cornered sail
Oh Il six foot pole in punt and seemed
to know by instinct how to navigate.
He used to frighten his mother by 60
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 lighted
match In thicket dried after a long
drought and started 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; it made him
afraid.
Bessie Andrews, a couple of years
younger than Johnny, was as amphib-
ious rs he. They went to and from
school together; but. as to play, their
playing was done in Johnny's boat.
Bessie's mother objected to her child
going out with Johnny till she found
herself unable to prevent it, 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 That
ended the argument.
Johnny and Bessie grew up together.
and when Johnny came to manhood
and the problem of making his own
living presented itself he naturally
chose the sea. There was, however, a
great obstacle in the way of his doing
so. He and Bessie had become SO used
to being together that separat ton was
terrible to think Of. Though Bess was
aquatic, being girl she could not ship
with Johnny on the same vessel. Bess
proposed dressing as boy in order to
go with him, but Johnny wouldn't hear
or 1t. He said the tight fitting sailor
toys would give her away at once.
Johnny shipped before the mast
there We're few steamers In those days
for cruise to the west coast Of
South America to bring back hides.
He was gone two years and would
have enjoyed the voyage immensely If
he could have had Bessie Andrews
with him. As 1t was, he was mighty
glad to get back. When they parted
they had not entirely thrown off the
childhood companionship that had ex-
listed between them: when John re-
turned they few to each others arms
as pair of lovers.
John found that during his absence
another barrier than the sea had come |
between him and Bess. An uncle Of |
hers, Nathan Barrows. when a boy |
had gone to the city and had prospered |
as shipping merchant; but. since his |
wife had not borne him children, he |
had no one to whom to leave his ac-
Besides, his wife was an
Invalid and needed the attention of a
younger woman. The couple had spent |
a summer at Mr.. Barrows' old home,
where Bessie lived. had taken fancy
to her and had proposed to adopt her
and. provided she would remain with
them so long as they lived. leave her
their property.
This was severe complication for
John Baxter, who could not claim Bess
as his bride without doing so to her
serious disadvantage. As the wife of
4 sailor she would be without the
companiOnship of her husband nine
-enths of the time and must live in
poverty. As her uncle's
adopted daughter she would have AN
The advantages wealth could bestOw.
John was made of such stuff that he
would not stand In the way of the girl
ne loved. though it required all his
to give her up. He not only
advised his sweetheart to accept the
'ffer. but insisted upon her doing So
She consented at last with the hope
hat ii she and John should outlive
Mr.. and Mrs. Barrows they might be
United. Such n result did not enter
Johns calculations, and Bess made no
mention of her expectations to him.
When John sailed again there was
Iut one comfort for him-Bess was
pledged not to marry during her uncle
md aunt's lifetime, and John need not
marry if he was not so disposed. New
ertheless he expected Bess to take Oh
hat refinement city life Is supposed to
produce, and If she married 1t would
)e with city bred man.
Five years passed. during which
Iohn Baxter's sterling worth gained
him the position of first mate of
,essel in the China trade. Mrs. Bar
ows died at this time, and her hus-
'and found himself dependent on his
dOpted daughter for whatever of COM
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