Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-17
\ she said. aren't they sweet and frag.

rant?"
He looked up at her slowly.
When are you going away"
Next week. I'm so glad you're wei
! enough to be left with Ben
II suppose it seems like a desolate
| place to you, the island here You'll be
glad to get away. am myself. When
spring comes feel the sea calling and
| like to sail until fall. But 1t would
be lonesome for woman here
Katherine avoided his glance. She
had been nurse long enough to under
stand that convalescent male is
prone to fall in love with his nurse. For
the time being she represented to him
all of feminine tenderness and disinter-
ested care. But there was something
sturdy and fine about the captain, even
in his weakness, as he gazed at her and
showed plainly that old Ben's teachings
and warnings had gone for naught.
When the doctor came the next
morning. she put on her sweater and
walked up to the postofflce with him on
pretext.
But I'm not after mall" she said.
81 want to confess something. If you
don't send me on another case right
away, know l shall stay here and mar
ry the captain
The doctor laughed at her.
"Proplnquity." he said And besides,
he represents the sea longing to you,
doesn't he? But, of course, it isn't
really anything" He looked at her
keenly. You'd never be satisfied to
live here on the island or cruise on a
lumber boat You must get away soon.
III be running up to Providence myself
IN week and you can go with me.
Surgical case coming off there that
you'll enjoy"
Katherine shivered
I'm tired of cases doctor" She said
II hate the sight of a surgical dressing
or sponge. want to sail on the Roger
B. Dixon or any other ship my captain
is master Of want to live here on
the island and watch for his boat to
come In, as other women do. AS my
grandmother and her mother did back
in Iona. I'm afraid it is in the blood"
Nonsense" the doctor protested
vigorously BE ready week from to.
day. You know this is all mere phase,
child You'll marry me il you ever
think Of marrying any one"
Katherine met his eyes. and some
how felt chilled again The doctors
wife, with an endless line Of operations
and cases filling the years to come.
She went back to the cottage with
heart and soul welcoming Waits greet
ing. And that evening, when Ben was
sitting outside smoking his last pipe,
Walt told her he loved her They
stood at the open window looking sea.
ward and the perfume Of plum and
cherry and crab apple trees came to
them richly.
Il haven't hope" he said in his
way. 81 know it's all
wrong even to think of you spending
your life here and at sea. but I'm not
the man to let the woman love leave
me without telling her. I've plenty for
us both with the boats and my lumber
interests. We could live better than
Ben and do. I'd build a new house
yonder on the bluff"
What would Ben say?' asked Kath.
crime, bit TREMENDOUSLY He turned
and caught the look in her eyes.
"You don't mean you wouldT He
crushed her hands in his closely.
Would you Kate? Say yes and leave
Ben to me-"
But outside on the little porch Ben's
chair scraped back and he called lusti-
ly: Don't mind me. I've seen it COM
ing. and all / say is, God bless her,
cap'n."