The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-05-28
LOVE OF THE SEA
BY lola FORESTER.


red cottage on the main street along
the blur, Ben advised strongly against
admitting any feminine influence into
the quiet domicile
'You and me, eap'n, has lived on and
OF here for years between cruises and
we amt never felt the need Of women
folks. I can nurse ysu up 1ns as any
thing, same ~ did when you was a
slip OF lad shipping with me ON the
Lucy Lee"
But there happened to be a city doc
tor up ut the summer hotel who asked
no permission, but wired to Providence
for trained nurse
Ben went down to the harbor to meet
the Providence beat with q surly coun-
tenance and q heavy heart But the
doctor was there alss, AID Ben stood
to one side watching him greet q tall
young woman in gray.
This is Miss Vail, Ben" he said.
"You take her right on up to the cap
tain's cottage and I'll be along soon.
How is he this morning? Resting
easy?"
easy as tommycod out of water
growled Ben. But I msdoubt as he'll
find any rest now"
The doctors eyes twinkled as he left
them. Morris owned four lumber
boats and could we'll afford to keep out
of the business himself excepting on
shore, but the sea was in his system
and in the spring, when the lumber
trade opened up, he liked to sail the
Dixon himself.
Often the doctor had taken the trip
with him up the New England coast
to the big Maine ports. and had grown
to understand the fine, wide-horizoned
outlook of the captain, partly from
the books that lined his cabin, partly
from their talks.
The third day after Katherine's ar
rival he was talking with her at the
gate.
Its such dear place to live. I've
seen the sun rise every morning since
l came, and the air is wonderful"
''How do you like the patient?" The
doctors eyes were Quizzical.
Hes not talked very much yet But
old Ben makes up for it in all ne has
TO say, warning me off their bachelor
rights. I'll win him over, though He's
good cook. I think he's trying to
show me how independent they are OF
women"
That's one Of your duties to teach
them that women are Indispensable
Walt has been brought " ,.ndef Ben's
tutelage. His father, Old Captaif
Morris, was drowned, an Zen was his
mate. ,Ben's had four wives, some
buried and some not, ard romance is
a dead issue with him. He has filled
Waits mind up with warnings against
the elusive sex ever since he coulG
talk"
Katherine shook her head laughing
ly. The doctor had been one OF hel
fathers closest f1ieAds. And she re
membered all her father had told her
long ago, Of the island-bred girl he
had loved and weed of the coast d
Scotland.
you're like her, Kathie," he woul6
say. "But, oh, how she loved tke
sea! It should be In your heart, tee
for you were born on the trip across
and we had to leave her to the waves
she loved"
It was the first flash OF interest the
captain showed when she told him she
had been born at sea. Even old BeI
eyed her with concern, as If he rather
suspected her of having made it up to
get her patient interested. He looked
up at her.
when are you going awayW
Next week. I'm 90 glad you're well
enough to be left with Ben"
But the doctor came the next morn.
Ing, she put on her sweater and walked
up to the post Office with him on a pre-
text.
'.But I'm not after mall" she said
81 want to confess something II you
don't send me on another case right
away, / know l shall stay here and
marry the captain"
Nonsense !" the doctor protested
vigorously BE ready 4 week from to
day. You know this is all q mere
phase, child. Ysa'li marry me II you
ever think Of marrying anyone"
Katherine met his eyes, and some
how felt chilled again. The doctors
wife, with an endless line of opera
tons and cases flling the years tC
come! She went back to the cottage
with heart and soul welcoming Waits
greeting. And that evening, when Ber
was sitting outside smoking his las1
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 tG
them richly.
II haven't hope" he said In his
straightforward way. II know it's al
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 my telling her. I've plenty
for Us both with the boats and my
lumber interests. We could live bet
ter than Den An 1 do. I'd build q
new house yenAsr ~ the bluff"
what would BA ayv asked Kath
crime, bit trsn~ksxay. He turned
and caught the lock In her eyes.
You dq1t Wa2n EaQ wouldY He