The Jasper weekly courier., 1922-06-16
Titles
Sailor-Sweetheart
By WINIFRED DUNBAR

Copyright. 1921. Western Newspaper Union.
The Rochester fOundered many
years ago off the Maine shore. She
was an old SLAYER, put, since the war,
TO the happier task of running cargoes
between Portland and Boston and
other seapOrts along the Atlantic
coast. Jim Purvis was the son of the
Aquamuskat banker, and he was put
under the care Of the skipper because
he was wild. His father thought n
taste OF seafaring life might cure him.
Perhaps II would have done so had
not the Rochester gone TO pieces i'm
an Atlantic gale. All that was ever
found Of her was a piece of timber
with the name on IL, and an empty
water keg.
Tillie Bent had TO break the news
to Millicent Ives. The dead mans
father dared not do II. Mlllicent was
Jlm's sweetheart and they were TO
have been married that fall, IL Jim
were cured Of his propensity to roam.
Millicent was a cold and rather heart
less girl. but the old banker, who had
made the match, thought her the acme
OF oil that a woman should be.
Tihlie was only the maid. She had
gone 10 school with Mlllicent, but
when her father died and the little
farm was sold there was no way In
which she could earn a livelihood ex-
cept by service. She was simple
country girl
When Tilsie broke the news MILL
cent wept and lost her appetite for
nearly a week. Gradually she became
reconciled Within a month she was
busy breaking the hearts OF the young
men Of Aquamuskat.
Tillie was the only person that had
ever loved Jim or understood him.
And on the evening before Jim's de-
parturs be Lad come to her and put
his arms around her.
"Tillie" he said, "Tm going away,
and want to tell you love you and
always shall. And when I come back
IT'S you I'm going to marry and not
Millicent. Tillie." he said.
That was all that passed between
them. But when she had broken the
news Tillie went up to her room and
cried bitterly. Then she went about
her task as bravely as before.
Seven years passed Millicent had
been married five OF them. She and
her husband quarreled bitterly most
OF their lives. Sometimes she thought
regretfully Of Jim.
Tillie was employed in the new post
office. Often she would stroll along
the beach and watch the pounding
breakers, look at the distant ships and
wonder whether they. too, carried boys
like Jim aboard, who had left their
sweethearts behind them.
That Jim was still alive she had
no notion. untilatbe shock came. II
came In the persof0bf Millicent. white
as a ghost, and trembling. She en-
tered Titles cottage late In the eve
ming.
''Tilliel" she cried. "Jim's alivew
Tillie pressed her hand TO her throat,
D0N chC OCAA ~ CU ClhOIAOAi- VI
Jlm's sake she must never let MILL
cent know.
"A letter came for me. Didn't you
recognize the hand? Jim was picked
up by a liner and has been a sailor
all these years. He has risen 10 be a
captain. He has a fine ship. and 1t
has put In at Portland and he's COM
ing home tomorrow TO claim me. TIL
lie, you must break the news"
Tillie was expert at that
II love Jim," Millicent babbled on.
I'm going to get divorce and marry
him. He Is going TO meet me on the
sands at four. You must be there In
stead"
Yes" answered Tillie.
At four O'clock she was pacing the
shore In dumb helpless misery. Tillie
cried little. and then she grew very
brave, for somebody was coming
toward her from the cliff.
But this tall, bearded man, this was
not Jim. She stared incredulousfy
This was not Jim
"T1llie!'
he had taken her by the hands and
was staring ar her incredulously.
'Tilliei I never dreamed that you
would be here. When / heard MILL
cent was married I felt like free man
the first time In years. had 10 be
honorable and l couldn't come home"
You love me, Jimr'
Il have always loved you, Tillie.
and now am going TO marry you"
'P Aillicent loves you, Jim She
fee ha' marriage was all mis-
tax S nnts to get a divorce and
m " She
IN " ookins We gTfmly at her.
DO thinx-can 20 think
want that kind OF woman & my vrife,
Tillie, when IT'S you-yOJ Z
Tillie couldn't answer that cOnun-
drum, so she let Jim kiss her.
There Is an Opinion that IL Uncle
Sam wants what the foreign countries
owe him he should employ the fellow
who makes the monthly calls for the