Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1922-06-09
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Titles
Sailor-Sweetheart
BY WINIFRED DUNBAR


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
taste of seafaring life might cure him.
Perhaps 1t would have done so had
not the Rochester gone to pieces In
an Atlantic gale. All that was ever
found of her was a piece Of timber
with the name on 1t, and an empty
water keg.
Tillle Bent had to break the news
to Millicent Ives. The dead mans
father dared not do it. Mllllcent was
Jim's sweetheart and they were to
have been married that fall, If Jim
were cured of his propensity to roam.
Milllcent was a cold and rather heart
less girl, but the old banker, who had
Of all that a woman should be.
Title was only the maid. She had
gone to school with Millicent, but
when her father died and the little
farm was sold there was no way In
which she could earn livelihood ex-
cept by service. She was simple
country girl.
When Tillie broke the news Mill
cent wept and lost her appetite for
nearly week. Gradually she became
recOnciled. Within 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 Jlm's de-
parture he lad come to her and put
his arms around her.
"Tlllle," he said, I'm going away,
and 1 want to tell you I love you and
always shall. And when come back
it's you I'm going to marry and not
Milllcent, Tillie," he said.
That was all that passed between
them. But when she had broken the
news Title 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.
rDfIIIa 1vos an,nIova1 In tba nayy ,oo,
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, until the shock came. II
came in the person OF Mllllcent, white
as Il ghost, and trembling. She en-
tered Titles cottage late in the eve
ming.
"Tilllel' she cried. "Jims alive I"
TITLE pressed her hand to her throat,
but she betrayed no emotion. For
Jim's sake she must never let MILL
cent know.
"a letter came for me. Didn't you
recognize the hand2 Jim was picked
up by liner and has been sailor
all these years. He has risen to be a
captain. He has fine ship, and II
has put In at Portland and he's COM
ing home tomorrow to claim me. TIL
lie, you must break the news"
Title was eXDert at that
81 love jim" Millicent babbled on.
"Fm 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 TITLE.
At four O'Clock she was pacing the
shore In dumb, helpless misery. TITLE
cried a 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 incredulously.
This was not jim
"Tilllew
He had taken her by the hands and
was staring at her incredulously.
Illlle L never dreamed tnat you
would be here. When / heard MILL
cent was married felt like free man
the first time in years. had to be
honorable and couldn't come home"
"YOu love me, Jlm2"
81 have always loved you, Title.
And now am going to marry you"
But Mlllicent loves you, Jim. She
feels that her marriage was all a mis-
take. She wants to get a divorce and
marry you. She"
Jim was looking very grimly at her.
do you think-can you think /
want that kind Of woman for my wife,
Title, when It's yOu-youT
Title couldn't answer that conun-
drum, so she let Jim kiss her.