Old
Friends Best
Jim
Martin Barter, the young sea captain, was home again [to Tennant's
Cove, NB] after a year's voyage and Mary Mills was anxiously watching
for him to come over the hill. They had been pals since childhood. They
were not engaged, but Mary felt they would be married soon for she was
now 25 and he 26 years old.
There was a party at a neighbour's
that night and she was sure Jim would call before. But he did not, and
as Mary and her brothers went into the party, Jim was busily talking to
Lella Karnes, a ravenish beauty with black eyes and dark hair. She was
the spoiled -- and only -- child of a middle-aged couple who has just moved
into the place six months before and she had turned the heads of nearly
all the young men of the place. Now Mary saw that Jim -- her Jim -- had
fallen for her spell.
Soon Jim saw Mary and came over,
shook hands and talked for a few moments... then went back to his new-found
friend. Before the evening was over, the new girl had so displaced the
old that he left Mary standing expectant while he went home with Lella.
Mary was disappointed, but a level-headed girl, and when she was teased
about losing Jim she quietly said: "It's too bad Jim cannot understand
better."
The days went by. Jim and Lella
were together constantly and became engaged. But Mary and Jim were still
the same good friends as before. Mary never let herself show any resentment
or sulkiness... and Jim never seemed to know that he had hurt Mary.
Jim's
Awakening
After they had been engaged
for about two months, Lella's father and mother had to go away on a trip
and they were to be gone overnight. Jim thought he would go over in the
evening and spend a while with Lella, so somewhat after night drew its
sable curtain, he walked over. There was no light in the living room, only
the fitful glow of the fire in the hearth and as Jim walked toward the
house his heart was warmed by thoughts of how soon he and Lella would have
a little house of their own. The young captain had thrown up his commission
and had bid farewell to the sea. He was preparing to settle down as a ship
builder to be at home as he felt a married man should be.
As he neared the house, the
thought came to him that it would be a real true picture of what his new
life would be if he just watched quietly in the window to see Lella in
the room at her work, doing as she would when they were married. He went
up and looked in on a scene both surprising and repugnant to him.
The school teacher, a man of
40 years, was boarding a week to each home in the district (as was the
custom of the day). and it was his week at Lella's home -- a fact that
had escaped Jim's memory. He gazed wide-eyed at the school master sitting
in front of the fire with Lella cuddled closely in his arms -- and enjoying
herself very much! First anger, bitter and red, surged through Jim's mind
but cool good sense ruled and he quietly stepped away... and went home
depressed. Yet the feeling would come: "Thank God I found out in time!"
He went at his work more eager
than before and a note from Lella -- asking why he did not come to see
her and what was the matter -- got no reply.
A week after, he went over to
Mary's home, staying around with the boys some of the time and in the house
with Mary like he had done before he had met Lella. He stopped overnight,
and next morning, with Mary on the porch as he stood ready to go, he suddenly
asked, "Mary, how do you suppose it would do if I got married?" Mary was
surprised at his question, but replied, "Why James, I think it would be
a good thing."
Jim asked, "Mary, if I get the
licence in Saint John while I am down, will you disappoint me?" Mary looked
him full in the eyes, scarcely believing her own hearing, and said, "Jim,
if you really want me, I will not disappoint you." So they were married,
and happiness came down on them like a benediction.
This
is a true story of my Great Great Grandfather and Grandmother. FL(B)L
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