Clarence Budington Kelland

“ Things will happen sure enough, and all folks can't live happy together, and nobody's fault, I say."
"Emmy's ma and me hain't separated," Gideon said reluctantly, as though he felt compelled to guard against even a hint of infelicity between him and his wife. ”

“ WHEN the baby was gone, Captain Spruce drew a chair to the edge of the berth and waited.
With an effort Gideon began speaking:
"She hain't nothin' hut a girl." he began in a murmur, "younglike, and not knowledgeful of the world. We was gittin' on fine—her and me and Emmy. But she made a mistake like folks will. All of a sudden, without thinkin' if was. or she wouldn't never have done it. Never. It was in a store, cap'n—and she took somethin'. Took it suddenlike, before she thought, and stuffed it in her waist. And then come one of these here woman detectives. Well, what could I do? ”

“ I never see the beat of things nowadays with wimmin leavin' their men and men leavin' their wimmin jest for nothin', so to speak . Why, young feller, me and my wife has had quarrels that would 'a' busted up a whole city block of couples to-day—and thought nothin' of it. Folks hain't able to bear and forbear like they used to be."
"IT HAIN'T that, neither," said the young man in a voice that was not even and certain as a man's voice should be. "My wife and me hain't never had no quarrels. She jest hain't able to look after leetle Emmy situated like she is at present." ”

“ Why, sich wimmin need their husbands more'n ever. A man that'd up and leave his wife onless he knowed she was all had, through and through, hain't, to my mind, no kind of a man at all. He's a slinkin' animile, he is, with more fear for what his neighbors is goin' to say than love for the woman that's mother to his little folks." He stopped, flushed, squirmed uncomfortably, and soon found an excuse to take himself away.
"Queer feller," nodded old Sam, and the crew agreed with him.
FROM June till mid August, Gideon Downs and little Emmy sailed with Captain Spruce. ”

“ There ain't nothin' must keep me away. I figger it we'll he about hittin' the Detroit River on the third or maybe the fourth, so's I could git off with Emmy, in the mail boat. 'Twouldn't he necessary for me to stay long—jest for the day, maybe. Then I could take the train and meet the Parsons in Cleveland, gittin' there most as quick as she will. Is that there suitable to you, cap'n?"
Captain Spruce nodded again, but with ill-concealed curiosity. "I guess we can git along that far without you," he said. Then, after a pause: "Goin' to see your wife?" ”