The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-07-07
The Insane Captain.

Forty years ago.. the bark Mary
Burton, having shipped her corgo in
New York, set sail with favorable
breeze forI,iSerpool. The dangers. of
the channel being past. the pilot left !;
and the Captain who had hitherto
only paced the desk to sec that the
pilots orders were promptly obeyed,
1.csuwcd the command. :.
Captain Powell was a bachelor, in
l,is best gears Of slender, but sincwy
frame, with brown curly hair and
blue eyes; a Scotchm:.n by birth. and
:, SMART sailor. He had sailed about
aIl'lis life on the different seas OF the
globe, till at last he had settled down
ON TIE packet line between New
York and Liverpool.
Crowded Us the packet ships were
on tho voyage. to America, they
brought back but few to the old coun-
try, aud on this occasion the Mary
Burton carried only six passengers.
Among these were Mrs. Ellis and
Miss EIIis-a mother and daughter.
They were not unknown tc Cap
tain Powell. He had made their
acquaintance in New York; being
intimate with part of thcir family
lie and Miss Ellis had frequently met
ut her unclc's house, where he became
passionatcly attached 10 her, and pro-
posed marriage. She, who had never
encouraged HMM fact, had not
kuown the nature of his liking for
h4"--at once rejected him, :candidiy
telling him that she was alrcad y en-
.aGrd 10 a.otlcr gentleman. SO
C"ata;n Powell retired within himself,
."A said 40 more.
Mrs. Ellis, perhaps naturally, chose
. go 20 En.Iand by tho Mary Bur
tor. as she !>n7w (and liked) Captain
Powell, rather than take skip with a
stranger. lie was we'll pleased that
t should &c so; and when they came
on board received them warmly, in
sis,iag upon giving up bis own state
room exclusively for them. The
Young lady would have declined, but
Mrs. Ellis, who loved comfort, accept
cd it at once. There was no other
cabin in the ship 81 commodious as
that.
The first two days tho ladies necer
appeared at al, not even at meals as
is usual'with those unaccustomed to
the sea. The weather was very
rough On the third day the sea was
calmcr, and Though there was slill "a
stiff breeze, they succeeded i'll getting
ON deck.
"Nell done, Mrs. Ellis" said the
captain, Fastening to meet them
'You are right to come up. and get
some fresh air. 1t is splendid wealth
or, and if this Freeze holds, l hope to
rec You safe and sound, ashore in Liv-
crpool in fourteen days. And are
you comfortably settled inyour cabin,
Miss Kate?"
"Much more so than VIC could eX-
pect," replied the young girl / only
regret that our comfort should be at
the expense Of yours.
"Do not mention it," said Captain
Powell, and slight color spread over
his usually pale face. 'Heavenknows
how thankful 1 should be to think
that you feel yourself at homo on my
vessel"
"You arc very kind, dear captain
said the mother; 'vcry.". For hel
daughter instead of answering, turn
cd abruptly away, and became ab
s,lbcd in watching the gulls.
After this, though the weather was
still pleasant, she did not make hel
appearance for two days. Mrs. Ell i:
had a headache, it was said, and need
ed rest. The third day the you"s
lady came up again; and tho deel
happened to bo clear Of all save th'
master and sherman. Captain Pow
ell went to her, and held out his hand
rcproach pervading every tone of Mi
voice.
"How could you hidcyoursclf from
us so long, Kate? You have no ide'
how long the time has seemed tt
me-"
IL have not felt well,' said Mis-
Ellis Il am only come now for 1
little fresh air"
care you going to make the voy'
age across in your stateroom ?" asked
the captain, ina low tone. Il wa
thinking how many happy hours W,
should spend together on deck here.
'Thcro is still long voyage befor
u.s." replied she, evidently i'll at ease
But how soon the days wi
pass! and who can tell hoy
long we shall have this pleasan
weather? Storm and rain will fright
rn you down, while shall have t