Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-05-16
HOW 1 MARRIED THE CAPTAIN

1 had never had an adventure. 1
think most people counted me a very
quiet girl, drifted like sea-shell into a
corner of the great world. The tides
passed over my head there was ship
wreck and disaster; there was sailing
out of argosies; there was dancing and
music among the ~oyagers but moi hing
niche. Poor Elizabeth Grey 1 said
aloud, will the tide ever reach you.
All this sea talk, think, grew out of
the little pink dress l was sewing on
that morning. Rosy Fox was going to
Europe, and this was one of dozen or
two tiny dresses l had made for her.
Going to Europe Rosy-a little pratt
tling thing that didn't yet know one
street from another in her native city.
What would she do in Europe-what
would Europe do for her? But for me the
very thought seemed like glimpse of
heaven-a sweet, forbidden glimpse
for what had to do with change, or
pleasure, or excitement?
A seamtress, orderly, exemplary-an
orphan who had decently buried her
mother, and who creditably supported
her little brother at school-such was
my brief outward record.
This morning a strange restlessness
beset me; an unaccountable yearnlng,
like q wooin Whit of ocean air, beck
oned me away. Why should 1 stay and
vegetate in one spot forever? Could !
not earn my living elsewhere as well as
here2 Did not folks use needles in
Kamtchatka and in New Zealand z
Could not take my sewing to another
market2
The thought stood on the verge oil
my mind, lowering, timorous, unreal
its wing poised for fight. l had nc
money. The vision vanished, and in
the gray after-light my patch looked
6ustier, darker, more straitened than
ever.
But this was not to be a day like
other days. 1t stands apart in my
memory now, illuminating that whole
year, as I have seen clump of cardinal
flowers illumine whole gray meadow
A knock came at the open door of my
room, and it was flung back sharp and
suddenly. Very few visitors ever
climbed to my little third-story apart
ment; seldom any one but testy
Madame Padwelle, for whom worked
This could not be the madame's foot
fall. so heavy and brisk. l looked up
and there stood Capt. David, my
mothers old friend.
A tall, big-boned, grizzled man, quick
decided, and full of vigor as Northern
pine, with flavor of old-time quaint
ness about him-a thrifty, well-to-dc
man, whose ship had carried freigh
into almost every port on the globe, bu
chiefly to the West Indies.
l had not seen the captain since
was little girl, but knew his face anc
figure instantly. The tall hat h
wore when in landsman's rig, the rec
bandana he hourished, were things o
memory. Many an odd sea-shell haC
he brought me, and many a dainty from
far off lands had shown his remembrance
of my mother. HIS sharp gray eye wa
full of kindly humanity; remem
bered that eve, and how it had stood t.
me in childhood for illimitable geo
graphical knowledge, glimpses of poia
seas and fathomless waters, and all tn
unspeakable mysteries of the unknown
world.
"Well, my little girl, how's all tn
folks?" said the captain, taking off hi
steeple-crowned hat as he entered.
The familiar voice, the hearty gras
of his muscular hand, took me back t
nv girlhood again for an instant
seemed as if my mother were living, an
all the weight of care and lonelines
were lifted from my shoulders. Onl
an instant. The tears gathered In m
eyes, and said, abruptly,
"There are no folks, captain"
The captains countenance fell. II
seemed inwardly to reprove himself fc
his hasty pleasantly, recollecting ths
this was the time for convention;
solemnity. Seating himself with gil
gerry care on one of my slim-legge
chairs, he wiped his forehead with b
red bandana.
Il know, l KNOW" he said, uneasii
81 mean-how's Jim 2" with a has
clutch at the name, as if to save himse
from further mishap.
"Oh," said /, cheerfully. anxious
put him at his ease, 'Jim's doi1
famously. He'll take the prize in la
guages at his school next year"
"And you are working yourself
death to stuff the lad with Greek al
Latin ?'
fell to laughing. No, captain, n
exactly. But Jim's too smart and +
good to he kept in the city, and ha
to be away SO much of the time sewing
You look like it," said the captai