Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-07-31

had a number one reputation of its
class-that of being very disagreeable
man. At first, one would think that
Sim had no need to cultivate such 4
reputation. Nature had not been at
pains to endow him with such beauty |
as to compensate for a single cross
grain. In features, complexion, figure
and voice, the man had little to recon-
mend him. If he had been governed
by policy he would have played the
agreeable. On the contrary, as 1
have said, he was as positive and dis
agreeable as any that ever adhered TO
his convictions.
Then, to make the matter worse. the
world Immediately fell irto an error
natural enough, nevertheless great
error-that of imputing heartlessness to
the captain, who was as brave a man as
ever lived, and as tender-hearted. How
ever, when the failings Of the captain
were capped with the public error,
there was no end of mistakes, as is in
variably the case where two errors
meet.
The truth was, more kindly or af-
fectionate heart never throbbed than
Captain Sim Hawkins's. Although his
complexion was a compromise between
snuff coler and saffron, his figure
slightly podgy and motions positively
awkward, his nose entirely out OF
keeping with the rest of his features "a
nose that threatened, challenged and
scorned the world and his voice as
harsh as a rag machine or the sepul-
chral tone assumed by the thousand
imitators of Captain Cuttle's adviser,
Jack Bunsby, the captain was as true as
steel and as brave as a lion.
Withal, the captain was quiet, re-
served and shy in the presence Of the
fair sex. Proof: he boarded in the
same house and roomed on the same
floor with the Widow Mordant. and
never addressed word to her in two
months. Then the subject was butter,
began and stopped with a sort of cross
speech to the servant, and an apology
to the widow for interposing in behalf
of her child.
Imagine, if you can, the gallant Cap
tain Sims feelings upon hearing him
self spoken of in this manner by the
beautiful widow one day:
Oscar. my dear, what makes you go
into Captain Hawkins room so often:"
Because he is such jolly fellow,
mother. When I'm man, I'll wear
whiskers like Captain Hawkins, and
make my voice as rough as ever l can.
too
You silly child; that ugly Captain
Hawkins. If you must initiate some
body, pattern after an agreeable man.
| never met a more disagreeable man
than Captain Hawkins in my life"
The captain was pacing the piazza at
that moment. | will DO the lady justice
TO say that had she known he was
within hearing she would have bit her
tongue before uttering such speech.
As for the captain. he shrugged his
shoulders, while his cheeks took on 4
deeper saffron tint, if possible.
That same evening Mrs. Mordant was
prOmenadiEg with her son, a child of
four, and as needless as four-year-old's
are. when a runaway carriage came
dashing round the corner of the main
avenue. The freuzied horses feet
made the fire fly from the pavement.
There was a cry of hcrror, when sud-
den and awful hush fell upon the spec
tators, who turned their heads aside 10
avoid witnessing what seemed inevita-
BILE. Oscar Mordant had. with the
restiveness of his age, darted across the
street. The crash of the flying horses
hoofs frightened him; he paused, then
turned, with a cry, to his mother, who
was springing forward, when suddenly
she opened her eyes again, the carriage
was standing still, the horses champed
their bits angrily, while at her feet
nestled her darling boy, not hair of
his curly head harmed.
Remarkable presence of mind"
said one.
"And such nerve - extraordinary
nerve,'' said another.
"Then he must possess marvellous
strength to do such a thing" added
third.
"And he is as quick as lightning"
"The brayest, coolest thing | ever
witnessed"
As the Widow Mordant listened and
lifted Il hand to her temple, the truth
dawned upon her slowly. 1t was to
that ugly Captain Hawkins she owed
the child's life.
A week later General Hooker was at
tending the wedding of the daughter of
an old-time friend. The gallant gen.
eral was the hero of the hour. The
Widow Mordant was purring like a
kitten over her toilet, when she heard
voices below her window. The win
dow was open. Every word rose to
her distinct and clear. Probably the
fact that they were uttered heartily en-
abled her to hear the following:
"what, My dear old friend Haw-
kins. Here. Colonel Gardiner. permit
me to introduce Captain Hawkins, a
man who. as much as any other, con-
tributed to our success at the Cape.
How you did plow them down with
your battery, Captain! 1t was fearful
work"
"Never mind that, General, now,"
began the voice Mrs. Mordant now
heard in her dreams.
"The captain has one fault, said the
general, "he is modest 10 degree.
Now, for my part, l think modesty is
very well in a woman, but l wager
a hundred to one nobody hereabouts
knows the captains record"
The widow had heard enough. Her
husband, who laid down his life at the
Cape, had frequently alluded TO gal
LIANT, high-minded commander of a bat