The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-07-28
The Old Sea Captains Story.

The Old Sea Captains Story.
Captain Gray, what IS q land lub-
Der ?" -.
The old sea captain laughed one of his
hearty, rollicking laughs, as he met the
gaze of the serious brown eyes lifted TO
his face.
"a l%and-lubber Why, NJ boy
that's what the sailors call n W o IA
never been on the wide blue sea. 1t
strikes me that twovery good definitions
of the word are sitting close beside me
now, waiting for their sailor friend to
begin his yarn. Well, I'm ready
what shall it be ?"
"A true story" exclaimed Walter.
"A'love story" coyly added fifteen
year-old Alice. .,
The old sailor looked thoughtful a
moment; then he said:
VERY well, it shall be both a true
story and a love story-somethlng
which happened in my own life. -.
Thirty years ago | YVES not the old
man you see me. These gray hairs
were as black as the ravens wing then,
and these wrlnkled cheeks had been
bropzed Der cath the skies Of many
chimes.
From q mere lad l had always loved
the sea, and the sea must have loved me;
for from a poor cabin boy, l rose
through hard work to what the world
, lis q successful man. and the owner
and captain of as stanch i vessel as
eyes could wish to see.
Il had one daughter named Nellie, the
prcttiest girl $50 every enc said) for
miles iaround. She was all l had to
love, and with a fond fathers pride |
gave her the finest Of clothes and sent
her to the best of schools. Then, when
she came nome from school for good
such pleasant times as We had But
after q while a cloud came over my
happiness for T began to see that my
pretty daughter could not always stay
with me-.
" Admirers began to be attracted to
our cosy cottage, and one, l soon saw
Nelly liked better than any Of the rest.
John Estey was his name, and that he
was q fair appearing lad | could not but
admit, but he was only a common sailor
before the mast, and In my pride I said
that never should the daughter Of the
captain of the Ellen Gray wed with one
so far beneathher. Besides, quite lately
there had been another who had seen
and fancied my daughter, and who had
confded to me his wish to make her his
wife. Mr.. Morris was older than she
to be sure, by some ten or twelve years,
but he was very rich. and l thought to
myself how well Nellie, with her beauty
and lady-like manners, would grace his
elegant home.
II hadn't told Nellie as yet of my
ideas for her future; but as she had al
ways been one of the gentlest of girls, /
didn't expect any opposition.
"But one afternoon as I came home
from the river and walked quietly up
the garden path, what should l see but
John Estey and Nellie seated close to-
gether on the stoop. And, to my great
Indignation, the .ludaciouS fellow had
his arm around my girls waist! They
were evidently far away in some world
of their own, for my presence was un-
known until, like a bomb-shell, l burst
in upon them. What l said l do not re-
member. l was very angry; but words
spoken III passion are soon forgotten
and it is well for US all that it is so.
know that / must have said some
cruel, bitter things, for when l had
finished John EStey rose from Nellie's
side, and his face was very white as he
replied quietly, his manner in marked
contrast to my wrath:
"'Captain Gray, l love your daughter.
and she has acknowledged that she
loves me Surely that is no LUZ for
the insulting things you have said to
me-
Just then Nellie began to cry.
Suddenly his calmness left him.
"tIfy you were not her father, he said,
i would not bear such words from you;
but as it is
"Here Nellie came and wound her
arms around me, where I stood nursing
my anger. ;,
"'Father,' she said, we love each
other sor
"'Love! between a boy and a girln
! exclaimed; stuff and nonsense!'
"Then I turned to John and Lolnted
to the gate.
"Gor / said, fercely, and never
come nea my daughter again. She is
not for such Us you
with a parting, plying look toward
Nellie, who Was sobbing Us if her heart
would break, John went away.
THE next day I told Nellie of Mr..
Morris proposal, and Of his wealth and
high station. She listened till I had
finished; then she said gently. but with
u look in her eyes I had never seen in
them before:
az love John Estey, father, and it
would be a sin for me to marry another
man.
AFTER that, when it c. e time for
my next cruise, | made up my mind it
wouldn't do to leave Nellie alone in our
cottage home as l had always done
hitherto; for, for al. l kne that scamp
4. (as l called him) might iuduce her to
marry him while | was away.
when I told Nellie of nay intention
OF taking her with me, she only an
swered:
why, father, you know 1 have
always wanted to go with you on a
cruise, but You never would take me
before
so we started. had her cabin
fitted up as pretty as a little parlor, and
the days went by merrily. In the even
ings we sat together on the deck, and
Nellie would sing, in her sweet voice,
Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep and
"A Life on the Ocean Wave and all
the familiar sea ballads ! loved. The
three weeks were drawing to ar end,
and l began to hope that Nellie was
coming round to my way of thinking;
30 ] said one morning, just as we sighted
the home port:
"'Now, Nellie, like q good girl,
make your father happy by conserving
to do as be wishes
"She flushed an indignant, rosy red
as she sprang to her feet and confronted
me.
: FEATHER, I have told you that I can
never love any one but John I would
rather die than marry Mr.. Norris
"Then, in my turn, I got angry.
Every WE'LL | said; we will be
in port in an hours time, and l have to
60 to L-(naming a town some miles
Distant before we 60 home. I had iu-
tended to have taken y on with me, but
you shall stay here all day i'll 1 re-
turn
THAT frightened her, as I knew it
would.
"'Oh, father, please do not leave me
alone on the ship. What if something
should happenp'
But 1 was obdurate; and when she
saw that her pleading had been of no
avail, Nellie saw me 60 without another
word.
~ smiled myself as 1 locked the
cabin door.
mi 500 7 thonpht eff e~ovontaon-