The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-09-15
CAPTAIN STORMS.

Captain Storms put the glass to his eye,
and took long look. Far off, black against
the silvery horizon, that shapeless speck
showed. What was it? Captain Storms
prolonged survey ended, he slowly dropped
his glass and turned to Mr.. Scott, the mate.
II knew was right" he said; 1T is a
wreck, dismantled hulk, drifting about at
the mercy of wind and sea. There may be
no one left aboard. but we'll bear down and
have a look.
And then Captain Storms lifted up his
voice-a stentorian voice it was-and gave
the proper orders to the men at the mast
head, Or at the helm or somewhere II don't
know exactly. would tell you the precise
words Captain Storms used on this occa-
sion if I could; but I'm deplorably back
ward in nautical matters So you'll have
to be content with learning that the
down on that dark mass, outlined against
the sunny sky.
Captain Storms leaned over the side, and
lit a cigar. He was a bronzed young man,
stalwart and gallant, as take it sailor men
mostly are; and he looked the very "beau
ideal of dashing seaman, in his of hand
seafaring costume. He had beard and
he had a mustache, big and brown. like HIM
self; and, from the crown of his glazed hat
to the sole of his boots. Capt. Storms was
sailor, every inch of him.
The Lovely Lass bore down, along the
sunlit tropic sea, and reached the floating
wreck. Captain Storms was the first man
to leap aboard, the first man to hear the
faint cry Of a human voice. No living thing
was to be seen; but from the corner Of the
deck that faint. plaintiff cry walled.
"There's some one alive here still, said
Captain Storms. Speak, friend! Who
are you? Where arc your"
Again that unspeakably mournful wall.
Captain Storms strobe across to where q
heap of torn canvas and rotten wood lay,
and looked down. There in the garnish
sunshine, with her face upturned to the
serene sky, woman lay dead. Crouchine
over her, q skeleton child, with long, wi Id
hair, sat making that feeble moan Of dumb
agony.
My child" Captain Storms said pitiful.
ly-amy child. what is this?'
The CHASTITY creature ifteda bloodlese
face and pair of haggard eyes.
Mothers dead!"
My poor little girl, ]" said the sailor
bending over her as tenderly as that deaG
mother could have done, you must come
with me or you will die toe. Comet"
She rose up-a frail little shadow Of ter
years and held up her skeleton arms.
Peace is hungry" she cried piteously
Peace is sick and cold, and mothers
dead"
And then, as the strong arms lifted he1
as If she had been wax doll, the blue eyes
closed YEARLY, and the weak baby dropped
heavily against his breast; and hunger, and
sickness, cold and death were ali blotted
out in klind darkness.
And for weary days and weary nights
while the Lovely Lass sailed along sum,
southern seas, and the dead woman LAY
quieteiy under the great Pacific the little
rescued waif lay futtering between deatI
and life. And during these endless days
and nights, the big, sum Drowned sailo,
watched over his little girl as father-na
as mother might have done, until the
futteling spirit ceased its struggles, anG
grew calm in health and strength ono,
more.
Little Peace her name was Priscilla
Weir, she said; Peace for short-came III
on deck by-and- by, pale and weak still
and lisped out her story to the soft hearted
sailor.
There had been a great storm-oh. !,