Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-07-10
the Dry Man.

"Glorious country!' cried Frank Sea-
grave, as the outward bound steamer
for Brazil glided into the smooth estu-
ary of the Tagus, and on either side of
her arose the green, sunny hills and
waving woods of beautiful Portugal:
"And glorious weather, too,' added
Harry Fitzgerald. ''Englishman
thought l am, I'm not as patriotic as
Marryat's sailor, who getting back to
England in the thick of Channel fog
after a twelve months cruise in the
Mediterranean, growled approvingly,
All! this is what l calls weather! None
oyer lubberly blue skies herel' :"
Eyes, I think the poor Bay Of Biscay's S
been sadly maligned," said his cousin
Jack. "We've been right across it from
side to side, and yet
"'Not spray
All the day
In the Bay of Biscay, Or
"Weve been mighty lucky so far,
sure enough" put in Cecil Vane. 'and
the only thing wanting's few young
ladies'"
"Well, if that's your complaint. Mr..
Vane," said the captains deep voice
from behind, you'll soon be cured for
we're just going to take abroad as nice
girl as you ever set eyes on. She's
an old friend of mine, too the daughter
of my old chum, Fred Forester, who s
coHee-growing in Brazil now, and she's
going to him from Lisbon. There II be
a pretty stir among you young fellows
when Miss Lucy comes. l shouldn't t
wonder if she even put Mr. Clitheroe
out of his course just little bit"
At this there was a general laugh, for
Winthrop Clitheroe, the only American
among the jovial party of five addressed
by Captain Barclay, had already, young
as he was, seen and done so much that
to surprise Or startle him appeared sim
ply impossible. In any real danger he
was the boldest of the bold; but the mo.
ments it was over he relapsel into the
cool, "don t-care-a cent composure
which had already earned him the
nickname OF "the dry man
Miss Forester proved quite as charm
ing as the captain had said, and the
effect Of her presence was soon appar-
ent.
Jack Fitzgerald, hitherto as careless
in his dress as any Cossack, suddenly y
bloomed into an amazing dandy. His
cousin Harry, whose first appearance
was usually after the second break fast
bell, took to getting up surprisingly
early, and pacing the deck ike a sent
mel till Lucys pretty face was seen rls-
ing through the companion way.
Frank Seagrave took to getting ur
appropriate scraps of poetry on the sly
and bringing them in on all occasions
sometimes mixing them in very strik-
ing fashion: while Cecil Vane who had
somehow mistaken himself for an artist
plumed himself upon his cieverness il
cutting out the rest by getting leave t,
take Miss Forester S portrait, till, just
as he was about to present it to th'
charming original, he discovered witt
rage and despair that while his back wa
turned for a moment, wicked jack hat
sketched short pipe between her cher
ry lips, pouring out a volume Of smok'
worthy Of Vesuvius.
But although the captains prophec,
was correct thus far, he seemed quite a
fault as to Clitheroe. The dry man
went on his own dry way justas usual
seeming to trouble himself very littl
about Lucy or her admirers. True, h.
appeared to be always on hand when ;
seat was to be placed for her, a shaw
arranged, or book fetched from the
saloon; but he rarely stayed to b
thanked, and had seemingly much les
taste for her society than for that of tn
sailors, with whom he was immensel,
popular.
So matters stood when one morning
Clitheroe, to escape the deck washing
which was cleaning off the Crime of tn
Goals taken in at the Cape Nerd island
climbed up into the foretop, and
stretching him self at full length bega1
to read, move not lost upon his fou
comrades below.
Good chance to make our "dry man
a wet man - eh boys?' whispered
Jack Fitzgerald, slancing at the rig
ging, and then at the hose-pipe, whicI
the sailors had left lying on the deck.
Fright you are" grunted Seagrave
who was rather cross that morning, hav
ing found Lucy and Clitheroe in sue