The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-05-15
The SURGEONS COWARDICE.
BY SARA u. ROSE.

It was in o handsome stateroom of
the steamer Tenasserim that lovely
girl was sitting, with her beautiful eyes
of the deepest blue lifted to Capt.
Harter's grisly face with look of IN
dignant sorrow.
She was Harrie Harter, the old Cap
tain's only child, whose lightcst wish
had ever been a law to her father be-
fore; but now, in his daughters estima-
tion at least, he was not only unkind
but unjust.
"The mans coward" said Capt.
Harter. "Why, he looked as pa'e as a
sheet when Jacks limb was set, and
his teeth fairly chattered with fear"
"But, papa, it might not have been
fear. I'm sure my nerves would never
allow me to stand by, even while n
broken bone was set, much less set it. 4"
"Why, you little ninny, the man pre-
tends to be surgeon, and 4 surgeon
should delight in ehopping and saving
into human beings just as if they We're
sausage meat"
"Why, papa! How horrible! For my
part, l like DIR. Harrington all the bet
ter ior being tender hearted"
"Tcnder- heartcdw shifted the old
sailor; II tell you the man is cow
ard, and You never shall marry him
while live. Why, if he gets into a
quarrel or anything, he'll sneak off like
a whipped hound. l never will trus.
my girl with q man who would not
dare to defend her if danger should
arise" said the old fellow, deter
minedly.
"But that's because he is gentle
man. father. DO you suppose he wishes
to mix in all the low disputes with the
sailors ?"
upon my word, Harrie, you take
the part of the young saw-bones finely
Now can tell you who you are going
to marry, and / don't want any more
talk about it. You shall marry my first
mate, Adams, as soon as we reach New
York. He is n brave man, and will
take care of you, and him you shall
marry"
So saying the Captain hoped upon
his feet and left the young lady to her
own reflections.
Hell see whether I will or not,
said Harrie to herself, with spirited
toss of her pretty head. And then she
looked off over the blue rolling water
from the little window of her stateroom
until she grew drowsy with the undu.
lating motion, and sank down upon the
blue satin divan in sleep as calm and
sweet as an infants slumber. She made
. beautiful picture as she slept, sur
rounded as she was by all that money
could buy to make her home on the blue
| wave pleasant one, and hy ali the
| beautiful shells and corals and curiosi
ties that Capt. Harter had gathered il
lifetime of sailing on every sea upon
the globe.
She had been with her father for tho
last ten years since she was child o
eight, and she knew almost as much o.
q ship as the Captain himself, and she
was the pet Of everysea man on board
from the egotistic first mate to the bo,
who blacked the passengers boots. But
Mr.. Harrington, the young surgeon o.
the ship, alone had won her gentle
heart, and it was a wonder to her tha,
her father should SO dislike the young
man, and favor the addresses of his frs
mate, Mr.. Adams, who, although goot
sailor, was tho most egotistic and sar
castle Of men.
She was awakened from her sleep b,
the voice Of Joanna, the young Irisl
damsel who kept the staterooms of her
self and the other ladies III order, who
came in saying:
"Shure an the sailors said to tel
Miss Harrie the land was in sight, ant
Masther Harrington told me to AK wer,
you coming up to see tho sunset"
Harrie sprang to her feet ant
smoothed out the folds of her dress O
dark, wavy blue blannel, arranged hel
tumbled hair, and tho dainty coral or
naments among tho soft white lace a
her neck, seized her broad hat, and fol
lowed Joanna to the deck.
There she found a group Of ladies
and gentlemen chatting pleasantly to
gether, and the young surgeon cam,
forward to meet her, regardless of til,
angry scowl with which the irate Mr.
Adams regarded him.
I'VE shall be in the harbor of Ma1ra.
n little after sunset" said he. "Wha
a lovely landscape there is along tht
shore there"
Yes, indeed" returned Harric
spiri.edly. "And Madras itself is full
Of curiosities to one who has never beer
there before
Il have never been in this port be
fose," answered Mr.. Harrington. "Thi
is the first voyage hayo made as ship
surgeon, "ou Know"
And will be tho last OH board tn,
Tenasserim, | hope thought the mate
Adams, who was lingering Just within
earshot; and then, with a half-eoncealee
smile OH his face, he turned and Wen
below.
Il hear the Hindoos have temple
scry near TO the outskirts of Madras,
sad Mrs. AshertOn, i pretty youns