Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-08-20

/ pathway winch we were sun.
posed not to tread without a special
There was something about Mia.
Latimer- Rose was her name which
was irrosistibly attractive to me. dc
not know exactly how 10 describe II ey.
cept as curious compound of pirlisb
innocence and womanly franknaaa
One would never dream of flirting Will
her, and fancy Few people would have
Ventured on any direct love. making
without speedy accompaniment 81
humble entreaty for her hand. She
was awfully kind to me used ALWAYS 10
be afraid that I'd oyerexert myself: and
was constantly making me tell her sto.
RES OF my experiences. / am afr,id
that sometimes little oyerdid the
othcllo business, but she never seemed
to mind
| Day after day slipped away in an
ecstacy Of happiness tempered
with occasional qnalms of doubt.
! hesitated to put my fate to test,
Tor II by chance she should refuse me-
and despite my belief that my affection
was returned, such an event was barely
possible-it would be very unpleasant
TO meet her every day for at least two
months. Again, il she accepted me, /
should be so anxious TO be married that
couldn't bear TO think OF waiting till
we got to England. There Is no need
Tor me to say that / was very young !;
you can see that from my state OF mind.
Well, finally l made a confidant OF
watson. He cut the Gordian knot al
once. Ask tho lady, he sell, and il
she consents, get the captain TO marry
you as soon as she's agreeable.
But is that legal 2 inquired.
| Perfectly. 1t will be duly entered
in the ships log. just tho same as a
birth. The captain ID ex-ollicio clergy.
man magistrate, registrar and some.
times doctor
The idea was splendid, and gave
Watson my best thanks. Ishould have
ut once proceeded TO act on his advice.
but 1t occurred TO mo that it might he
as well to sound the captain, ana see if
he would be willing 10 perform the
ceremony. You soc, wanted to have
everything sure before put my fate TO
the test, / waited through one day for a
favorable opportunity TO speak to the
captain on deck, but he never invited
me to share his walk. SO the next
morning / sent message by his boy,
asking II he could spare me few min
utes. The boy speedily returned with
q request that | would follow him 10
the captains cabin.
81 found the great man sitting at his
table looking over q chart. Somehow
or other he appeared TO me to be unus-
ually formidable Good morning,
Captain Hamilton he said, as he
waved me TO take seat 'Caa dc
anything for your
Well, captain, it's rather delicate
matter, but wanted TO ask you some.
thing about your powers on boardY
They are absolute, sir, he answered,
little sternly. Why do you ask? Do
you want some one put in irons for in
sulting you?
Not exactly, captain. The fetters
that l would like you to use are of q
different kind-th matrimonial onos.'
"'lho devil you say r he exclaimed,
! jumping TO his feet, and his face light.
ing up with sailors quick sympathy
for love affair. 80 you've lost your
heart 10 one of my pOssengers2 Pray
which is iii
well, captain. I answered, L know
can trust you not 10 lot this 60 any
| further ut present. II il Miss Latimer.
Il didn't quite hike the look that came
over his face, IL it possible, thought,
that this old sea dog is littlo bit gone
in this quarter himself?
He guve me plenty of time to think
before he made any verbal comment on
my announcement His words were:
PRAY, sir, have you spoken TO the
lady on the subject OF your hopes?"
"'Not yet, captain"
Has she given you any encourage
ment to think that the love you say
| you feel is returned by her?'"
No, captain, but she has been very
kind 10 me, and has talked to me
great deal, and seemed 10 like TO have
me talk to her.'"
"'And on these faint grounds you
base your hoFsaS'"
II didn't at all like the tone In which
1 Inc made that remark, and l was about
to reply little haughtily. / suppose
he saw the expression on my face, and
he stopped ME from speaking by hold
ing up his hand.
Don't say any more, Captain Ham
ilton. ought TO have stopped you be-
fore. l couldn't possibly marry you to
the lady
why not, Captain Smith 2 asked,
rather warmly.
"Because, sir, l couldn'tyery we'll
marry you TO my own wife"
"'WhatT ] ahnost shrieked.
My wife, he answered firmly. i
am sorry you should be placed in so un-
pleasant position. II is partly my
fault, but much moro that Of your own
youth and rashness. You are an Off
Ger and gentleman, and will respect
the secret ] am obliged to contide in
youY
al felt so utterly crushed that / was
scarcely sensible Of where Twas. Ger
tainly / did not fully understand all no
was saying, but / managed to retain
sense enough to bow my head In sign
Of assent.
eel was married, said the captain.
when was last home, 10 Miss Latimer,
who was left an orphan under unusually
sad circumstances and surroundings
She dreaded 10 be left in England alone.
The owners OF this line do not
allow their captains TO have
their wives with them even As passen-
gers. We therefore decided to keep our
marriage secret, and my wife booked as
a passenger under her maiden name.
| Not q soul on board except yourself
knows the truth. trust to You to keep
| Il sacred, for don't want to retire yet
for a voyage or two
II am sure don't know how i got
from his cabin TO my own, but once IN
the latter, boltsd the door and never
came ont till the next morning. ! can't
tell if the captain ever contided to bus
wife what took place in his cabin, but l
sometimes fancied could see IN her
| face, when her eyes fell on me, an OK.
preston of mingled pity and amusement
that never noticed there before. One
thing was sure of, however, and that
| -. -. \ hnnop,n M ora familiar with