The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-05-20

pectle does a naturalist. She Will turn
that civil engineer, who figures IN a
story she IS now constructing, into a sea
captain; it will supply just the element
of picturesqueness that the tale lacks.
OldJuai- takes his fourth cigaret and list
ems; Manlela leaves her pots and pans
and pokes q brown face out of the door.
She has never seen the captain 20 ami
mated; no n else has, for that matter.
The bellies of Humboldt County are not
accustomed to playing on the minds of
men as a skillful player does upon a
flute.
will you be long in port?" asks Miss
Brantome.
1.-TWO weeks at least; the lighters
are so uncertain and the Mexicans so
lazy"
You know my uncle, / believe"
80, well. l dined with him in the
spring, and he has visited my ship"
"Then you must come and see us, so
that | can hear the rest of this most in
teresting story of your voyages. And
perhaps some day, if you should insist
very strongly, my aunt and 1 will make
you a little visit on board the Pelican"
He does insist, and she thinks at
ono how she can take notes of his
nautical belongings while he entertains
her aunt. 1t will require some adroit-
ness, but at that she is no novice.
'.Now be sure and come soon, cap
TAIN" she says in her unconventional
way, with which no one finds fault be-
cause the world accords many privil-
eyes to a scribbling woman. And so he
leaves, for the men will miss him, and
as he passes the corner of the palm
cluster he hears again the merry laugh
that goes SO singularly with hat face
upon which sorrow has sets seal.
81 wonder if that woman is sincere"
he thinks; '.she surely appears so.''
Then he goes back to the Pelican and
makes three errors on one page of his
neat log-book.
Meanwhile Miss Brantome is follow
ing old Juan as he potters around the
orange trees or mends a weak spot in
the sheep corral. Then she goes in to
Maneula, whom she makes her friend
for life by asking no end of questions.
But the thermometer is in the nineties
and the u blazing away for dear life.
Existence in Southern California is
| growing monotonous. She has a wild
longing to shorten her holiday and fly
back over the deserts to a land where
one may hope for a cloud and tread on
a bit of grass. And the publishers are
clamoring for her next serial, in which
Juan and Manuela are to figure.
X X
"Aunt Sue," says she, after she has
told her of the blonde captain, II must
have the rest of that MATERIAL
Aunt Sue understands this technical
term of her favorite niece, and she
never denied her any thing in her life.
s.But he may not call, and we can not
board his ship, without his leave, as if
we were pirates"
''He will call, depend upon it." ans
wers Miss Brantome, with that smile of
hers. And he does call, dining with
the family and wandering with the dark
girl out under the stars. The moon
comes up and adds to the glories of the
night. Far away wrinkles the light
worm, and they hear the dull roar OF
the restless ocean, while on the still
waters of the bay they can see the
white-winged vessels riding at anchor.
A painter once in IN excess of yea
put to a cruel death an unfortunate
wretch that he might have a model who
would satisfactorily represent the
agonies of the dying. So Louise Bran
tome, in the gentlest possible way
makes a model of the commander o.
the Pelican to bring into play expression
and emotions wherewith to enrich hel
romance.
"Do you never long for a homer" she
asks.
my ship is my home"
''But a real home-a refuge when thu
world and your ship are dreary places
What man does not?" he asks
''But l may neve 60 home, only into
port"
THAT is poetry" Captain Neil.
at was an accident. / am not poeti.
CAL"
30 do not say that. You are, I an
sure, the truest of all poets-the ont
who listens. To appreciate beautiful
thoughts is quite as rare a gift as weav
ing them in ona's BRAIN"
at is kind of you to say that, but yor
mistake. have not a soul above cord
age and sail-cloth,"
They are sitting on the veranda now
for the dew is almost rain. The air i
heavy with the scent from the beds o
heliotrope and the orange-trees. Cap
tain Neil would do well to go back t.
his ship before the fog rises; and there
are mental hazes, too, through which
the sirens send so sweet a song that thu
sound of the fog-bell can not be heard
Louise picks a bunch of roses and fas
tens them i'll her belt.
You love roses, NO doubtp" she says
Eyes, but roses do no grow on quar-
terdecks, and I know but little more o
them than l do of poetry"
t Then l a going to tel; you some
thing that will surprise you. This ros
. has your name. 1t is the Marecha
) Niel.h
His countenance lights up; she ha
one of those very roses held against he
cheek as she speaks.
..And what is more singular goe
on this calm dissecter of mems mind:
: 81 know another person who has tn
: name of a rose"
The captains face grows dark AGAR
. Louise" cries Aunt Sue, .'ycu
mother will never forgive me if l IL
you stay out any longer in the night air.
The captain rises; Miss Brantom
takes the rose with which she has bee
toying and fastens it to his coat, and b
ledNeS, uoI hHoWllS do III HidiCue
a through the olive orchard with ths
slightly-rolling gait of his whether b
treads on earth or air. And she, goin
k to her room, adds to a partly-writte
letter these words: ''This has been a
evening rich in material for the r.
nance which is to make us famous.
have been talking with a most interes
n ing man, m ster of a vessel. His boo
and his accent might startle you, but
a study he is perfect" Then she sea
d the letter and directs it to Mr.. Jacqu'
Minot.
The visit to the schooner is to tai
it place Thursday. Never was there SUI
a polishing of copper and scrubbing
h decks as takes place in the interim. II
}. cargo of the Pelican is not finding j
s. way to the wharf with its usual %celerit
CAPTAIN Mel becomes blind to the laz