The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-12

Tibet boy amt but ten years old, Miss Msrg'
rect, not thet-he amt nine yit, an he's older
% me In his talk. / think sumtimes them things
was born in him count or his ma hesrin EN-
fore he was born, an g~raftin' them old stories
inter his mind SO they come naterel to him."
They sed to Msrthy Pisrce's. where 1 stop
sumtimes." continued Sol. clasping his thin
knees, that years an years ago they found
I'm 49," calculated tie Captain.
I'm 49," repeated the boy. "'fore I
was horned, and all the men folks was eoin'
there to cit rich. an by vessel, mostly. Ships
workin' their passage"
deed they would" cried the Captain; "but
for AIMS bein' sick. I'd a gone along. All the
men long shore was ravin' crazy. Gold haint
never been none TOO plentiful here. Philander
Tarbox he'd jest built him q new schooner. the
Areosy, an"
II guess I know the Areosy.' put in Sol,
Grossly. who's tellin'. you, or met Lots Of
folks put money inter her, too. She was built
up the Sheepscot river, an was complete jest
when folks was crazy ter go to Calforny. Mar
thy Pierce said. an Philander Tarbox, hearin'
how sittles was high in Calforny, filed the
whole vessel full 'er Goldfish, mack'rel, jerksd
beef, an Eaters, an -four, an meal" continued
Sol. Keeling of q long list. revealing Q marvel
Gus memory.
Skip some, Sol" pleaded the Captain. takes
too tarnal long,"
Not one" said Marguerite quietly. s1et the
child tell the story as the people here tell It."
So Sol finished his list. Outside the tower
the drifting snow gathered high over . grave
shore the misty blurr Of the light fell.
Last day fore they sailed, said Sol gloomily,
'Cap'n Philander Tarbox he fell from the wharf
an broke his leg, and so Eric had to Co."
"Granpa, who was Erici"
II may mean my father, muttefed Margue-
rite. Captain Reed, tell me now. II he lived
hero You must have known him in the old days.
The Captain stammered. grew red in the face,
and twisted bis work-hardened hands together.
A o locR ~ cal A-.--A - III
We. Eric Stockdale never harmed me, I wunt
blacken his memory
Marguerite laid her hand on his arm. Gap
tain" she said softly. "be my protector against
the world that will tell me some day. for / mean
TO know" He patted tbs little ringed hand
with his rough fingers.
You mustn't blame me then fur the truth,
Miss Margreet. nor think but / mean this kind,
want frenzy to We. There was to the Cape, Ella
Cuttings. a pooty gal, but fiighty, Lord knows,
an easily led, an in old days Philander Tnrbox
was sorter likin' her; but she thought he want
ter work in Bath. but come home in q year or
two with-with q baby-an' her husband
He came with her" said Marguerite.
1T was q love- child, Margreet."
Them as amt got fathers" said that shril
"Sol," said the Captain. 'some day you'll git
such . licking that that trash will be knocked
clean outer yer head. Wal. Ella she died that
year. Philander. who want but twenty an jest
married., took the boy an brought il up as hiSp'
an no one ever knowed the father"
THAT child was my father. Eric Stockdals,"
murmured the girl.
"Yes. an Philander named him for Elias
mothers folks, the Stockdales, fur that name
he'd died out along shore an there wouldn't be
no questions arsked bout his relations in after
years. Well, Eric was all OF twenty when a
fine boy was born to Mis- Tarbox, an'she was
gittin' on in years. too, an Of course Eric's nose
was outer jint He knowed his history AM was
allus q proud, quiet kinder felier, not liked at
ell. though sorry l be to tell you this, dear. So
when Philander laid there with a broken leg he
thoughtof Eric, who WAS q good seaman an a
careful Teller. with more of the onderstandin' of
navigation than many q lifelong sailor along
shore. SO to his command was give the Areosy
an her freight. Lord, how we'll I kin remem-
Der the wharf when the vessel sailed, il was
oiack with people comm, from twenty miles.
Lots OF the Cape folks he'd money in her too. an
oil tie crew was from nigh about here. Poor
critters an all their wimmen folks plsunin'
what they'd do With the money tho voyage would
bring EN-"
"Weni' said Marguerite. quietly. She was
very pale now. her hands tightly cIsnched in
her lap.
''They got to Calforuy, dearis; a long, peril.
Gus voyage. an at the fust port all the men but
two deserted for the gold digginRs, 90 Eric had
to work the vessel short-handed."
"And she was lostl" cried Marguerite. a wave
Of belief in her dead father coming back and Q
picture OF the brave young captain before her
eyes. (
mo. she got there safe. whereever il were,
for the names iS gone from me-. an the cargs
were sold an"
go right on"
'Sold. an Eric he'd the money-sven the We
sci sold. too. for . big hgger-the pay in cold,
fllin' chests-an' one day Eric went of withali