The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-23

and gave cav, cav cav! loud
enough to be heard half way to
Bos' H."
The silence that fell upon this con-
gregation of old seamen after this dis
closure, was unbrOken for some mo-
ments. Then one of the party ventured
to ask:
What did Captain Willis say to
that?"
"He only laughed at me-" Mullins
replied. He said he thought my
rheumatism was worse than it used to
be; and he gave me silver dollar, and
passed on. l haven't seen him since;
and you will believe, from what have
told you, that / never expect to see
him again"
All this conversation had passed
quickly. Helen Willis was in sight,
coming up the street, when it begun;
but it had been so rapidly spoken that
its last words, as we have given them,
were uttered before she fairly came OPP
posite to the place where the old sailors
congregated, as she walked on toward
the old house which was her home. She
was near by when Peter Mullins deliv-
cred his last statement. AS she ap-
preached, the old sailors awkwardly
endeavOred to show their respect to
the Captains daughter, and, of course,
through her to the absent Captain, by
lifting their caps and tarpaulins, scrap
ing their forelocks, bowling, and going
through multitude of quaint motions.
Probably the terror which would have
been inspired if the peaceable and quiet
British war-frigate, lying at anchor in
the bay off Provincetown, had opened
fire on the town would not have put its
inhabitants generally in greater state
of trepidation than these old salts ex-
hibited on the near approach of Helen
Willis. All of them knew her father,
and they all gave her their simple
tribute of respect and admiration.
Hats were not only touched, but taken
off; heads were bowed; there was a
general exhibition of respect and awk-
ward gallantry.
Helen Willis came along, feeling sad
and nervous with the thoughts that
were pressed upon her by the failure of
news from her father-and from an
other. She knew the old tars whom
she saw standing up respectfully to
greet her; and, sad as she was, she
could not help smiling gratefully and
nodding to their salutation.
One of them hobbled out a pace, and
with the bashfulness of a schoolboy
addressed her:
pardon me, Miss Helen, if you
please - but have you heard any
thing from you father, the Captain?"
mo, Tom - I'm sorry to say I
haven't" she replied.
A few steps further brought her to
the door where her mother was stand
ing. They exchanged glances, no
more was needed. Mrs. Willis knew
that there was no news. The great
cruel ocean held it's secrets, if secrets
it had, about Helen's father, and an
other of whom Helen wished to hear.
Both went into the sitting-room Of
the house. Like each of the four rooms
which Captain Willis had repaired and
redeemed from the general wreck and
ruin of the old home. 1t was not only
furnished but finished off with an eye
to luxury as we'll as comfort.
The mother and daughter both sat
down, and for a few moments each was
silent. What Captain Willis had said
to Crawford on the day of his death, as
to his relations with these two women,
was strictly truthful. 1t could not
have been otherwise; it was the state
ment of the rough. honest sailors
heart, revealed under the shadow of
death. They might have loved him
better had he been able to give more
time from his ship and her voyages, to
devote to them. AS it was, they
looked upon him as their hero, their
providence on earth. Their thoughts
were turned toward him now.
1--WE shouldn't be so anxious,
MOTHER" Helen said, after painful
pause. 'The Nellie isn't much over
DUE"
''That is true" Mrs. Willis replied,
''and she has sometimes been longer
than this between here and Havana;
but some way the thought don't seem
to give me any comfort now. I've
never believed much in signs and fore
runners, but I've had such bad dreams
lately. and always about your father.
Three nights in succession have seen
the ship in my sleep. She seemed to
be drifting over the sea, with only one
man aboard. And who do you think
it WASP"
'Father?''
"No-Louis Hunter"
An exclamation from Helen startled
Mrs. Willis, and when she saw its cause,
she was startled herself. The person
she had just named stood in the door
way, cap in hand and smiling.
"Good-day, ladies'" he said. Il
know I must be welcome, for / Just
heard my name spoken by one of you.
thrust you won't be so ungracious as
to repeat the old saying about the con-
sequences of speaking of a certain
nameless person"
1--WE are surprised to see you here,
of course" Mrs. Willis said, with evil
dent cOnstraint.
"And you're surprised, too, Helen?"