The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-02-08
LATITUDE 80.
BY E. H. srRATroS.

BY T. II. STRATTON.
Sailors have not much chance for
making love, and the old saving. that
we have sweetheart in every port, is a
false one.
My father was a sea CAPTAIN. and I
was born on board the good shin
Nadine. and spent the first eighteen
years Of my life on her. Then she was
declared unfit for service; nv father
concluded to spend the remainder of
ms days upon land, and l became the
proud Captain of another vessel. which
Immediately named for nv. dear float
ing home. The new Nadine was a trad.
ing vessel, and l was to have a liberal
share Of the profits, with the prospect
Of becoming part owner as soon as / had
proved my business capacity.
John Nelson was then sole owner. and
II was with hutter of excited anxiety
that | welcomed him on board one
beautiful summer morning. three Years
after l became Captain, and heard his
sge.
~ GU are 10 go to ina for a cargo of
sugar and coffee, thence on a trading
expedition to the several islands Of
oceanieas and finally to Calcutta for
load Of fine China ware, then home. If
the voyage IS a success, You will be half
w. -; ST, | answered gladI I
ana l viii do my best"
know that, - he responded. with a
nearly grasp of the hand. ~ have
watched you for three wears. ard am
satisfied that you always do vonr hest
ne want lot of looking-glasses and
cheap lewelry for savage trade, and YOU
might add few fireworks to celebrate
our national holiday with. Oh. by the
way, want you to have a second cabin
In readiness, for my daughter viii ac-
COMPANY US.
guess any one could have knocked
me down with a feather. as he made
TINS announcement. The entire twenty
ooo Years OF my life had been spent on
board ship with the exception of a day
or two IN port now and then. and As our
vessels were not made to take in mas
sengfrs, think l can truly say that
had aever even spoken TO one of the
angelic beings known as women.
My mother had died before / could re-
member her. and my father had snp-
piled her place IS ST ..ss his own ana
that of teacher; for had as good an
edueation as others of my age. John
Nelson saw, aud evidently enjoyed, nv
enba rassment.
"Eess will not trouble you" he
laughed "Just get berth ready for
her, and treat her exactly as you do
me"
"Yes, sir" I answered in bewilder-
ment, and he went ashore, while l car
ried out his orders.
Two days later, we sailed. and inst
oeior. we weighed anchor, my employer
and his daughter came on board. How
shall describe Bess Nelson9 i think it
wss clearly case Of love at first sight =
on my part, least.
She was tall and queenly, with soft
brown eyes and pretty curls. PRETTY?
! can't tell you that, even now. know
that she seemed the loveliest creature in
the world to me.
90 ahead, boy. Do Just the same as
though we were not here, y SAID John
Nelson. eve don't want to make euv
extra trouble, do we, Bessqn
Certainly not, " she replied: and her
voice was sweetestmusic, while her smile
was divine.
You think me silly; no doubt I am on
that subject But YOU must remember
my years Of seclusioa from ali female
ssclety and the beauty of my first love,
and excuse me as best you can, while 1
give you the details OF that eventful
voyage.
We reached Peru in safety. discharged
our cargo at good profit, and took in
another, as we had proposed. We went
hither and thither among the strange,
almost unknown islands of Oceanica,
and counting our profits with extreme
satisfaction. We saw hideously tattooed
men, beautiful though dusky women,
rare and unknown animals, fascinating.
ugly reptiles; lovely and curious flowers,
aud dense forests of trees unheard OF
before.
We lived in strange world of Won
ders which rivaled the ARABIAN
Nights entertainment, aud, to my Bess
and ], the days were laden with the
breath of Eden.
Yes, she was my Bess, my peerless
treasure. Ny love had won a coveted |
return, and John Nelson was to give his
daughter to me in marriage when we
arrived home. Moreover, she was to be
my JOINT owner of the good ship Nadine.
What wonder that the waves danced
as merrily rs the sunshine beneath that
soft. blue. tropical sky, or that the night
winds made sach sweet music, as we sat
on deck in the brilliant moonlight and
plsnned our happy futurel
We stopped at a small island to cele-
brate our national holiday, and think
that ourth OF July frolic never had a
moro astonished audience The shores
were lined with dasky faces, and at
nightfal our fireworks made most brill
lant display. arousing the admiration
and awe Of the natives. 1t was there
that CHANGED to save a black little
wretch from the sharks; a venturesome
little scamp he was, and. as it turned
out the only son Of the chief.
That act of impulsive humanity
brought me a rich reward, as you will
see.