The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-09-26

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bsae-hooks checked her way, md che n.
NAMED stationary at the steps Of the land
Ing. The awning was canted, aud tho COM
modcre and his friend got out and mounted
the stairway, while the boats crew stood nm
with their hats Oh. On the mole were four
OF i've people In light West India rig Of
brown and white and broad Guaysuuil
sombsros.
"Clsvelandl" exclaimed tall, handsome
man. 90 he seized the commodore by both
hands. "how glad We are to see you'll Here
is Tom Stewart. aud Paddy Burns. and lit.
tie Don Stigno. attorneys, factors, and sugar
boilers; all Of IA delighted to welcome Won
back once more to Jamaica!"
Crowding about the commodore, shaking
hands and slapping one another on the
back. standing OF a step or two to see tho
effect OF time on each others appearance,
laughing heartily with many q happy illu-
sion to days gone bv, those old friends and
former companions, unmindful of the hot
sun. stood there with their faces lighted up
sud talking all together.
And you are commodore. eh! Cleve-
land, With broad penlant and o squadron:
All! we hive kept the run Ut you, though.
Read all about that action you were in in
the Epervia and President, and that bloody
battle in the Essex at Valparaiso with Por-
ter. And here yon are again. safe and
sound and hearty"
And you too, Piron! The same as
ever! Not tiredof cane-plantiug yet? But
how is MADAME
LOVELY girl, a. ever. Cleveland. but
never entirely got over that sad loss Of the
little boy, You know. However she will be
overjoyed to see you. She's been talking
OF you ever since we saw your appointment
to the station fifteen months ago. Apropos
We have her widowed sister with us, whose
husband was killed at Waterloo; and our
little niece who cnmo from France. All
out there OF the old place Of Escondido,
where you must come aad pass week with
us. Nay, man. no excuse! The thing is
arranged. and it would be the death of
Stingo. Tom Stewart, and Paddy Burns if
you disappoint us.
day or two, until have made some ofic.
ial calls here on the authorities. Mean.
while, gentlemen, you all dine with me this
evening on board the frigate; every mothers
son OF you! Coxsv min, 60 on board and tell
my steward to have dinner for six. Stop
at the schooner as yon go of, aud say TO
MIR. Darcantel that shall expect him to
join us. Now, my friends, that matter is
arranged. and We will oil go of i'll the barge
at sunset"
DRY talking, isn't it Stingo?" said Piron:
so, commodore, come, and we'll have q sin
Of sangaree and q devilcd biscuit to keep
our mouths in order But, halo! where is
your friend. Cleveland; that tall man in
black! Parson or Chaplain, chr
mo" replied the officer. ian old friend
OF mine, my brother-in- law, who takes u
cruise with me, occasionally; but he never
goes in society, md has taken himself off.
as he always does, when We get in port He
Is glorious fellow though, and hope TO
present himto you yet! Never mind him
now"
Arm in arm went the blue coat and bull
lion. locked in white grass sleeves, along
the busy quays, crowded with mule carts
and draws Tor stores or shipping Spanish
Dons. dapper Frenchmen, burly John Bulls,
standing ut warehouses and posadas, ali
with cigars between their teeth, winch they
pulled so lazily that the smoke scarcely
found Its way beyond the brims of their
wide sombreros. Negroes, too, with scanty
leg gear. and still scantier gingham shirts,
having bales or boxes or basket. of fruit on
their heads. never anything in their hands,
chattering and laughing one with another,
as they danced and jostled along tho busy
mart. Then through the hot, sandy ruts Of
streets. pausing now and then TO shake
hands with some old acquaintance beneath
the overhanging piazzas! sedan chairs NOV
ing about with negro i'll glazed hat and
red cockade Mt either ends Of the poles; in
long easy trot, as they bore their burdens
of Spanish matrons or English domsel. or
maybe portly old Judge or equity admiral,
on u shopping or business excursion to the
port. So on to the upper town, where the
dwellings stand in detachments BY them
seives-single or in pairs, with spacious
balconies and bright, green Venetian blinds,
all surrounded by gardens and vines; with
noble tamnrind-trees and cocoa nuts sway
ing their lofty trunks and rafting their
branchesnnd leaves over tho negro buts
and officers below. Hero the party stopped,
and entering house. were ushered into a
cool, lofty room, where there were lot of
mahogany desks anda single old clerk, who
resembled q last years dried lemon with
some few drops Of acid Juice for blood.
perched up on hard stem of high stool,
with four or Ave quill pens, like 20 many
thorns. sticking out above his yellow leafy
enrs.
"All bv myself here, Cleveland, rs told
you. All my people are living out there at
Escondido. Very little business doing
just now. and Paddy Burns and Tom
Stewart haven't had q suit or fight for the
last six months. Inkstands dry, and nv
old clerk, Clinker, there, has forgotten
how to write English"
However, went on Piron, rs the party
threw themselves back on the wicker arm
chairs and enjoyed the breeze which fut-
tered merrily through the blinds, ",he eel.
lar isn't quite dry yet; and say, Cliuker,
suppose you tell Nimble Jack, or Ring Fin.
ger Bill, to spread n little luncheon here,
with bottle or two of Bordeaux, or some
thing Of that sort?" Tho dried: fruity old
gentleman dropped OF his branch ut tho
desk like awithered NUT md then, with a
husky kind Of shuttle, betook himself off.
Queer old stick, that" said tho COM
modore, as he unbuckled his sword and
laid it on the table.
"Ah! he grew here, and will blow away
one OF these days. My father used to tell
mo that no looked just the same when no
first sprouted as he does now. But he is a
dear, faithful old stump; and You must re.
member hearing, Cleveland, of that fright
full earthquake here in seventeen hundred
and eighty-three. which killed SO many
people? Yes! Well, it was old Clinker
who saved my sweet wife-that is now
and her sister; though he was nearly
squeezed-dr;er. if anything than he is
now-in doing it. He lay. you know, stigno,
supporting the whole second story of the
house for seven hours, pressed rs fat rs
tnmarind-leaf, while they were eettingthose
twin babies out Of their cradle. Yes, God
bless him! But what is more no threw
himself precisely where he did, rs he saw
the walls Giving way. SO that not hair of
those children should be injured when the
beams came down. My father has told me
since. that when they got lever under the
timber and wcdged old Clinker out, he gave
q kind of crnckle; but in my opinion he
has not drawn a breath from that day to
this. And, generally, he is very taciturn
old root, and rarely opens his rind; but
lately he talks agood deal about the earth
quake; says he's sure therell lie another
awful one before an interval Of forty years
has passed. and wants us to go away. No
objection, however, to coming back when
the thing is over. and then waiting forty
years for another. Don't laugh, You Paddy
Burns, for il ever the Trembler gives YOU
one little shake, you'll jump higher than
you did when that ugly Frenchman ran you
through your waistcoat pocket, and You
thought 1t was your midriff. Now, Tom
Stewart and Don Stingo, what are you grin.
ming about2 Your teeth will chatter 80 fast
at the next quake that you won't either Of
you, be able to deliver o charge to the jury
over false invoice or anck another dror ri