Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-09-15
A FAIR COLUMBUS.

1t was ssteamer day. at Nassau. If
Nassau, ike most other civilized places
in the nineteenth century, had telegraph,
or even daily mail communication with
the rest of the world, steamer day"
would not mean so much as it now does
to its inhabitants and visitors
The passengers land. Waiting friends
rush forth to greet some; others walk
through row of curious faces on either
side and up toward the hotel. Small
darkeys rush around and besiege them
with all manner of requests Garry
your bag, Boss? ?" Drive for you, Boss?"
~Does you want boy, lady?"
BY noon the excitement had mod
Grated and we strolled down to the wharf
and pitched silver coins into the clear
water 80 feet deep, to see small negroes
dive and bring them from the white sand
bottom where they lay clearly visible. /
strolled away from my companions, and
passing several small schooners laden
with sponges, lying along the wharf,
each with two or three ragged children,
a negro or two, and perhaps sallow
faced scrawny white man, lounging
or chewing sugar cane, came to one,
cleaner looking than the rest She was
built as are all the Bahama schooners,
with fine clipper bows, rounded stern,
and small masts and spars. She was
neatly painted, and on her stern were
the words Lillian, with her home port,
"Watlings Island.7 As-I stood looking
at her, suddenly young woman me
.,,~ &Lo oo,,,xnon;ov, NOV a,4d cold 0Good
day. @Good day, / answered. You've
come some distance, have you not?"
Eyes, she replied, "from the furthest
of the = out islands. / suppose you're
from New York;" To my affirmative
reply, she to my surprise said, And how
was Irving's Faust? should so dearly
love to see Ellen Terry as Marguerite.
After moments pause, during which
time vainly sought to fathom in my
mind how a woman on a Bahama Island
schooner could have followed New York
Theatrical matters so closely, gave her
my unbiased opinion of the matter. She
was then silent, and / meanwhile had an
opportunity to study this Bahama Curl
osity. She was about 26 years old and
was neatly dressed in an inexpensive
light material. Her luxuriant hair, of
a dark brown color, was tastefully ar
ranged, and she wore large brimmed
but not unbecoming straw hat, which
had evidently seen better days. Although
much burned, could see her skin was
fair and her hands delicately formed.
Her expression was one of demure sad
ness, and after my study came to the
conclusion that she was more than an
ordinarily handsome woman. decided
to linger and continue the conversation.
"May come aboard?" I ventured to
say. Certainly, was the reply, Johns
gone out to the steamer and I'm keeping
watch for him. should be glad to have
you tell me the news. We get little ex-
cept when we come to Nassau"
ssWho is John?" / wondered, @and
how much news can people get who only
rely On Nassau for il?
l Istepped on board, and my fair host
ess, excusing herself for a moment,
stepped ddowninto the cabin and returned
q moment after with two small chairs,
which she placed under a small awning
which shaded half the cockpit. She
motioned' for me to be seated, and /
obeyed There was silence for moment
after we sat down, and then my hostess
said, speaking very slowly and with
evident effort, You must think it very
strange that spoke 10 you and have al-
lowed, you to talk 20 me, but i saw you
were a gentleman, and / do grow SO
lonely and 50 anxious 20 See and talk
with some one from the great world now
and then. The ladies up at the hotel,
Ef / go up there, do not know, and !
suppose 1seerh queer to them, for they
look askance at me, and / haven't the
couruget 70 speak TO them. John ID al
ways 50 busy when we're here, and be-
sides John doesnAs sseemlto care for any
thing but sponges and salt and wrecks.
HHponres and salt and wrecksss asked
myself What manner Of man may
Johnbe?" @Yes, continued my hostess,
~Ifs very lonely On Watlings. You see
there are only go peopas on the whole
island, and Of these only about 300 are
white, while don't suppose there are
AOIknow. We're $50 miles from Nassau,
.,w,S u1tx,..x<yR Tn aIvavn teasing Tohu