The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-05-15

Ian, SAID The Otflcer. II VIII max,
some inquiries. Wait here TO
me-"
~ mighty polite gentleman
though he's as solemn as funer
AL" said Pat to himself. 81 hope
he'll not delay long. Pm wild lt
see Annie. Oh, the devil fly ava,
wild the cares that kept me from
her. | wonder is she cryin' hel
eyes cut for not seein' mey 1t was
what she had a right 10 expect
The frs, one aboord." -
| The officer was returning.
He looked mere serious than
ever.
"Mr. Nolan" he said grayely,
"the captain would like to speak
TO you. | will take you 10 him.
We have had very stormy voy.
age. as winter voyages 0fien are
"Bnt you've come into port on
as pleasant day us there is in he
calendar,' Pat said, cheerfully. "a
Christmas couldn't be brighter y
"But we have had a very un-
pleasant voyage" said the officer
gravely.
He opened the door OF the cap
tain's cabin. Pat entered with his
hat in his hand.
The captain--a grave, brOnzed
man with iron gray hair-sat at a
table before an open book, on
which his hand lay.
"Sit down." he said.
thank you, sir. Il's as easy
standin," said Pat, with a bow.
"You had better sit down." said
the captain. Il may have 10 talk
10 You some minutes. may have
something very particular to say
If you are the right man. Your
name is
Pal Nolan" said Pat, beginning
10 feel astonished but perhaps
the captain knowing that he was 10
be married that evening, wanted
10 congratulate him, TO offer him IA
glass Of something, or perhaps it
was The way of the captains of
ocean steamers TO be slow and
solemn, not thinking how he kept
people from their sweelhearts. So
Pat sat down. put his hat on the
floo-, and, not knowing just what
10 do, cracked all his nuckles one
after the other while he waited.
Your name is Patrick Nolan"
said the captain again, land you
came on board 10 find a Young wo-
mana friend OF yours T.
my sweetheart promised 10 me.
We are TO be married today said
Pat.
"If God wills it," said The cap.
tain.
SAY, sir; we can do nothing wild
out that, | well know said Pat.
The good Lord and Father Dunn
will help me-; but I'll do the best
l Can to furder il myself"
The captain looked down upon
the pages of the book before him. |
"And the name of the young
girl you are asking for ?" he said.
annie O'Brien," said Pat, be-
ginning to think The captain very
stupld-"Annle O'Brien. She's the
Wildly O'Brien's daughter-a de-
cent woman is The wildly and well
They are neiehbors
there in the ould counihry."
The captain ran lis fingers down
a long column of names, and stop
ped at last and looked at Pat again.
1--WE had very unpleasant 10Y
age" he said slowly-''a very, very
unpleasant voyage"
"The her gentleman was tell
ng me that, sir" said Pat, wishing
hat this old gentleman would stop
alking about the weather and tell
iim something about Annie. 'Bad
weather must be threat 10 The
iay," he SAID, in order TO be polite.
And wild all thin passengers 10
De watchin' and carin' ior-worse
han stable full of beasts"
YES" said The captain, ave try
o care for our passengers but ,,
he sleerage is little crowded.
They are often very sick"
"Yes, SIR, | was that sick myself
thought I'd be dyin'," said Pat.
"Some are severely ILL.," said the
aptain.
This time Pat made no answer,
'ut stared at him with a hot flush
ising to his face.
Sometimes they're so very i'll
hat they die" the captain went
N. ''Delicate women, you know
little children and delicate wo-
nen.n
Pat still looked at him in silence. /,
"When | said that we had a very
voyage, | meant that" 9
said The captain-"that We had .
erious illness that we had death
u board. Two steerage passen- =
ers died, One was William o.
sourke, an old man coming over
D live with his son." :
"GOd rest his SOUL" said Pat, !
rossing his forehead.
The other, who was very i'll, =
'as woman" said The Captain
young woman, and very pretty.
Ir. Nolan, we have 10 prepare for
borms in this life-we have 10
race up and bear them as we'll as :,
e can. They are very hard to =
ear. | have had a great many
Iyself. At my age that goes with
ut saying, but you are young and s.