The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-10-14
head and began TO sing this part

From his home, his love, and mo,
Yet his heart is true as il was Of old,
His spirits light and gay,
You little know the joy We felt
When he came home to-day.
Just as l began the chorus n
hand was laid lightly ON my
shoulder. l turned around quick.
ly and saw Captain Jack.
''DOn't sing that, plense," he
said, hurriedly. 81 never heard
anyone sing il but Cassie; she
used to sing j, 10 me sometimes.
1t seemed TO belong 10 We two,
and haven't heard i, since, and Id
rather not"
"Casse was very sweet GIRL"
| ventured, 80 l've been told"
"And as good as she could be-"
sad Captain Jack slowly and iond.
ly. Then looking out ON The broad,
rough water, he went on: "Iiow
we'll | remember the day her faith.
er gave her in my keeping. |
wrapped her up so we'll TO prevent
her taking cold that after l got in
my boat and laid her on bed
mado Of warm, soft skins that il
took me some time to find her, or,
that is, her head and feet. When
! did she opened wide her big blue
eyes, frowned, doubled up her tiny
fists, smacked her lips and looked
so cute that sat there for the
longest time watching her.
Nv hen took her to mother and
told her that il was our friends,
poor Ell Brown, who had jus, lost
his wife and was going away for
while, and how he dropped great
salt tears over her little face before
handing her to me TO keep until
he returned, she gathered the
baby in her arms, cried, as most
women would have done, and then
promised 10 care for ant love her
always.
"Cassie grew fast and in time
frightened up the house wonder.
fully. When she could walk she
always ran to meet me, and when
she could talk she called me 'her
Jack" She called my mother
mamma always and It was hard
to tell which Of us loved her the
most. While a child she showed
her love for me, but as she grew
older she seemed a little shy.
"She was a handsome woman,
and possessed Of a most lovable
disposition. l had never gone
much in society, and particularly
that of women, and had not since
my school days had a sweetheart.
But when Cassie grew up--yes,
before she was grown-there was
something creeping into my heart
that made me more tender with
her than | had ever been with her
before, and made me like all wo-
men better But that feeling came
unbldden. How dare | allow my.
self to love her, an old man like
me9 What hope had /? None,
none whatever. Ny shoulders
were bent and my hair well sprln.
kled with gray, not from real old
age, but then l looked old and that
was almost as bad as being so.
"Cassie had a good many admir-.
ers, one u bright boy, just her age,
whom shs seemed 10 like very
much. He was a more suitable
mate for her than |, and l should
not have wished it otherwise, but
did. He came often 10 see her,
and they got along nicely iogeth.
er. They were young, so sup.
pose thought they had lots oi time
and seemed in no hurry 10 settle
down.
"Before Cassie was II by two
| days my fond old mother died
Then l felt that life for me was
limited to a very short period, fol
| believed that as soon as | recov
cred from the painful shock Cassie
would leave me and 70 10 a new
home with Frank. | hated to think
it. What would do wlthou
heri
soften when Frank came pu
on my coat and walked off, leavin,
them toget her. Several time
there was a look that seemed hal
of sadness and half of regret il
Cassie's face as walked away
and it made me almost hope tina
she cared a little for me--in tn,
way l wanted-and would hav
preferred me to stay. But whel
I'd heard a peal Of laughter iron
her lips | felt sure l had hope
against hope.
"One evening Frank came i
looking unhappy. | was SURPRISED
for I'd never seen his face wea
any expression save that Of light
hearted, happy youth. He aske'
for Cassie without looking up, an,
l could not question him, allhoug
| was deeply concerned.
VI went out under vine.cove,
ed arbor where Cassie was siltin
. and found her looking gloomy
too. 'Ah yes,' said l, "a lover
quarrel Then taking her hand
, said "Oassie, Frank has come
She made no reply, then repeat
dit; then she said; i don't kno,
why. | thought he understood M
yesterday
Cassie said l, frank look
unhappy, very unhappy. He love
, you dearly, and-you love him
don't you, dearl'
u "Her hands were tremblin