Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-12-10
THE CARPENTERS MATE.


Twenty years ago ! commanded one Of
their vessels, the Norseman, OF the old Al.
iesworth line of Liverpool She was in the
East India trade at the time, and was
about 10 make my first voyage as master.
had been with her the previous voyage In
the capacity OF chief mate, and was more
than pleased when the firm called me into
their private Office and offered me the com.
mand OF the ship.
had just been married. and it Is need,
less to say that accepted the firms offer,
at the same time arranging To have my
wife accompany me on the voyage.
II have favor tn ask of you, Capt
Thornton" said Mr. BurIingame. the sen
Tor partner, when we were alone, "and
rely upon your honor to keep the matter
confidential"
bowed, and Mr.. Bnrlingame went on.
My daughter Evelyn has become infat.
uated with one OF my clerks, and he has
had the assurance 10 ask her hand in mar
riage. He has been dismissed from our
employ, and have seen nothing Of him
since My daughter has taken the matter
TO heart, and have decided to send her
out with you on voyage, in the hope that
the change of scene and the companionship
of your wife and yourself may bring back
the roses To her cheek. Anything you can
do To assist in having her forget this
wrctched infatuation will be appreciated"
/ had little faith in my ability to cause
Miss Evelyn To forget her lover; besides,
rs had just entered the married state my
self, ! could hardly be expected to sympa-
thize with a plan for the separation Of two
loving hearts, but ] promised to care for
the shipowner's daughter as far as was In
I'll ~. tVt.
The following morning my wife and
went aboard the Nor>eman, which WAS "
ing at anchor in the Mersey. At o'clock
Mr.. Burlngame and his daughter came
aboard. The latter WAS handsome Young
lady OF - years, but her sweet face was
pale and sad, and although she said moth
Ing, It was evident that the thought of
leaving home affected her deeply.
Farewells were over, the anchor was
aweigh and Mr.. Burlingame, after part
ing grasp of tue hand, and a whispered ad
monition to ''take good care OF Eyelyn."
stepped aboard the tender and returned TO
shore We were towed down the Mersey.
crossed the bar and dismissing our tug
pilot, bore away for the Cape OF Good
Hope.
After we were well under way all hands
were called aft to choose watches. As the
crew filed by one of their number a fine
looking young fellow. attracted my atten
tion,
"Who is that young mani" | asked,
pointing him out to Mr.. Eserson. my chief
mate.
Kenneth Gardner. he shipped as car
renters mate, was the reply
Just rs the cres ranged themselves In
line, n little abaft the mainmnst, the ladies
came on deck and walked forward to where
! was standing.
Az turned to greet them | WAS startled
by a scream from Miss Burlingame, and
the next moment WAS holding her limp
form In my arms She was at once taken
below and soon recovered consciousness,
but could give no explanation of her faint
ing fit.
We were scarcely two weeks out before
noticed great change in Miss Burlin-
game. The roses had returned to her
cheeks, and she seemed well pleased with
her situation aboard the Norseman
She went all over .he ship, sometimes
accompanied by my wife. aud sometimes
alone. Several times noticed her in con
versation with the carpenters mate, and,
my curiosity being aroused. | walked for
ward one day and got into conversation
with him
| found Gardner an intelligent fellow
possessing a surprising familiarity with
the rules of navigation and all matters
pertaining TO the merchant marine. |
thought it a little singular that a man of
his intelligence and apparent ability had
no better position than TINT Of carpenter 3
mate ON an English merchantman. and
told him SO.
His reply was that his limited resources
had prevented his gratifying in any other
way his passion for travelling and seeing
al sas... auF
isfactory, but a look into the handsome,
manly face convinced me that whatever
his reasons were for being on the Morse.
man In his present capacity they did not
concern me- and | asked him no further
questions on the matter.
In due time we doubled the Cape OF
Good Hope, ran the castings down, and
crossing the Bay of Bengal sighted one
morning the low sandhilis and later the
fat, sandy coast at the mouth Of the Hoog
lev. = Oh aboard native pilot, and
were sosl lying at anchor at Garden
Reach, 0nf seven miles below Calcutta
went ashore, accompanied By my wife
and Miss Burlingame.
During the voyage the young lady hal
regainei her health and spirits, and had
become well acquainted with the carpen
ter's mate. While he took no liberties
began TO feel anxious about the matter
and regretted that the handsome youth
was a member of my crew. ! pitied ths
poor clerk In In old England and medi
fated on the fickleness Of woman.
At Calcutta we loaded a cargo OF tut'
for Melbourne and pnt 70 sea On th'
morning OF the sixth day out the barome
ter began TO fall rapidly, and a. th'
typhoon season was at hand | felt littl
anxious, although there was no indieatioi
of danger la the clear sky and tho ligh
breeze which famed the surface OF IN
Indian ocAan-