The Opelousas courier., 1892-05-21

EsAH able auspices. There
5s=fsssSssg had just been d
1@Esl@S1 storm on the ocean.
so there was every chance that she
would reach Liverpool before the next
one was due.
Captain Rice had a little social prob
lem to solve at the outset, but he
smoothed that out with the tact which
is characteristic of him. Two Washing
ton la~dies-oficlal ladies-were on
board, and the captain, old British sea
dog as he was, always had trouble in
the matter of precedence with Washing
ton ladies.
So it happened hat Mrs. Assistant
Attorney-to-the Senate Browning came
to the steward and said that, ranking all
others on board, she must sit at the
right hand of the captain. Afterwards
Mrs. second-Adjutant-to -the- War-De-
partment Digby came to the same pre-
picked official aud said she must sit at
;he captains right hand because in
Washington she took precedence over
everyone else on board. The bewil-
iered steward confded his woes to the
captain, and the captain said he would
attend to the matter. So he put Mrs.
War-Department or his right hand and
then walked down the deck with Mrs.
Assistant Attorney and said to her:
81 want to ask favor, Mrs. Brown
ig. Unfortunately I am a little deaf in
The right ear, caused, l presume, by
listening SO much with that ear to the
Jog horn year in and year out. Now, 1
always place the lady whose conversation
[ wish most to enjoy at my left hand at
liable. Would you oblige me by taking
that seat this voyage2 / have heard Of
you, you see, Mrs. Browning, although
you have never crossed with me before?''
why, certainly, captain" replied
MR.. Browning; Il feel especially compli-
mented." .
"And I assure you, madam, said the
polite captain, ssthat [ would not for the
world miss a single word, that" etc.
And thus it was all amicablg arranged
between the two ladies. All this has
nothing whatever to do with the story.
1t is merely an incident given to show
what a born diplomat Captain Rice was
and is to this day. | don't know any
captain more popular with the ladies
than he, and besides he is as good a
sailor as crosses the ocean.
As day by day went on and the good
ship plowed her way toward the east,
tbs passengers were unanimous in saying
that they never had a pleasanter voyage
for that time Of the year. 1t was SO
warm on deck that many steamer chairs
were out, and below it was SO mild that
q person might think he wa journeying
In the tropics. Yet they had left New
York in a snow storm with the ther-
mometer away below zero.
aSuch," said young Spinner, who
knew everything, 'such is the influence
Of the Gulf Stream"
Nevertheless when Captain Rice came
down to lunch the fourth day out his
face was haggard and his look furtive
and anxious.
HWhy, captain" cried Mrs. Assistant
Attorney, .syou look as if you hadn't
slept a wink last night"
Il slept very well, thank you, madam"
replied the captain. 81 always do"
swell, I hope your room was more
comfortable than mine. 1t seemed to
me too hot for anything. Didn't you
find it so, Mrs. Digbya"
81 thought it very nice," replied the
lady on the captains right, who gener-
ally found it necessary to take an oppo.
site view from the lady at the left.
aYou see" said the captain, 1--WE
have many delicate women aud cliidcnn
On board, and it it necessary to keep up
The temperature. Still, perhaps the man
who attends to the steam rather overdoes
it. ! will speak to him.
Then the eaptaia pushed from him
his untasted food and went up on the
bridge, casting his eye aloft at the signal
waving from the masthead, silently call
ing for help from all the empty horizon.
stNothing in sight, Johnsona" said the
captain.
ssNot a speck, sir.
"Keep a sharp lookout, Johnson
sYes, sir.
The captain modify paced the bridge
with his head down.
81 ought to have turned back to New
York. hesaid TO himself.
Then he went down to his own room,
avoiding the passengers as much as he
could, and had the steward bring him
some beef tea. Even a captain cannot
live on anxiety.
ssSteamer off the port bow, sir" rang
out the voice of the lookout at the PROV.
The man had sharp eyes, for q landsman
could have seen nothing.
run and tell the captain" cried
Johnson to the sailor at his elbow, but
as the sailor turned the captains head
appeared up the stairway. He seized
the glass and looked long at a single
point in the horizon.
1T must be the Vutcan,n no said at
last.
81 think SO, SIR
Turn your wheel Q few points to
port and bear down on her"
johnson gave the necessary order and
the great ship veered around.
ssHellol, cried Spinner, on deck.
Here ) i steamer. found her. She's
nine.
Then there was q rush to the side DIT
fac ship. "a steamer III sight was
ne cry, and AL books and magazines at
tasaa lost interest. Even the piacid,
agniied Englishman who was Nh un-
communicative rose from bis chair md