Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-08-24
PROVIDENCE COTTAGE.
Why Captain Sol Buddle Conclud-
ed He Wouldn't Build 1t.

ed He Wouldn't Build It
Providence cottage Mrs. Pringlc,
ma'am, 1t shall be-" said Capt. Sol
Bubble firmly, as he passed his huge
cup for another cup of tea, and wiped
his forehead with a red bandana hand
kerchief.
"Well, captain" said Mrs. Pringlc, in
tones of amiable acquiesccncc. you
being n scholard, and having book
learning moreover, It isn't for me ito
gainsay you"
Mrs. pringle, ma'am," said the
captain, emphatically rapping his spec
taclo case on the table, "your senti-
ments do you honor When a man
comes to my time of life
Mrs. Pringle made little deprecatory
movement of her pretty fat hand
"Only forty-Ave, Capt Buddle, " softly
suggested Mrs. Pringle.
The captain bowed courteously. mot
being used TO the society OF amiable
ladies like yourself, Mrs. Pringle,
don't quite know how 70 undeceive you
as to my years"
Outside, tumultuous wavcs beat noisi-
ly against the shingly shore, as II in
sisting that Capt. Sol Buddle should be
delivered up TO them; inside, the only
sound which broke the stiffness was a
pensive new from Mrs. Pringlc's Per-
sian cat. The captain paused again,
took up the cat and thoughtfully
poured out some milk for IL. my cat
on board the Morning Star would
never take his milk without a spoonful
of grog In It," he said, reniniscently;
but he tried II too much for his
strength; he was always ambitious,
that cat was-too ambitious. Laid him
self out to eat up all the ships cock
roaches though he knew they'd disa-
gree with him; and there was funeral
soon after-his funeral. lie took lot
Of cocltroaches with him, too-as many
as he could hold, poor chap" Capt.
Buddle heaved sigh to the memory of
his departed favorite.
"As to my years." he resumed
they"
The quiet Mrs. Pringle, who was not
much given to interruptions, did a most
unusual thing-she interrupted the
captain again-for the third time. "A
man is as young as he looks" she said
And you, Capt. Buddle, don't look n
day over forty-five."
The captain again bowed with nauti-
cal grace. Seeing you've set your
mind ON it, Mrs. Pringlc, wen make 1t
SO; though, II any questions are asked,
the facts will go against it,"
mo one will be SO impcrtincnt,' said
Mr.. Pringle, rs she looked pensivcly
down at her pretty slipper.
The captain passed his cup for more
tea, a beverage to which he had lately
taken n great fancy; its novelty APP
pealed to him most strongly. In his
seafaring days at this hour-like the
departed cat-he had generally par
taken of a soothing beverage with rum
in 1t. But the widow had gradually
weaned the captain from such an UNI
ladylike beverage as rum in the day
time, and he found ever fresh delight
In tea-tea with cream in it-tea by
the bucket-tea containing four Jumps
Of sugar TO each supply. Al ter o'clock
every night, however, the widows fair
hands brewed her ledger what he was
facetiously wont to call "a stiff nor'-
wester." Then, the captain sat
thoughtfully by the FIRE, living his voy-
ages over again, and full of simple,
reverent thanltfulness that he had been
spared 10 drift into such a pleasant
haven Of peace.
Mrs, Pringle continued TO knit, as the
cat drowsily purred on the captains
knee. The captain put down his cur
and took up the plan of a very snug,
two-storied cottage, with verandu
running all round IT, Providence
cottage, It shall be, Mrs. Pringle;" and
he looked about for a pipe spill.
Mrs. Pringle handed him one with
something of sigh.
| "For more than six months" said the
captain, meditatively drawing a long
breath and carefully using his little
finger for a tobacco stopper-"for more
than six months I've been laid up in
port, so TO speak, and yet in sight and
smell of the sea-"
Eyes, you can certainly smell II, Vt
said Mrs. Pringle, obviously. And
when the fishing boats come in, it's a
little bit-eh-strong."
WELL" said the captain, admiringly,
"a trifie, maybe, for delicate lady's
nose like yours, Mrs. Pringle; hui
there's not an unpleasant flavor about
1t to a man who's spent his life in com
munion, so TO speak, with such smells.
Why, every port has different smell
and you get TO know the lay OF the LAND
by 1t long before you drop anchor"
Aren't you tired Of the sight of tn,
sea?" somewhat inconsequently asked
Mrs. Pringle, again filling the captain'i
cup, which was blue and white, will
"A Present from Ventnor" on II II
bold, clear characters of green. Mrs
Pringle lived about mile beyonC
Ventnor, in a snug little cottage, whos'
garden ran down 10 the sea.
mo, ma'am. ! amt" returned thu
captain, meditatively. "Cause why
Mrs. Pringle? The sea gets into |
mans blood and heart and brain
When he goes down TO the ships, like
wise fishing smaclis, it's because he
drawn TO it, so 10 speak lie can't hell
It, The wonders Of the deep are al
ways wonders 10 him, though he's seer
them all his days; the harvest of tn
seats dead mems bones, its cora
caves, where, saving your presence
those fish-tailed hussies, the mermaids
sit waiting for you with deceitful mur
murings and delusive songs-is afor
him ever in the night watches; ever
wind that blows, every whale tina
spouts, is known 10 him almost as wei
as its Creator"
Mrs. Pringle shuddered. ''Its |