The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-01
PROVIDENCE COTTAGE.
Why Captain Sol Buddle Conclud-
ed He Wouldn't Build It

Providence cottage Mrs Pringle,
ma'am, it shall be- said Capt. Sol
Buddle firmly, as he passed his huge
cup for another cup of tea, and wiped
his forehead with red bandana hand
kerchief.
well, captain" said Mrs Pringle, in
tones Of amiable acquiescence, you
being scholard, and having book
learning moreover. it isn't for me ito
gainsay you"
Mrs Prngle, ma'am," said the
captain, enphatically rapping his spec
tacle case on the table, your senti-
ments do you honor When q man
comes to my time of life
Mrs Pringle made little deprecatory
movement of her pretty fat hand.
Only forty-6ve, Capt Buddle, softly
suggested Mrs. Pringle.
The captain bowed courteously. mot
being used to the society of amiable
ladies like yourself. Mrs. Pringle, I
don't quite know how to undeceive you
as to my years"
Outside, tumultuous waves beat noisi-
II against the shingly shore, as if in
sisting that Capt Sol Buddie should be
delivered up to them; inside, the only
sound which broke the stiffness was
pensive new from Mrs. Pringles Per-
sian cat. The captain paused again,
took up the cat and thoughtfuny
poured out some milk for it My cat
on board the Morning Star would
never take his milk without a spoonful
of grog in it." he said. reminiscently;
"but he tried it 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
reaches, though he knew they'd disa-
gree with him; and there was funeral
soon after--his funeral. He took q lot
of cockroaches with him, too-as many
as he could hold, poor chap" Capt
Bubble 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 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 .
day over forty-ive."
The captain again bowed with nauti-
cal grace. Seeing you've set your
mind on it. Mrs. Pringle, we'll make it
SO; though, if any questions are asked,
the facts will go against it,
mo one will be SO impertinent, said
Mr.. Pringle, as she looked pensively
down at her pretty slipper.
The captain passed his cup for more
tea. beverage to which he had lately
taken 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 soothing beverage with rum
in it, But the widow had gradually
weaned the captain from such an I'M
ladylike beverage as rum in the day
time, and he found ever fresh delight
the bucket-tea containing four Jumps
of sugar to each supply. At ten o'clock
every night, however, the widows fair
hands brewed her lodger what he was
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 thankfulness that he had been
spared to 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 cup
and took up the plan Of very snug,
two STORED cottage, with veranda
running all round it. '''P Providence
cottage. it shall be, Mrs. Pringle;;" and
he looked about for pipe spill.
Mrs. Pringle handed him one with
of a sigh.
For more than six months" said the
meditatively drawing long
breath and carefully using his little
finger for 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 it."
said Mrs. Pringle, obviously. And
when the fishing boats come in, it's a
little bit--eh-strong"
Well" said the captain, admiringly,
''a trife, maybe, for delicate lady's
nose like yours. Mrs. Pringle: but
there's not an unpleasant flavor about
it to man who's spent his life in COM
SO to speak, with such smells.
Why, every port has different smell,
and you get to know the lay of the land
by it long before you drop anchor"
Aren't you tired of the sight of the
sea?" somewhat inconsequently asked
Mrs. Pringle. again filing the captains
cup, which was blue and white. with |
"a Present from Ventnor" on it in
bold, clear characters of green. Mrs. |
Pringle lived about a mile beyond |
Ventnor, in a snug little cottage, whose +!
garden ran down to the sea-
NO, ma'am. / amt returned the !
captain, meditativcly '"Canse why, |
Mrs. Pringle? The sea gets into a |
mans blood and heart and brain. |
When he goes down TO the ships, like /
wise fishing snacks, it's because he's /
drawn 70 it, so to speak. He can't help |
It. The wonders of the deep are a. /
ways wonders to him, though he's seen /
them all his days; the harvest Of the /
seats dead mems bones, It's coral i
caves. where, saving your presence, /
those hsh-tsiled hussies. the nermaids, I
sit waiting for you with deceitful nur- 1
nurings and deiusive songs afore /
him ever in the night watches: every ]
wind tina: blows. every whale that 4
spouts. is known to him almost as well /
rs it's Creator" /
Mrs Pringle shndder-d- TITS 1
-rneI traaoher.lr,s thing ste said-..a !