The Forrest City times., 1893-08-04
RREST CITY, ARK, FRIDAY AFTERNOON, AUG JUST f. 1893.

had been a great source of comfort to the amiable Mrs. Pringle. And now in a couple of months Providence cottage would be finished and the captain cease to remain her lodger How kind ho had been when that ''land-shark of a coal man tried to cheat her out of sack of coals. The captain. albeit a man of peace, had knocked the fraudu- lent coal man into the middle of the cellar, and refused to allow him to de. part until he put his head through tho circular opening and humbly apolo- gized. It was something to have a great, strong, gentle-the captain was wonderfully gentle to her-sailor about the premises An, well, she would take her nephew Jack and his pretty bride. Polly Humphreys, to live with her un- til they had saved enough money to buy house-no thrMty fisherman at Ventnor ever married before he had bought house-and try to forget the captains pleasant ways. Then she re- mem mbered that Jack was little un- certain in his temper, and that the cap- tain was, except when justifiably reused by fraudulent coal men, as mild as a lamb.
 Suddenly Capt. Buddle rose from his chair and crossed over to Mrs. Pringle's side of the room. Mrs. Pringle, ma'am," he said-and his flow of lan- guage seemed to have returned to him Mrs. Pringle, ma'am, what would you think of a man who was safe in port if he ventured out to sea again in rs~k Ho lovx sided and cranky. with shifting ballast, given likewise to shipping bilge water" there was touch of real pathos in his voice as he drew this touching pie ture-'and maybe that wouldn't an swer her helm? What would you think of such a man if he was to leave his snug bunk in port and go drifting up and down, a-steerin' all over the points of the compass generally?'
 ''I should think of him whatever you thought of him, Capt. Buddle." said my opinion against that of sea-faring gentleman like yourself. But if the man you speak of is the man l take him to be. then"
 ''Then what, Mrs. Pringle, ma'am?" eagerly inquired the captain. ''He-he would stop in his bunk in port as you nautical gentlemen say" returned Mrs. PringIe.
 The captains face glowed with ex- citemsnt He took up the plans of Providence cottage to cast them in the fire. Mrs. Pringle gently stayed his hand. What are you doing?" she I asked
 | Mrs Pringle. ma'am, I'm going to commit these plans to the fiames," said the captain. unless you'll let me give them to Jack and Polly"
 "W-what?"
 | "Yes. Mrs. Pringle, ma'am, 1 am that lubber," said the captain, with re- pressed excitement. Why should go building house like Providence cottage, when my Providence is herei This is my port; and if so be you'll al- low me to cast anchor and stay here"-
 "ln command?" queried Mrs. Prin- gle, scarce knowing what she had said.
 The captain took her hand. No. Mrs. Pringle; but as first officer, with you in command, and Prudence and the cat to swab decks"
 "Ye-es," said Mrs. Pringle; and the captain, forgetting the cat kissed her.
 The cat walked out of the room, her tail stiff with indignation.
 Outside. the wind howled dismally among the brick work of the partially completed Providence cottage. Ten o'clock struck as the widow brought out her family Bible, and Prudencs Penn mberton, the maid. sat coyly down on the edge of chair just inside the parlor door
 The captain opened the Bible rever- ently. Now we'll have our sailing or ders for tomorrow" he said.
 Mrs. Pringle laid aside her knitting. looked at the captain with fearful eyes, and placed his spectacles on the open Bible, thus tacitly taking command of that goodly mariner, Capt. Sol Buddle. who put on the spectacles and some- what laboriously began to read.-G. n Burgin, in Chambers Journal.