The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-05-06
THE CAPTAINS MISTAKE.
How O Hasty Temper Nearly Cost
Him His Wife.


Can't. William Barton, of the ship
| Kingfisher, had but one great fault-a
violent temper.
His young wife Mabel, who had ac-
companied him for voyage to Java,
often begged him to control himself,
declaring that such a temper would yet
lead him to the Preparation of some
deed he would bitterly repent of.
Not that he was ever otherwise than
kind and gentle to her. 1t was against
his men that he sometimes became en-
ragged. They all liked him, notwith-
standing; for, except when they made
some blunder, he treated them like
brothers. They also liked and re-
spected his good wife-a beautiful bru.
nette of twenty. The health of this
young woman was perfect, and she
was as strong and active as deer.
Having been brought up near the
water, she could handle an oar with
surprising skill. and her husband had
! been heard to say that she was an ex.
| pert swimmer. He was a sturdy,
broad-shouldered fellow, with an arm
| like blacl1smith's, ruddy cheek and
clear eye. His wife loved him deep
", and whenever she saw him angry
with his men she would hover about
him, endeavoring to soothe him.
Her own brother, Jack Wilton, O
youth of seventeen, was cabin-boy.
| His relation to Mabel, however, did
not prevent his sometimes being the
object of the captains wrath.
One evening, on an occasion when
Jack was slightly i'll. he stumbled
against bucket full of tar, spilling
the latter all over the deck.
'Confound you, youngster!" roared
the skipper. ''I'il make you stand the
| lookout four hours tonight for your
awkwardness."
Mrs. Barton pleaded with him. She
had sat up most all of the previous
| night nursing her brother, and she was
sure he had not slept ten minutes dur.
| ing that time. 1t would, therefore, be
cruel to make the poor boy, who was
| not yet quite we'll, remain awake SO
! long.
But. although susceptible to his
| wife's influence, there were times
when she could not move him. He
| now resisted all her appeals, and at
dark made little Jack get into the long
boat and there seat himself, to keep a
| lookout.
"And mind that you keep a good
one.' said he. Don't let me catch you
| dozing!"
slave you put Jack on the lookout
| inquired his wife, when he joined her
in the cabin.
"Yes,"
"Cruel"' she cried, pouting, the tears
coming to her eyes.
What! You are not angry with me?'
he said.
He put his arm around her 1.-THE
waist. drew her to him and kissed her.
''Blue beard!" said she. 81 ought to
pull your HART"
She nestled in his arms, coaxed him
and pleaded with him about Jack, but
i'm vain.
Then she became very still and
thoughtful All at once a singular ex-
preston flashed in her dark eyes. She
half started, rolled round in his arms
like ball. but said not word.
A few minutes later the captain re.
tired to his apartment adjoining that
of his wife. lie soon fell asleep, but
awolSe three hours later and went on
deck.
It was n dark night, and the wind
was blowing almost gale. The cap
tain looked leeward, but through the
gloom he could see nothing of an island
the ship had been approaching when
he went below On making inquiries
of the officer of the deck, however, he
learned that the island--one of the
Fiji group-bore about mile off the
lee quarter.
He now walked toward the long
boat, in which he had stationed Jack
Wilton to keep a lookout.
"If find him vigilant and wakeful,
will let him have his watch below!"
he muttered, gently, the dark, plead
ing eyes of his wife haunting his mind.
"Halloa! He is asleep!" added the skip
per. as he approached the form seated
in the boat.
In fact, the head of the lookout
was bowed, and the deep breathing
that saluted the captain was indicative
of profound slumber.
Barton's quick temper was at once
aroused. He sprang toward the dimly
revealed form in the boat, climbed into
the vessel. and rushed at the sleeper,
intending to seize him by the shoulder,
and give him a merciless shaking. But
at that moment The ship plunged heav-
lily and, in his haste, the captain caught
his foot against the boat-mast rolling
it half out of the craft, and falling al
most PROSTATE in the boat As he fell,
his outstretched hand struck violently
against the back of the slumberer who,
thus pushed over the gunwale, struck
against the mast, which at once
dropped into the sea. The young look
OUT wentwith it, pitching, head-fore-
most, into the dark waters
"Man oyerboardl" shrieked the cap
tain, in dismay, as he staggered to his
feet. Lively there, back the main
yard and down with the boati' he add
ed, leaping to the deck.
But, just then, loud, buzzing noise
was heard. Struck by sudden, ter
rife gale, the ship went over on her
bean-ends and tore through the wa
tiers, with the spray sweeping her fore
and aft An atfemnt vvas made ~