The morning call., 1893-01-15
CHAPTER ".
SHE MEETS CAPTAIN BUTLER.

SHE MEETS CAPTAIN BUTLER.
After this business you might suppose
that Mr.. Stanford made haste 20 remove his
plate aud his lamp to his old or another
house. Not at all. He found it convenient
TO stay; and / contrived 70 endure him fol
the sake # the child that was not between
three and four years Of age, poor feeble
little creature, with but slender promise OF
life Units white face and thin frame.
few weeks after the trouble with Mr..
Potter had happened l went TO my uncle's
house near the Tower TO sup and spend the
evening. AS with Stepney, so with this
part: 1t has sunk pretty low. Yet slen
was a girl some very respectable families
lived In the neighborhood Of the Tower.
Ny uncle's house, as l have said. included
his Offices. They had been the front and
back parlors In The front Office sat a
unce's private Office, where he received bis
clients. The family occupied the upper
part OF the house, according TO the good old
fashion of trade waen men were not
ashamed of their business. The rooms
above corresponded with the offices below
the front room was furnished as drawing
room, the back as a parlor.
| was as much at home in my unele's
house as il had been his child, and pass
ing the servant, who opened the door,
went npsiairs to my aunt's bedroom to take
of my bonnet and brush my hair. On the
landing heard voices in the drawing-room.
! guessed my uncle had company, and
hoped, unless there we're others. that it
was not old Mr.. Simmords. shipbroker, a
person 10 whom my uncle was always very
civil aDG hospitable as being useful in bust
ness, ana who, to my-miDd, was the most
wearisOme, inspid, teasing old man that
ever chair groaned under.
l removed my bonnet-you would laugh
were you 10 see the great coal-scutile shaped
continuance it was-brnsned my hair. viewed
myself a little complaeently. for it was an
Aprl day, the wind brisk, and my walk
had put some color into my cheeks, from
which my dark eyes took clearer fire, aud
went TO the drawing-rO0m. On entering
found my uncle sitting with gentleman.
The stranger was not Mr.. Simmonds. Ny
aunt stood at the window looking out
why, here am / watching for YOU" said
she. Marian, my dear, Captain Butler"
dropped the stranger a courtesy Of those
times, and with a quick glance gathered
him. Small need TO call him captain 10
know he was a sailor. His weather-dark-
ened face, the fashion of his clothes. the
indescribable ocean-rOlliDg ease OF his man.
ner OF rising and bowling to me we're assur-
ance enough OF his calling | took him TO be
man aoout 90 His eyes were dark blue,
and full OF good humor and intelligence bis
hair was auburn, curling and plentiful, no
feature Oh him but was admirabe-nose,
mouth, teeth-all combined In a face OF
manly beauty. He stood about five feet
eleven, and thoagh there was nothing of
the soldier in his erect posture, his figure
was without any hint of that rounded back
and hanging-armed sto0p which comes to
people who'ye had TO pull and haul Oh a
reeling deck for sour pork, and creeping
bread in their youth.
These and like points did not notice all
at once in that first glance. Int before half
an hour was gone / could have drawn cor
rect portrait OF him from memory, so often,
at every maidenly and modest opportunity,
were my eyes upon him.
He had done business with uncle, ard hay-
ing lately arrived in the Thames, had called.
and been asked to stay 70 supper and meet