The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-11
CHAPTER VII.

the admiral had SAID about Esual1e Delng
ashamed of his father, IL was not without
wish to make E>daile ashamed of himself
that Brydell. the first time they met alone.
said carelessly:
by the way, Esdaile. believe you are
the son of one OF the best friends have
IN the world-Private Grub Of the ma
rines. l nearly killed him once, when
was a kid, and after that we came to be
tremendously fond of one another
Esdaile's face turned crimson.
''Pd-Pd rather you wouldn't mention
about my father" answered Esdaile. You
know, my mothers people, the Esdailes,
were altogether different from my fathers
My grandfather Esdaile was am ambitious
mantle Esdailes are good fsmily-and
left me some money on condition 1 changed
my name, and it would be awkward for me
when I'm an officer to have it known that
my father is private of marines"
Very awkward for Grubb." said Bry-
dell. coolly. 81 should think your father
would be awfully ashamed of you. Grub,
you know. is a fine man. Every officer be
ever served under thinks highly of him,
and you are evidently cad of the most
pronounced description. No, won't men,
ton the relationship, for GrubDs sake"
Now. this was highly insubordinate talk
from plebe to third-cass man.
Esdaile Strengthened himself up.
''Do you know that you are speaking to
your superior, sir"
30, come off," answered Brydell. care
lessly. This isn't any class question it's
a mere private matter between us two. |
say. your father, if he is an uneducated
man, is twice as much of gentleman at
heart as you are for all your education and
your money and your fine name, because
Grub respects himself, and that's the first
thing about gentleman, so I've been
told"
Esdaile walked off in silent fury. He
did not care to undertake to discipline
Brydell on such matter, as it would only
be proclalming what he earnestly desired
to conceal, so he swallowed his chagrin
and determined TO get even with Brydell
some other way.
Although hazing is strictly prohibited by
act of Congress the milder form of il.
known as running" is not wholly nm.
pTacticed, and Brydell had his experience
OF singing the clothes list to the tune of
Hall Columbia" chewing soap, standing
on his head for the amusement of the third
class and various other of the boyish tricks
that seem 10 afford such intense satisfac-
ton TO the third class-men. Brydell being
very good-tempered fellow took it all in
good part. Esdaile had no share in it, but
avoided Brydell as mnch as possible Bry-
dell soon found out that Esdaile's reputation
Tor straightforwardness was none of the
best. The code OF h-telling is abso-
lutely rigid at Annapolis and a fellow
caught In a lie would undoubtedly be
forced TO leave, whether the wrongdoing
came TO the ear of the authorities or not.
Now Esdaile had not actually been caught
in falseh0od by any of his classmates,
but there was general sinister impression
that ne would just as soon lie as tell The
truth, provided he was not caught. His
recltatlons had been admirable and he had
very few dement's, and stood we'll with
the faculty, but he did not stand SO well
with his own class. Apparently, no one
knew of bis relationship to the marine.
and Brydell was quite above the meanness
OF telling il.
Early in June the graduating exercises
were held, and Lieutenant BrydelPs ship
having got to San Francisco few weeks
before Brydell was delighted one day to
get dispatch from his father saying he
would be at Annapolis before the cadets
sailed on their summer cruise.
Oh. the happiness that Brydell felt, one
June day. when he once more Rugged the
''old man." Brydell himself had grown
and improved so much, and the brief
setting up" process he had gone through
with had made him look so much more
mature, that he and his father Looked more
like two brothers than ever. The lieuten-
ant felt perfectly happy in bis boy. He
had ell along been conscious of the weak
points IN the boys training, and when
young Brydell had of his own accord cast
aside all indulgence and worked maufully,
in the face OF heart breaking disappoint-
ments, his fathers joy in him knew no
bounds. Brydell showed his hands, which
were rough and sunburned, to his father
with pride.
"Just look at 'em. dad." he cried, with
natural, bOyish conceiG; 'g0t them by
holding tna nl0w and hoy md
chopping wood. You ought to have heard
the admiral laugh when he saw me trying
to drive the OK team through the gate. Pm
not exactly first-class farmhand-1 WASN'T
worth more than SO month-but didn't
shirk, l can tell you. And Won don't
know, old man. how much better it was
working In the fresh air, with plenty of
wholesome country food to cal than drndg-
Ing In an office, and the horses and cows
were excellent company. / pity the poor
fellows that have to work in city Offices.
Give me the country every time"
The lieutenant gazed at him while mist
gathered in bis eyes. He could only saw.
my brave boy! My brave boyv'
Brydell told his father that he must 90
out to see the Laurisons, and the lieuten
ant nothing 10th went and spent the day.
He came home delighted with the kind
people for whom he felt sincere gratitude.
and he brought back large nosegay from
little Minna, and childish letter written
in big, round hand 10 young Brydell.
Before tue Constellation sailed, Brydell
sent her cap ribbon with ~. S. S. Con-
stellation" on il in gold letters and a set
of cadet buttons for her jacket. OF course.
every cadet had his ''best girl" and per-
baps half dozen other girls" generally
young ladies older than themselves. But
Brydell maintained mysterious silence
about his ''best girl" only admitting that
her name was Minna. and she had long,
light hair.
One lovely morning in June the Con-
stellation that had been lying al anchor In
Annapolis Roads for several days, set her
white sails, aud with fair wind took her
majestic way to the open sea. She has
never bad steam in her. as it is desired that
the cadet shall know actual seamanship,
and except for being frequently repaired.
and even rebuilt, she is very much the
same as ii the times when she was one of
the crack frigates Of the nation, and when
she made her glorious record as fighting
ship. From the days when she had come
off victorious in two fights against sbips
that were her Superiors. and had remained
uncaptnred, although blockaded by a great
fleet for years, in 1928, she had been al
ways classed as lucky ship, and lucky
she lrOved.