The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-07-26
lizzie.


those accomplishments no one was quite
sure. 1t was mystery even to himself
Besides this he knew all about ship-not
because he had studied navigation in any
college whatever, but because beginning
as a cabin boy, he had slowly fought his
way up to the honorable post of captain
captain and owner" he was proud to
say, ''of the Betsy Hacket.'
Betsy was his wife's name, and his wife
had been plump, good natured sailors
daughter. When they were married, she
felt quite content with her little front
room in a riverward street and indeed
was more than satisfied with the glories
! which two green papier mache parrots and
bunch of white coral, to say nothing of
live parrot in a pewter cage and a tea
tray, straight from China, with Chinese
lady in out of door costume upon it, lent
the establishment. But that was when
Benjamin Hacket was 'sbefore the mast, :"
and she had left him long ago, and Cap
tain Hacket's daughter had other notions
They lived in another quarter of the city
now, and in their parlor were ornaments
which put the parrots to the blush, and
Betsy's daughter called herself Elizabeth
and had no notion of being less fashion
able than her neighbors, and people said
Captain Hacket was immensely rich and
would leave his daughter an heiress
Pretty and an heiress, she had plenty
who called themselves friends, of course
She was belle in the circle to which her
wealth had introduced her, and perhaps
her head was a little turned by the fattery
she received.
Moreover, she had grown to be not quite
SO well pleased when, following in her fa-
theirs wake on his return from any voy-
age, she saw that handsome sunburned
mate of his, Tom Hadaway.
She had known Tom almost all her life,
and once she had been very fond of him.
She liked him still and knew that he was
manly and handsome and well educated.
She knew, too that wherever he went his
first thought was to find some dainty gift
for her on his home coming.
And there had been time when she
had believed that her fathers wish might
come to pass and Tom Hadaway become
her husband, but with the elegant house
in the fashionable square had arisen other
ideas.
So, during one of her fathers longest
voyages, she permitted Melton Melton,
Esq, who had, by slow degrees, become
her beau ideal of manly perfection, to slip
an engagement ring upon her slender fin
ger and gave him permission to TASK
papa, in the most approved fashion.
Consequently, when Captain Hacket ar
rived, grand news awaited him-news
that made him quicker his face and wrinkle
his brows and growl Indignantly.
Il ,rT~
captain. ''That puppy! Lord love you,
what do you women see in a fellow like
that? They amt men according to my
reckoning -only gals in wrong clothes
Him!'
He adores me- papa" said Elizabeth,
melting into tears, land I should die if
you were cruel. Do you consent, papa3"
'sAnd how about Tom Hadaway2" ask
ed the captain.
At this Lizzie curled her lip.
''It was not Tom S affair, - she surmised
''Tom loves you better than his life, I"
said the captain. tive as much as given
him to understand that I'll make no OBJ
jections. Why, if was girl, I'd have
Tom Hadaway before any other fellow
upon earth. I'd trust daughter in that
mans hands as I would ship. AS for
this fellow, the only use you could make
of him in the time of storm would be to
throw him overheard to tighten the ship,
and, by the Lord Harry, his weight would
not make much difference. Poor Tom!
Think it over now, Lizzie!'
But Lizzie was firm, and she was the
captains pet, and though the old man
gave his consent very reluctantly still he
gave it at last. And poor Tom Hadaway
heard the news with sad heart and sailed
away to sea again with the captain.
This time the. captains voyage was but
short one. He returned quite unexpect-
eddy one day with something unpleasant
evidently upon his mind.
He made no explanation to his daughter
at first, but sat with his hat on in very
disconsolate mood.
'sHe was well enough - he said when
Lizzie asked him.
And after this statement he groaned and
said:
Poor lass
''Perhaps, thought Lizzie, sit was all
about her engagement Tom was such a
favorite."
She was SO sure of this that she felt
nervous about mentioning the fact that
Melton Melton was anxious that she
should ''name the day. but she did at
last and was surprised to receive for an
swer:
''The sooner the better, lass-the sooner
the better. Yes, yes I'll talk to the
young fellow when he comes"
And so, ''the young fellow arriving al
most on the moment, the captain shook
hands with him warmly enough, and they
sat together very amicably
The weather was discussed; also other
| ordinary topics which are spoken of as a
matter of course when people meet each
other in morning calls, and then young
| Melton, who was one of that order of ex-
| quisites who cannot speak without az
many gasps as are emitted by dying dol
phin, began to hint at the grand subject
under consideration.
| Had Miss -ah-ah-mentioned
-ah-the object of-in fact, of this call
| ah"-
| "I've heard that you are anxious to be
spllced as soen as possible, my lad, said
the captain, land I've just told Lizzie
that as things stand today don't care
| how soon the affair is settled. Sail into
the harbor of matrimony in week if you
| like. I've got to leave home again, and