The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-05
MRS. BEAUFORT'S MAD HOUSEMAID,
BY MRS. HOLLAND Honor BRIGHT)
tory o IS
Copyreht Honor bright
Author Of The story of Miss Howard" etc


a letter. in his left a pipe. But ne was
neither reading the one nor smoking the
other. but sat staring straight before him
with a bewildered expression on his hon
est face.
Presently he laid down the pipe, and with
his disengaged hand tapped the letter
twice or thrice. each time murmuring some
such disconnected sentence as;
We'll I'm blest-if-here's a rum 60
Great Scot. only TO think'-and breaking
OF in the middle
His vessel, THE Ocean Queen" trading
between Australian and New Zealand
ports. was just now lying at Port Mel
bourne, waiting for her cargo. II was the
dinner hour. and all on board was verS
quiet.
After a bit the captain laid down the let
ter. got up. and stretched. As he did so
he passed his hand over his head
There's no mistake about it," he said TO
himself, your old uncle has just gone on
IN time for you"
He approached the little mirror that
hung over his table, and earnestly scan
ned his jovial countenance He then pro-
ceeded to take-but never mind what-for
the sound of footsteps down The alleyway
checked him in whatever he had been go-
ing to do. and changing his mind. he Open-
--steward-bOy.
yes. sir" answered back three voices
at once from different directions.
The captain was much beloved on board,
but he had one failing. and that was, he
could not bear TO be kept waiting an in-
slant. When he called, or ran, ne seemed
10 wish Il 10 be understood that no matter
where the person was he wanted, that per
son must instantly answer. whether he
were down IN the matches or up on the
mast's head.
Il didn't hear you sir" was no excuse
whatever to the captain.
Then how dare you not, SIR would be
his instant rejoinder Whether you hear
or not, sir, is nothing 10 me, for l won't
be kept waiting"
hot-tempered men, could be as easily man
aged as an infant-if only one knew how.
And it soon became apparent that when
he called or rang, as long as some one
answered at once II was all right.
so when he called "Quartermaster-
steward" and the cook and the chief
officer both answered together, 1t salts
fed him.
Especially. just then. for it was the
chief officer he wanted
Mr.. Martin" he said. come here
Mr.. Martin, a pleasant-faced young fell
low, under thirty, approached and en-
tered the cabin.
Sit down, my boy said his captain,
for / don't want to knock you down"
Sir stammered the astonished Off
Ger.
"Ha-ha" roared the captain. mo I'm
not drunk, Martin. but I've some news for
you. How would you like TO go skipper
of the Ocean Queen?
He smote his officer on the back with
his broad, brown hand. as he asked this
question, and laughed again at the dismay
on Martins countenance.
Look here, my boy" he continued. i've
taken your breath away, haven't /? Wen,
I've had news this morning that l can tell
you pretty nearly took all the sail out
of me- though 1t is good news. Read that
letter"
ITO Capt. Francis Beaufort.
Sir
I'VE have the honor to inform you that
under the will of your late uncle. Thomas
Francis Beaufort, of Beaufort Hall, Sus-
sex you are entitled to go 900. Kindly
let US know, etc; etc. s-,-
well, sir" said he as he finished the
letter, II heartily congratulate you. Now
you'll leave the sea, 1 suppose. There
is no mistake about it, we shall all miss
He spoke sincerely, and the captain
wrung his hand.
Never mind missing me-" he said,
for it means promotion for you, Martin.
I'm going up TO the owners now, and II the
spoke put in your wheel doesn't give you
command of the Ocean Queen, my
names not Beaufort"
coffee room of the Port Phillip hotel sat
our friend the captain. He was still the
same jolly-looking fellow, and to add to
his good looks he was now dressed In
clothes made by the best tailor in Mel
bourne. There's no doubt about IT. fine
feathers make fine birds, but also shah
by feathers frequently disguise that
bird is fine. Good looking the captain had
always been Now he was decidedly
handsome man. His face from his four
months sojourn on shore had lost some
If lis s,ln-burn; vet the tan that would
never leave his skin only gave him more
manly look. He had bright, brown eyes
set well apart in his honest face, a good
nose-firm, wel-cut lips, which were more
frequently than not parted over SPLEEN
did set OF perfect wmte, te9th
snd s erS 9ossv ana a tbi nis Al }et
gether he looked ten years younger.
However. his face just now wore a
slightly anxious expression, and he was
sitting near one of the windows of the
coffee room evidently watching for some
one. Suddenly he changed his seat to
one with its back to the light and caught
Np a newspaper. A few minutes after
Young man entered, and looked about him.
It was Martin. There were three other
gentlemen in the room beside the cap
tain. He scanned all their faces, includ-
ing the captains, and then, with hest
tating steps advanced toward the lat
ter, who rose with an air of embarrass-
dBy Jove. sir exclaimed Martin. as
they shook hands. Il hardly knew you
you've changed So
''Hush-sh-sh." muttered the captain, in
an excited whisper Then raising his
voice. Yes, stopping on shore with plenty
of money''-he glanced around him
does after a lellOW all EOunu. come INTO
this corner, Martin-tell me all your news.
You've had fine weather all the time, 1
see and made a splendid run-broken the
record, in fact. and the owners are de-
lighted
He talked rapidly, as if to stop Martin
from speaking, and led the way to the
far end of the room. the young man fol-
lowing with a perplexed air.
Some lunch was ordered, and as they
were waiting for it Martin curiously ex-
amined his companion, whenever he
could get an opportunity of doing so I'M
observed.
i've some news for you" said the cap
tain, after the first few mouthfuls. u
shall astonish you almost as much as 1
did when l first gave you that lawyers
letter to read. I'm going to be married. .
Indeed" said Martin, and to himself
(''that explains it'). ''Well" he contin-
ued aloud, II am surprised for you were
almost a woman-hater, l remember
Well l don't know that l care for wo-
men even now, much more than ! did be-
fore laughed the captain. Il wouldn't
20 to a coffee palace to have all those
girls dangling about me for anything. But
] do care for a woman'-for my little
girl. Martin, 1 wish you couli see her
Look here" and out of his breast pocket
the captain took a miniature case, and
handed it across the table.
Lovely, lovely" pronounced Martin, af.
no an "a In ,,aIy -