The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-09-12
A MODERN KNIGHT.
by GEORGE THOw.

1t was dark enough on the wharf
Lamps here and there showed barely
to outline where the quay ended and
the black void of water began. No
vessels lay alongside, for coal strike
had sent them elsewhere seeking car
goes, and this east coast harbor was de-
serted. The cranes stood gaunt and
silent, and the coal-trimmers' huts were
empty.
\ light shone out of the unshuttered
window of wooden box placed close to
the quay wall, and bearing the sign
board of the Albion Steam Shipping
company. Inside, the shipping clerk sat
in weary expectation of the Tuskar, due
from a German port. He had prepared
the custom house papers ready for the
captains signature, had studied the
manifest of the cargo, come to hand by
post, and, as for the ninth time he re-
filled his pipe, he gazed mournfully at
the hands of the loudly-ticking little
ship-timcpiece that ornamented the
dingy wall boards. "Ten O'clock" was
his nnspoken soliloquy, (which means
that light as she is-and the captain
might have carried all the cargo this
trip in his coat-pocket-light as she is,
she won't get berthed until the tide
makes say IL o'clock" and after this
effort he relapsed into a comatose state,
tobacco smoke at times slowly altering
out of his mouth. A rush of cold wind
betokened the opening of the door, and
head appeared, hairy, with cloth cap
and ear laps tightly fastened down.
"She amt in sight yet. hev been to
the pier-head, and can't see her any
where's" and the old Waterman and
rope-tender edged into the box.
A somnolent grunt was the only re-
ply.
''That ould Tuskar amt fit for the
work, that she amt; she's missin' tides
reg'lar, now"
With clumsy carefulness the old
man opened the red-hor door of the lit
tie DOGGY stove, and addedxfresh fuel.
Although of small size, the shipping
box, with it's warped boarding, was not
over hot. The keen wind found entry
through hundred crevices; and it was
cold outside. Here and there in the
plank flooring knot-holes let in the
sound of the sullen wash of the rising
tide as it restlessly beat among the
piles of the wooden pier. The mufiled
roaring of the stove, and the ticking of
the clock, were the only other sounds
to be heard, with the intermittent
gurgling as the old Waterman labori-
ously sucked at his pipe.
For a moment face looked in at
the window, and then light tapping
came to the door. Too light for the
dulled ears of the old man or the half
sleeping shipping clerk. Then the
handle turned after some fumbling,
and stiff blast sent the door against
the wall with bang.
''Shut the door, darn you," was the
irritable exclamation of the shipping
clerk, as he felt the piercing wind bit
ing the back of his neck. "You Gus
toms men get to think that the whole
harbor belongs to you"
please can you tell me when the
steamship Tuskar is likely to arrive?'
was asked in timid, softly modulated
voice.
The shipping clerk jumped up so has
tily that the wooden chair he sat upon
fell back with loud crash, and the old
Waterman, who had been gazing sleep
lily at the glowing stove, stood erect, and
backed into corner, meantime un-
easily lingering his cap. A lady, young,
not more than is, of slender make, very
pretty, even that could be made out
through the veil she wore, stood
on the threshold in doubtful way,
and there was a nervous thrill in her
voice that went straight to the not over
susceptible heart of the shipping clerk.
Come in, miss. 1t is a very cold
night. Yes, this is the agents Office.
The Tuskar is behind time this trip.
She won't get alongside for couple of
hours or so, even if she did come in.
Except anybody on board of her, miss?"
he queried, with the least tinge of won
der in his accents.
But thought the vessel would be in
harbor." There was a suspicion of
tears in the voice.
Its BLOWN fresh from the west'ard.
ma'am, and that's agin' her, We Sees" in |
terjected the Waterman. She's an old
boat, ma'am, and amt got the legs. |
askin' yer pardin', ma'am, as she once
had"
Perhaps, if you went home and came
down tomorrow it would be BETTER
added the shipping clerk, as he syn,-
pathetically regarded the girlish figure.
and speculated curiously to himself !
who on board the old Tuskar had high
class lady friends, for lady she was.
although little could be distinguished |
owing to the heavy and close veil.
''Oh no, 1 can't go back" was the |
nervous rejoinder. II must wait. Please |
Is there waiting-room on the pier 2" |
mo, MISS" was the apoiogetic reply. |
"You see our boats don't carry pas
sengers as a rule, but"-earnestly--t