The National tribune., 1896-07-23

figure of Capt. Crippen entered and stcad
there eyeing them nervously. A neat htiis
speech he had prepared failed him at the
supreme moment. He leaned against the
wall, and in n clumsy, shamefaced fashion
lowered his gaze and stammeEed out the
one word, Martha!n
At that word Mrs. Pepper rose and stood
with parted lips, cycling him wildly.
"Jem !" she gasped, "Jeml"
Martha" !" croaked the Captain again.
With a choking cry Mrs. Pepper ran to-
ward him, and, to the hinge qualification OF
her lawful spouse, flung her arms about his
neck and kissed him violently.
"Jem," she cried, breathlessly, us 1t
really you? ] can hardly believeit. Where
have you been all this long time? Where
have you been?"
Lots of places said the Captain, who
was not prepared to answer question like
that off-hand "but wherever I've been" he
held up his hand theatrically, " the image
of my dear lost wife has been always in front
Of me-"
"I knew You at once, Jem," said Mrs.
Pepper, fondly smoothing the hair back from
his forehead. Have altered much?"
Not Bit" said Crippen, holding her at
arms length and carefully regarding her.
"YOu look just the same as the first time l
set eyes on you"
"Where have you been?" walled Martha
Pepper, putting her head on his shoulder.
when the Dolphin went down from
under me l was lett fighting with the wares
for life, till, Martha, was east ashore on
desert island" began Crippen fuently.
There remained for nearly three years,
when / was rescued by bark bound for
New South Wales. There met man from
Poole, who told me you were dead. Having
no further interest in the land of my birth,
l sailed in Australian waters for many
years, and it was only lately that / heard
how cruelty had been deceived, and that
my little flower was still blooming"
The little flowers head being well down
on his shoulder again, the celebrated actor
exchanges glances with the worshiping
Pepper :,
Mrs. Pepper. "Who was he? What was
his Dame?"
Smith" said the cautious Captain
"If you'd only come before, Jem," said
Mrs Pepper, in smothered voice, e" it
would have been better. Only three months
ago married that object over there"
The Captain attempted melodramatic
hbdEt Win suCu SutttSS tidi ItNluS oObut-
what underestimated the weight of his fair
bride, he nearly lost his balance.
at can't be helped, / suppose" be said
reproachfully, but you might have waited
little longer, Martha"
well, I'm your wife, anyhow" said
Martha, and III take care never lose you
again You shall never 20 out of my sight
again till you die. Never
~ NOR ~ aaid fhe CaniaiD
changing uneasy glsnces with the exploit.
Nonsense"
at isn't nonsense, Jem," said the lady, as
she drew him on to the sofa and sat with her
arms around his neck. '' 1t may be true all
you've told me. and it may not. For all |
know, you may have been married to some
other woman; but I've got you now, and
intend 10 keep you"
There, there,n said the Captain, as sooth-
ingly as strange sinking at the heart would
allow him.
AS ior that other little man, only mar
ried him because he worried me So" said
Mrs. Pepper, tearfully. 81 never loved him,
but he used to follow me about and propose.
Was it II or l3 times you proposed to me,
Pepper?"
II forget" said the ex-pilot shortly.
"But / never loved him. she continued.
81 never loved you bit, did | Pepper"
Not bit" said Pepper warmly. No
man could ever have harder or more un-
feeling wife than you was. I'll say that for
you willing"
AS he bore his testimony to bis wife's fl
deity, there WAS a knock at the door. and
upon his opening 1T, the rector's daughter,
lady of uncertain age, entered and stood re-
eardng with amaZement the frantic bnt in
effectual struggles OF Capt Crippen to release
himself from position as uncomfortable as
it was ridiculous.
Mrs. Pepper!" said the lady, aghast
oh, Mrs. Pepper."
Its all right Miss Winthrop" said the
lady addressed, calmly, as she forced the
Captains flushed face onto her ample shoul-
der again; "its my first husband, Jem
Budd"
Good gracious!" said Miss Winthrop,
starting "Enoch Arden in the flesh"
"Who?" inquired Pepper, with show of
polite interest.
"Euoch Arden" said Miss Winthrop.
"0ne of our great poets wrote noble poem
about "a sailor who came home and found
that his vile had married again; but in the
poem the first husband went away without
making himself known, and died of
broken heart"
Sle looked at Capt. Crippen, as though he
hadn't quite come up to her expectations.
And now," said Pepper, speaking with
great cheeriulness it's me that's got to
have the broken heart Well, welln
It's most interesting case" cried Miss
Winthrop, and if you wait till l fetch my
camera I'll take your portrait together just
as you are"
"DO," said Mrs. Pepper cordially.
won't have my portrait took" said the
Captain, with much acerbity.
Not if | wish it, dear? inquired Mrs.
Pepper tenderly.
Not if you keep a-wishing it all your
life" replied the Captain sourly, making
another attempt to get his head from her
shoulder.
Don't you think they ought to have their
portraits taken nOw?" asked Miss Winthrop,
turning to the ex-pilot.
81 don't see no arm in it,n said Pepper
thOughtlessly.
You hear what Mr.. Pepper says" said
the lady, turning to the Captain again.
Surely if he doesn't mind, you ought not
to-"
I'll talk to him by-and-by, ;" said the Cap
tain very grimly.
P'raps it would be better if we kept this
affair to ourselves for the present" said the
ex-pilot, taking alarm at his friends manner.
"Well, won't intrude on you any longer"
said Miss Winthrop. "Oh! Look there!
How rude of them"
The others turned hastily in time to see