The record-union., 1897-06-13
CAPTAIN SAUNDERS HEROINE

from the village, the little settlement
lies; swept by the storms, smiled on by
the calm, but at all times nesting con-
fidently in the arms of Nature, ready to
accept whatever treatment she may Of
fer. Where each day, as it glides laZily
along, gives one the impression of hav-
ing rightfully adopted its own standard
! of time, and of being able to snap its
| fingers contemptuously at those of us
who have narrowed ours down to hours,
| minutes and seconds. Where human
| nature is much the same, in kind, as
| the world over; only seeming to be
| tempered by the ever-blowing breezes
from the sea and the shining of the sun
upon the sand.
"And so she cried herself to sleep that
night The readers voice trembled,
and he coughed a little: then went
bravely on: For they told her that she
had done a foolish, unwise thing, and
opened herself to criticism Captain
Saunders closed the magazine That's
the end for this month" he said huski-
ly, and turned to the fire, which he
commenced to rake and cover for the
night. The others watched him grave
ly. II dunno" he half murmured to
himself, then stopped, and there was
perfect silence, save for the dashing of
the waves upon the rocks and the noise
of the falling coal.
The light from the kerosene lamp
threw it's dim rays over the company
ROOM" where they were gathered,
bringing into shadow, rather than light,
the straight stiff forms of the black
horse-hair furniture and the large pink
roses of the ingram carpet. Some sea-
shells and a piece of coral decorated the
mantelpiece, and on the wall, outlined
in moss, hung the motto, He Still
eth the Deep" Opposite the reader on
the other side of the fireplace, sat a
SMALL wiZened man. who was nesting
uneasily in his chair. The Captains
wife, her knitting now lying idly in her
lap, was quite in the shadow a little
apart from the others; while boy and
girl were seated on the sofa their eyes
round and wondering
The silence became oppressive, so
much SO that the dog lying just outside
plucked up courage to cross the thres-
hold, when, after snuffing at each one
| curiously, he circled slowly round until
he had selected the largest rose in the
carpet, and then lay down on it. At
last the small man got uD abruptly.
We'll, I guess we'd better be sayin'
goodnight" He looked at the Captain
sympathetically took a step towards
him, then stopped, irresolute. The wo-
man arose and gave him her hand
stiff1y, glancing at the same time to-
wards her husband in a helpless way.
He still sat gazing into the fire, with
his back turned to the room, and the
tongs held loosely in his hands. The
book lay on his knees
Fathers kind of upset" she said
hesitating over the words, Che"
IF, said the Captain, interrupting
her without looking around and speak
ing In a mechanical sort of Way. eff
there should happen to be body here
Tonight who believes it of her he can
60" ~
Father" said the woman in a mild
ly, expostulaing tone. The small man
had seated himself again, and was
twirling his hat nervously. while he
looked from one to another in q bawiI-
dered way.
Fathers kind Of" she repeatad
his chair, and was walking over to q
CUPBOARD, bu1lt in the wall, at the far
ther end OF the room. He unlocked the
door, and took out large pile of mag
| azlnes; then, placing the one on ton
from which he had just been reading
returned with them to his seat. Keen
ing the books in his lap. his arms
clasped tightly around them. he seemed
unconscious of his surroundings. His
wife's needles clicked unevenIv and
she dropped a stitch or two; the old sofa
gave. forth dismal creaks in the voung
peoples efforts to remain perfectly
quiet: and the dog moaned uneasilv in
his sleep.
Steve Hawkinsi"
The little man half jumped from his
chalr as his name was spoken
"Ay, ay, Cap'n."
The Captain was leaning forward. his
eyes fixed intently upon him, while one
of his hands moved caressingly back
and forth over the magazines
Have you an me been partners goin'
on twenty years, or amt we?''
Twenty years come next month.
Cap'n. Twas over there on the Bend.
'longside the FBowlder,' that we come to
terms; an 1 calc'late neither of us amt
ever regretted it," He settled back more
comfortably in his chair, and a breath
of relief passed over the room.
An there amt" continued the uues-
toner, been a better lifeboat or dory
built in the settlement" or anywhere
hereabouts, than's been put together by
you an me? Everythlng's been fair an
square?''
"Ay, ay. Squares the word
The Captains breath came a trife
quicker, as he went on speaking more
rapidly AN there amt ever been
board but what was prime used in
boat, or never nail but what was
good, or the varnishings and paint but
what was all they'd ought to be? Steve
Hawkins, you've known me, boy and
man, goin' on nigh to seventy years
did you ever know me to give the lie to
any one by word or act?"
mo, Cap'n."
"An' you'd take my word for thing
sure's you would the Gospel?"
"Ay, ay, Cap'n."
'Then, and he brought his large fist
down on the arm of his chair, as he
pointed to the magazine lying on top,
Il say it's a lie" His whole frame
quivered, and the blood rushed to his
face, as he looked searchingly from one
to the other. IT'S ats a damned lie,"
he repeated as he flung the book on the
floor
Father, father"
why" he went on, not needing the
interruption, his voice growing low and
gentle, as he fingered lovingly the mag