The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-08

But we carried some queer passengers In
my time. III tell you about two who
exercised a'powerful influence over me; I;
but whether for good or evil you shall
hear presently.
liz was in tho fall OF 10. just when on
the eve of sailing, that an old gentleman
stepped on board, ana hGrrledly ap-
preached me. He was a tall spare man,
with iron gray hair. ana had silght
stoop at the shoulders
Good day, captain, said be. Il only
heard this morning that you were sailing
for England. and hastened own TO ascer-
tain IL you could lind accommodation Tor
myself and daughter at so short notice.
Certainly" / replied, in my hearty
way, II shall only be too pleased 70 take
YOU As 10 happens there are only three
passengers booked this trip. and they are
second class, so you can have the saloon
pretty much 10 yourselves.
He thanked me effusiyely, and dis
appeared into the saloon. i marveled It
lis precipitancy. and wondered where tlo
daughter was 20 come from. Tor she was
not visible anywhere.
/ gave instructions To the apprentices to
have their luggage conveyed on board, and
myself superintended the slowing away
of their trunks in the two best appointed
cabins Of tho ship. While so engagoj, 1
heard a light football behind mo, and.
turning around, beheld the fairost vision
OF Ioveliness that ever frightened my
saloon.
my daughter Captain Harnott " said
Mr.. Brandon, introducing las.
/ was so taken aback by her exceeding
beauty that / awkwardly touched 10y cap
and. with the wind clean out OF my sails,
stammered:
"Glad TO see you, miss "
She placed her soft little white hand
into my big. sun Drowned paw, and,
looking mo .quarely In the face out or her
said
'I'm sure we shall be good friends. cap
attn. during the voyage.
She spoke with a charming colonial &C
cent, and from that moment ! was Ter
most devoted. humble servant slave, any
thing you like. / went head over ears In
love with nor mt first sight You may
smile, but recollect was "a comparatively
young man then.
Leaving them To arrange their cabins
Co their own satisfaction assembled tho
companion steI sand went on deck. Ii
certainly occupied them considerable
time for neither father nor daughter ap-
peared on deck until the ship was well
outside tho Heads" and the big tug had
returned 10 port.
That -oyage look back upon as the
happisst and saddest / aver made. Miss
Brandon was splendid sailor. In fair
weather or foul she'd be on deck. delight.
ing me with the admiration sho expressed
for my handsome throe-masted clipper.
and tho childlike naivete of her questions.
used to pace the quarter deck in the
morning impatient for her first appear
ance. On the dullest or dirtiest day IL
was like ray of sunshine suddenly
bursting forth from the lowering sky to
SEQ her emerge from the companion
hatch, looking as fresh rs daisy and
thousand times more lovely.
OF course, it was only natural that my
mates should fall in love with her also
but she treated them with marked in
difference II not absolute coldness. Her
smiles were all reserved for me, and she
lavished them upon me In no niggardly
manner.
There was piano in the saloon, and
often in tho long evenings she would sing
and play for my sole delectation, while
would sit on the settee along side and
gaze raLtuously into her pretty face The
song liked best was "Iom Bowling. "
and she infused such aD.amount Of pathos
into her expression that the tears would
sometimes trickle down my weather
beaten cheeks as she sang. All, those were
happy days; 1t was heaven while IL lasred.
l have scarcely mentioned her father
yet. The tact is was so engrossed with
his beautiful daughter that didn't pay SO
much attention to him as perhaps l ought
At the best he was saturnine, iinsocia-
BILE scrt of person, who seemed to prefer
his own company to other peoples When
not In mis- own cabin, where he spent mCst
of his time, he was walking with his
hands clasped behind him, apparently in
deep thought. in tho waist of the ship.
Sometimes, when standing idly at the
break of the poop, have caught myself
wondering III he had ever committed n
crime, the remembrance of which was
weighing heavily on his conscience. l
was destined soon TO learn more about
him.
One evening when about nine weeks
out / was sitting In the obi art house alone
with my idol. The second mate was
stepping the planks outside. old Jobson
was at tho wheel away bohind us, and tho
watch on deck were lounging about for
ward. Some days previous to this had
had the temerity to confess my love to
her, and asked her TO be my wife. She
had made me inexpressibly happy by
promising, subject tc my Obtaining her
fathers consent This, after some demur,
be had granted. ana that night the future
appeared very bright for me.
We had been sitting silent for some
time, too happy for words. gazing on the
setting sun as it disappeared into q glow
Ing mass OF golden rinmed clouds on the
horizon, when To my infinite amazement
she suddenly burst into tears.
Darling, what % the matters' / ex-
claimed In an agony Of apprehension.
'.Ob. Alfred. i have just heard such n
dreadful story from my father. / shall
never be happy again. We can never 10
married now.
Never be married. / calculated
aRhrst, "whyg"
Because my father Is IA criminal.
oh. feel so miserable. ! think l shall
throw myself overheard 90
"Alicc, for heavens sake don't talk
like that or you II drive mo mad. What
has hu doney
"Something dreadful. oh, don't spuak
90 me any more" she sobbed violently.
At that moment l was so mad that
] felt half Inclined 10 60 down and tear
she old scarCcrow out OF his berth hy the
cuff of the neck and demand what the
deuce he bad done TO cause my darling
such poignant grief. But / didn't In
stead i drew her 20 my side and kissed
her tears away.
''lell me all about it," 1 said sooth.
inRly
Well my fnthcr, a. you arc aware,
was an agent to ono of the banks I'm
Arlington, Victoria, and 10 seems no
embezzled lBrko sums OF rCnay. .beionging
60 tho bank.to speculate win OF course
be meant 60 replace it noloro the audit
wien tie deficit would have been dis