The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-24

No. I've never been sIlpwroCl<cd, nor
been in collision all the time I've been
to sca--a matter now of over forty
years. Fut I've carried some queer
passengers in my time. III tell you
about two who exercised a powerful
iniluenc" over me; hut whether for
good or evil you shall hear presently.
1t was in the fall of -. just when
on the eve of sailing, that an old gem
tleman stepped on beard, and hulricdly
approached me. He was tall, spare
man, with iron-gray hair, and had
SLIGHT stoup at the shoulders.
"Good-day. captain" said ne, Il only
heard this morning that you were sail
ing for England. and ! FASTENED down
TO ascertain If you could find accom-
mediation for myself and daughter at
go short notice"
"Certainly," l replied in my hearty
way, II shall only be too pleased to
take you. AS it happens there are only
three passengers booked this trip, and
they are second class, SO you can have
the saloon pretty much to yourselves
He thanked me eftusively, apd Gs2p-
rcared into the saloon. / marVelcd at
his preCipitarCy, and wondered where
the daughter was to come from, for She
was net visible anywhere.
| gave instructions to the apprentices
to have their luggage conveyed on
board. ard myself superintend the
slowing away Of their trunks in TIE two
best appointed cabins ot the ship.
Whilst 50 engaged, ] heard a liGht foot
fan behind me. and, turniug around.
| hchcll the fairest vision of loVG!inesS
that ever frightened my saloon.
My daughter-Captain Harnott,"
.I,,..
vas so taken back by her exceeding
beauty, that | awkW ardly touched my
zap and with the wind clean ont Of my
sails, stammered:
Glad to see YOU, miss"
She placed her soft little white hand
into my big, sun-browned paw, and
looking me squaIcly i'm the face out of
her laughing blue eyes, said
I'm sure we shall be good friends,
captain, during tho voyage
She spoke with a charming colonial
accent and from that moment, | was
her most devoted. humble servant.
slave, anything you like. | went head
over ears in love with her at sight.
You may smile, but recollect | was a
comparatively Young man then.
Leaving Them to arrange their cabins
to their own satisfaction, | asCended
the pGniou-steps. and went on deck.
1t certainly occupied them a consider
able time. for neither father nor daugh-
ter appta ared on deck until the ship was
well Outside the Heads" and the tu;;
hda returned To- port.
That voyage | look back upon as the
harpiest and saddeSt | ever made.
Miss Brandon was Il splendid sailor. In
fair weather or foul she'd be on deck
dclighting me with the admiration she
expressed for my handsome three
masted clipper. and the chlldlike naiV-
etc of her questions. ] used to pace the
puartcr-deck i'm the morning, impatient
for her first appearance. On the dull
est or dhtiest day, it was like a ray
of sunshine suddenly bursting forth
from lowering sky 10 see her emerge
from the companion hatch, looking as
fresh as a daisy, and thousand times
more lovely.
of course, II was only natural that
my mates should fall in love with her
also. but she treated them with marked
indifference, if not absolute CO,dneas.
Her smiles were all reserved for me,
and she lavishcd them lpon me in no
nigGardly manner.
There was a piano in the saloon. and
often in the long evenings she would
sing and play for my sole delectation,
while | would sit on settee alongside
and gaze rapturously into her pretty
face. The song | liked best was Tom
Bowling and she infused such an
amount of pathos into her expression
that the tears woulu sometimes trickle
down my weather-bC aten cheeks as she