The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-06
CAPTAIN SAUNDERS'S HEROINE

edch DAY, as IL glldeS laZily along, gives one
the impression of having rightfully adopted
its own standard of time and OF being able
TO snap its finger 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" Tie 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. huskily, and turned to the fire.
which he commenced to rake and cover for
the night. The others watched him grave
lys Il dunno" he half murmured to him
SELF then stopped. and there perfect
silence, save FOR the dashing OF the waves
upon the rocks and the noise of the failing
ccal.
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 q piece of coral deco
rated the mantelpiece, and on the wall,
outlined in sea-moss, hung the motto He
Stilleth the Deep" Opposite the reader, on
the other side of the fireplace, sat q 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, little apart from the others;
while boy and girl We're seated on the
sofa, their eyes round and wondering.
The silence became oppressive, SO much so
hat he lXriD inst n
courage to cross the threshold, when, after
snufting at eacn one curiously, he circled
slowly round until he had selected the larg-
est rose in the carpet, and then lay down on
1t. AT last the small man got up abruptly.
well, | guess we'd better be sayin good
right" He looked at the captain sympa-
thetically, took a step toward him, then
stopped, irresolute. The woman arose, and
gave him her hand stiffiy, glancing at the
same time towards her husband in help
less 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
Fathers kind of upset" she said, hest
tating over the words he
IL" said the captain, interrupting her
without looking around, and speaking in a
mechanical sort of way, 'if there should
happen to be body here tonight who be-
lieVes it of her, he can CO."
Father" said the woman, in a mildly
eXpostulatory tone. The small man had
seated himself again, and was twirling his
hat nervously, while he looked from one to
another in a bewildered way.
Fathers kind Of" she repeated. but
stopped abruptly for he had left his chair,
ana was walking over to a cupboard built
in the wall, at the further end of the room.
He unlocked the door and took out a large
pile of magazines; then, placing the one on
top from which he had just been reading,
returned with them to his seat. Keeping
the books in his lap, his arms closed tight
ly around them, he seemed entirely uncon-
scioss of his surroundings His wifes nee
dies clicked unevenIy, and she dropped
stitch or two; the old sofa gave forth dis
N O TO
remain perfectly quiet, and the dog moaned
uneasily in his sleep.
steve HawknS!'
The little man half jumped from his chair
as his name was spoken.
'Ay, ay, capn.'
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 Boulder, that we come to terms, an
calc'late neither of us amt ever regretted
IT.. lie settled back more comfortably in
his chair, and breath of relief passed over
the room.
An there amt" continued the ques-
in the settlement or anywhere hereabouts.
that's been put together by you an me?
Ay, ay. Squares the word"
The captains breath came a trihe quick
er, as he went on speaking more rapidly
An there amt ever been board but what
was prime used in boat; or never a nail
but what was good, or the furnishings and
paint but what was all they ought to be?
Steve Hawkins. you've known me boy and
man, goln 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. you would the gospel?'
..Ay, aX, cap'n;"
down ON the arm of his chair, as he pointed
10 10 the magazine lying on top, Il say it's
blood rushed to his face as he looked
searchingly from one to the other ITS A
ID lie he roared as he flung the book
on the for.
Father, father"
Why" he went on, not needing the inter-
ruptlon, ms voice growing low and gentle,
Don't know? Amt been followin' her
ever sence she was a baby, a little mite of
q soft thing-see here It's, here it's" He
pulled out the under book tren blingIy from
the pile, and it opened itself. The page
was all thumb marked and creased from
much reading. "A little soft thing. sweet
and smiling" he read aloud. "a baby sure
of its welcome and Its love" He fitted the
book back carefully, almost reverently, into
its place. An it was all covered with dim
pies, too" he continued proudly An it
had little rings of golden hair all over its
.head-an' its eyes was blue" He beamed
contentedly around the room. An it was
that TO ard, he went on triumphanty;
"aIers CROWN, an Iaughin, an up to some
or pattin' its little pink hands together.
But when she commenced to grow! Land!
there want any holdin' her back. If you'll
believe it, (dnd he looked slowly around
the room, as though expecting to have his
statement contradicted) she up and walks
havin done any crawlin' aforehand; an
her legs was elk al to it-puficly So" He
seemed TO have quite forgotten that his lis
teners had also read the story and rambled
on unconscious at times of their presence,
and then again calling them by name to
fire. which burst forth again into ftful
blaze shone on his face, which was one
moment tender. then stern; and on those of
his sympathizing listeners.
An So" he went on, softly patting the
books, ''she was at last growed up" He
how did she grow? Just as you'd expect
such a baby would. Tall an straight
one O. my oars; an the goldy in her hair
turnin to a soft, pretty brown, an her eyes
lust as blue the first time she opened
them an looked on Gods earth, A long
itself across the speakers face An
then" his voice sank reverent-
Nv as he continued: AN = then
there comes the time when she,
ben' woman grown. finds herself a-lovin'
an beiu' loved, an then" He had
been passing the books from one knee to
the other as he outlined the story, reading
a little here and there. Now the only one
remaining was that lying on the floor by
his side He kept his face turned resolute-
lv from it. An then, an then his
voice trembled, they commenced to tell
lies about her. an'-an she cried herset
WHY. father, father they didn't say that
she did very much of anythin'. You
oughtn't to feel so about it," And his wife