Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-04-08

OF over forty years. But I'VE carried
some queer passengers in my time
I'll tell you about two who exercised
powerful influence over me; but
whether for good or evil you shall hear
presently.
1t was in the fall of 1872, just when
on the eve Of sailing, that an old gen
tleman stepped on board, and hurried
ly approached me. He was tall,
spare man, with iron gray hair. and
had slight stoop at the shoulders.
"Good day. Captain" said he. "I
only heard this morning that you were
sailing for the United States, and |
hurried down to ascertain if you could
find accommodation for myself and
daughter at so short notice"
Certainly" | replied. Il shall be
only too pleased to take you. AS it
happens there are only three passen-
gers booked this trip, and they are sec
ond-class, so you can have the saloon
pretty much TO yourselves"
He thanked me effusively and disap.
peared into the saloon. | marveled at
his precipitancy. and wondered where
the daughter was to come from, as 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 in the ship.
While so engaged heard n light foot
fall behind me. and, turning round
beheld the fairest vision of loveliness
that ever frightened my saloon
MY daughter-Captain Harnott,"
said Mr.. Brandon, introducing us.
was so taken aback by her exceed
Ing beauty that | awkwardly touched
my cap, and. with the wind clean taken
out of my sails, stammered:
Glad to see you, Miss"
She placed her soft little white hand
in my big, sun-browned paw. and, look
Ing me squarely in the face out of her
laughing blue eyes. said:
I'm sure we shall he good friends,
Captain, during the voyage"
She spoke with a charming colonial
accent; from that moment | was her
most devoted. humble servant. slave
anything you like. | went head over
ears in love with her at first sight. You
may smile, but recollect was com.
parntively young man then.
Leaving them to arrange their cabins
To their own satisfaction, | ascended
the companion steps and went on deck
1t certainly occupied them considera-
bic time, for neither father nor daugh-
ter appeared on deck until the ship was
well outside the Heads" and the tug
had returned to port.
That voyage look back upon as the
happicst and saddest ever made. Miss
Brandon was Il splendid sailor. In fair
weather or foul she'd he on deck, de-
lighting me with the admiration she en-
pressed for my handsome three-mast-
cd clipper, and the childlke nalvete
of her questions | used to pace the
quarter deck in the morning, impatient
for her first appearance. On the dull
est or dirtcSt day It was like Il ray of
sunshine suddenly bursting forth from
n lowering sky To see her emerge from
the companion hatch, looking as fresh
as Il daisy, and II thousand times more
lovely.
Of course. 1t was only natural that
my mates should fall in love with her
also. but she treated them with mark
ed Indifference if not absolute cold
ness. Her smiles We're all reserved
for me, and she lavished them upon
me in no niggardly manner.
There was II piano in the saloon, and
often in the long evenings she would
sing and play for my sole delectation,
while | would sit on n settee alongside
and gaze rapturously into her pretty
face. The song | liked best was tom
Bowling" ana she infused such an
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 1t lasted.
have scarcely mentioned her father
yet. The fact Is, was so cngrossed
with his beautiful daughter that |
didn't pay so much attention to him
MS perhaps | ought. At the best he was
nm unsociablc sort of person, who
seemed TO prefer his own company to
other peoples. When not In his own
cabin, where he spent most of his time,
he was walking with his hands clasped
behind him, apparently deep in thought
In the waist of the ship. Sometimes,
when standing idly at the break OF the
poop, l have caught myself wondering
If he had ever committed crime, the
remembrance OF which was weighing
on his conscience. was destined soor
to learn more about him.
One evening, when about nine weeks
out, was sitting in the charthous,