The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-28
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
HOW HE LOST CONFIDENCE IN wO-
MANKIND
From London Tit-Bits.

From London Tit-BitS.
No, I've never bene shipwrecked, nor
been in collision all the time I've been to
sea--a matter now of over forty years.
But I've carried some queer passengers
in my time. I'll tell you about two who
exercised a powerful influence over me;
but whether for good or evil you shall hear
presently.
It was in the fall of TT, just when on
the eve of sailing, that an old gentleman
stepped on board and hurriedly approach
ed me. He was a tall. spare man, with
iron-gray hair, and had a slight stoop at
the shoulders.
Good day. captain" said he. II only
heard this morning that you were sailing
for England, and I FASTENED down to as
certain If you could find accommodation
for myself and daughter at SO short no.
tice."
Certainly" 1 replied 81 shall be only
too pleased to take you. AS 1t happens
there are only three passengers booked this
trip, and they are second class, so you can
have the saloon pretty much to your
selves"
He thanked me ELUSIVE and disappeared
into the saloon. ] marveled at his pre-
cipitancy, and wondered where the daugh-
ter was TO come from, as she was not visi-
BILE 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-ap-
pointed cabins in the ship. While so en-
/ I a football Ind
and turning round, / beheld the fairest
vision of loneliness that ever frightened
my saloon.
my daughter-Capt. Harnott," said
Mr.. Brandon, introducing us.
1 was so taken aback by her exceeding
beauty that i 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, looking
me squarely in the face out OF her laugh
ing blue eyes, said:
Pm sure we shall be good friends. cap
tain, during the ovyage."
She spoke with a charming colonial ac-
| cent; 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 a comparatively young
Leaving them to arrange their cabins
| to their own satisfaction, / assembled the
companion steps and went on deck II
certainly occupied them a considerable
time, for neither father nor daughter ap-
peared on deck until the ship was well
! outside the Heads" and the tug had re-
| turned 10 port.
That voyage look back upon as the
| happiest and saddest I ever made. Miss
Brandon was a splendid sailor In fair
weather or foul she'd be on deck, delight
| ing me with the admiration she expressed
for my handsome three-masted clipper.
/ and the childlike naivete Of her questions.
used to pace the quarter deck IN the
morning, impatient for her first appear
ance. on the dullest or drtiest day II was
4 ike a ray Of sunshine suddenly bursting
forth from a lowering sky 10 see her
/ emerge form the companion hatch. look
ing as fresh as a daisy, and a 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 indif-
I ference. IL not absolute eoldness. Her