Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-07-31
CAPTAIN SAUNDERS HEROINE

Ulll llillt UlIUllDLlsU llLllull'l
IFrom the New York Evening POST
Over beyond the cove, fully two
miles from the village. the little settle
meRt lies; swept by the storms, smiled
on by the calm. but at all times nest
ling on the arms OF nature, ready "a
accept whatever treatment she may
offer. Where each day, as 1t glides
lazily along. gives one the impression
of having rightfully adopted its own
standard of time and Of being able 70
snap its finger cOntemptuously at
those of us who have narrowed ours
down 10 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" The readers voice trem-
bled and he coUghed little, then went
bravelv on: For they told her she
had done a foolish, unwise thing, and
opened herself 10 criticism. Captain
Saunders closed the magazine. That's
The end for this month he said husk-
ily, and turned to tie ire and COM
menced to rake and cover for the
night. The others watched him graves
". Il dunno" he hall murmured to
himself, then stopped, and there was
perfect silence, save for the dashing of
the waves upon the rocks and the
noise Of the falling coal.
The light from the kerosene lamp
threw its dim rays over the company
room" where they were gathered,
bringing into shadow. rather than
light, the straight, stin forms Of the
black horse-hair furniture, and the
large pink roses in the ingram carpet.
Some sea shells and a piece of coral
decorated the mantelpiece, and on the
wall. outlined in sea moss, hung the
motto, He sCilleth the deep. Oppo-
site the reader, on the other side OF
the fireplace. sat a small, wizened
man. who was nesting uneasily in his
chair. The captains wife, her knit
ting now lying idly in her lap, was
quite in the shadow, little apart
fro mthe others, while boy and girl
were seated on the sofa, their eyes
round ana wondering.
The silence became oppressive, so
much so. that the dog lying just out
side plucked up courage TO cross the
threshold, when. after snulhng at each
one curiOUsly, he circi5d slowly round
until he had selected the largest rose
In the carpet and then lay down on 1t.
AT last the small man got up abruptly.
well, l guess we'd better be sayln'
goodnight" He looked at the captain
sympatheucally, took a step toward
him, then stopped irresOlute. The wO-
man arose and gave him her hand
stifiy, glanCing at the same time to-
ward her husband in a helpless way. 7
lie still sat gazing into the ire, with
his back turned 70 the room ana the +.
tcngs held loosely in his hands. The
book lay on his knees.
Fathers kind Of upset, she said, .
hesitating over the words, he"
If said the captain, interrupting /
her without looking around, and J
speaking in a mechanical sort OF way, /
If there should happen to be a body /
here tonight who believes it Of her, he 4
can 60"
Father" said the woman in a mild I
" expOstulatOry tone. The small man
had seated himselef again, and was
-wirling his hat nervously, while he
looked from one TO another in a bewil-
iered way
"Father's kind Of" suo .og.e.s>,.'
but stopped abruptly, for ne had lelI
his chair. and was walking over 10
rnDboard. built in the wall, at the FUR
tber end of the room. He unlocked 4
the door and took out large pie Oh
then, placing the one on \
ton from which he had just been read
ing returned with them to his seat /
Keening the books in his lap, his arms |
closed tightly around them, he seemed |
entirely unconscious Of his surround |
ings His wife's needles clicked IN !
evenly. and she dropped a stitch or :
two. the old sofa gave forth dismal /
creaks from the young peoples enorts !
TO remain perfectly quiet, and the dog |
moaned uneasily in his sleep.
steve Hawkins"
The little man half jumped from his
chair as his name was spoken.
"Ay, ay, capn.
his ewes fixed intently upon him, while
one Of his hands moved caresSlngly
back and forth over the magazines.
"Have you an me been partners
goin' on twenty years, or amt we!
Twenty years come next month,
cam. Twas over there on the bend
Iongside the boulder that we came to
terms. an 1 calc1ate neither Of us amt
ever regretted it," He settled back
more comfortably in his chair, and
breath or relief passed over the room.
"An' there amt" continued the
ouestloner. "been a better life boat or
dory built in the settlement, or any
where hereabouts, that's been put to-
Rether by you an me? Everythings
been fair and square,
gay, ay. Squares the word"