The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-27
A SAILORS LOVE.

A SAlLOR'S LOVE.
His majesty's ship Gazelle steamed init
the harbor Of Simonstown after seyera
weeks Of a stormy, difficult passage.
Requests for leave of absence came pour
ing In and were gladly granted, for the
first officer was in happy frame of mind
The anchor maneuvers passed off without
flaw, and the commander had expressed
thorough satisfaction with the brilliant
drill
As the time drew near for the cadets to
60 ashore the noise in the messroom in.
creased with every moment. Those of us
who had coin divided with others who ex.
pected remittances from home at Simons.
town. When all were ready to depart, we
were called on deck and ordered to fall
into line. The first officer looked us over,
to see that we were as spruce and clean as
If we had come out Of bandbox, and then
we scrambled down into the cutter that
took us ashore.
Simonstown is small port town, and
we could see at glance that there would
be no gayeties such as we crayed. The
natural scenery was grand. In the dis
lance the Table mountain with its magnif.
icent outlook upon land and sea invited
the venturesome, but while pockets are
filled with money naval cadets on shore
have little use for rural enjoyment.
So we turned our back upon Simons-
town, hired rig and were driven to Cape
Town, where cosmopolitan alnusements
awaited lis. But money flies and SO did
tho few days 1t lasted. Many of the ex-
pected checks from home had not arrived.
We were not to sail for three weeks, and 1t
was imperative that we should remove
ourselves from the temptations of Cane
Town. A majority of us had already come
to this conclusion, and the proposition to
return to Simonstown and q more quiet
life met with general appreciation.
We Travelled afoot over beautiful noun
tain roads, and when late in the evening
we reached the quaint town we deter
mined to spend the rest of our furlough
there.
Alta pretty little inn we found good
Capo wine, and the innkeeper's daughter,
q lovely maiden of II, served it to US in
old English bumpers. Some of MS drank
more than we could answer for to the de-
pleted condition Of our pocketbooks, be-
cause of the look out Of Nelly's sweet
brown eyes that went with the cup that
cheers. But Nelly was as modest as she
was pretty, and her parents eyes watchful
into the bargain
In the messroom we talked only of Mel
ly and night after night found MS gath
cred at the hospitable tavern. On the Sec
ond night another surprise awaited us.
In one of the side rooms we found q piano.
"a piano, boys Gerhard, come" shout
ed dozen happy cadets.
Without moments hesitation dropped
into the chair and let my hands wander
over the keys. The instrument was in ex-
cellent tune, and we sang for hours all the
jolly and sentimental airs we knew Nell
ly's parents and groups of nightly guests
made up our audience
In time pretty Nelly chose for her favor
lite place the one next to mine at the piano.
AS l played from memory and without
notes, my eyes were free to roam whittier
they pleased, and ere long the great dark
orbs of my lovely neighbor held them en-
thralled
The first officer had put me in charge of
the messroom, and with many onerous
duties was combined the privilege Of going
ashore In the afternoon with the steward
to purchase the necessary provisions. What
wonder that l should find my way to the
tavern for chat with Nelly rather than
keep watchful eye on the steward.
On these afternoons Nelly and sat on
the bench before tho house, unobscryed by
the tavern keeper and his wife They saw
no danger in their daughters intercourse
with 19-year-old naval cadet.
Anybody might have listened to our con-
versation. 1t dwelt upon the most limo
cent topics Wediscussed the songs moatly
that we had sung the night before, and 1
gave Nelly an English version of the Ger
man words. She was witty and bright
and turned my faulty English into many
pun.
Propinquity led to sentiment Oh both
sides unconsciously our hands clasrcd, !,
md when l caught her glances with too
ardent admiration tho beautiful child !
yelled her soft brown eyes with their sweep
ng lashes. Conversation Jagged at such
and we were happy in rapturous
,ilence
Once while thus dreaming and reyelng
n each others presence Nelly arose sud-
lenly. Her eyes swept mournfully over
he distant sea.
"How beautiful you arer' could not
lelp exclaiming as my eyes Toasted on the
lender, virginia. form of the budding wo-
nan.
Mother wants me. Excuse me, " she
,asped half audibly and ran into the house.
The day for our departure drew near.
Tomorrow night when the tide Is on
We shall sail for Melbourne" the first Off
er had announced at the morning drill.
The last OF our jolly evenings at the tay-
IN had come. was sad and strangely
pprehensive. Glass after glass of crimson
zine was emptied to Nelly's health between
Dngs that told Of parting and glad re-
mons. When we were ready to start for
he ship that night, the pretty innkeeper's
aughter held out her hand to each one of
s to say farewell. At last my hand closed
round her trembling fingers l pressed
lem till they ached, and whispered hur-
eddy that would come ashore once more
ext day.
The following day was full of hustle
BOARD the Gazelle. The ship was made
ady to clear and arduous duties were re-
lmed. I had repeatedly endeavored to
I'D an opportunity to go ashore, but fate
as against me.
At o'clock the officer Of the guard
me on deck. He was ordered to go ashore
report the ships departure to the harbor
plain. l asked him to take me with
m, as there were still some small pur-
asses to make for the mess. The officer
oked at me inoredulously.
Come along" he said finally, land DO
lick about itl''