The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-10-01
THE CAPTAINS MATE !
By Major Alfred r. Calhoun. ]
THE GENERAL SCOTT. though

American merchant marine, Is still
an excellent vessel.
Three years ago the General Scott
was commanded by Tracy Byron. who
owned a half interest in the vessel and
was thought by those who are authori-
ties in such matters to be the ablest
sailor and shrewdest business man
that ever handled a ship or disposed of
a cargo.
Capt. Byron was 36 years of age,
active, good looking and inclined to
be stern. He was "a moody man."
given to pacing the deck with his
hands buried deep in his pockets and
his eyes cast down. But men who had
sailed with him since he first came
on shipboard, a beardless boy, de-
clared that up to his thirtieth year,
Capt. Byron was as light-hearted a
sailor as ever touched rudGer or rope.
When Capt. Byron was 80 years of
age. and while he was as yet only first
officer of the ship of which he was
now the master, he became acquainted
with Agnes Hayne, the daughter of a
wealthy Baltimore merchant who had
made a fortune in the South American
trade.
At that time Mr.. Hayne owned an in
terest in the General Scott, and as the
cabin of the ship was fitted up for pas
sengers, he took a voyage in her, one
winter. to Rio Janeiro. his beautiful
daughter accompanying him as nurse
and companion.
In addition to being a thorough sail
oil and well-educated, Tracy Byron
had a susceptible heart and an eye for
the beautiful.
Early in the voyage he became &C
quainted with Agnes Hayne. As they
had similar tastes, this acquaintance
soon ripened into friendship.
Agnes Haynes father had the govt,
and the disease did not improve a tem-
per which, at its best. was far from
amiable. He was a sharp-eyed old gen.
tleman. and whether he suspected
Tracy Byrom's feeling for his daugh-
ter or not. certain it is that he evinced,
from the first, anything but a fondness
for the young man.
When Agnes shook hands with the
first officer of the General Scott, at
Rio, she thanked him for the kind
ness he had shown her during the voy-
age, and she said, as she looked into
his blushing, confused face: 81 hope,
Mr.. Byron, that we may meet again"
The ship, having discharged one
cargo and taken on another, sailed
away from Rio Janeiro, and the young
sailors heart was none the lighter be-
cause he had left his heart behind him.
Mr.. Hayne. who was a widower, with
Agnes, his only living child, spent six
months in Brazil. Meantime, he had
made up his mind to return on the Gen
eral Scott, for he had been given to I'M
derstand hat that ship had another
first officer, and this was the truth.
But he had not learned hat Tracy
Byron had been promoted to the posi-
ton of captain of the same ship. When
he did learn this fact it was too late to
change his arrangements, so he came
back to Baltimore with his daughter
in the ship that took them out.
During the voyage, Mr.. Haynes all
ments confined him for much of The
time in his stateroom, and, as a conse-
quence, the happy young captain was
thrown much with his hearts ideal.
That was the shortest and the hap
piest voyage Tracy Byron ever sailed.
He had been so attentive to Mr.. HayBe
that simply as a matter of courtesy the
gruff old gentleman could not help
thanking the young officer who had
been so considerate, and saying to him
at parting in Baltimore:
IF I can return your ~favors, Capt.
Byron, command me-"
This was certainly encouraging. a
week after the captain made a formal
call to see how Mr.. Hayne and his
daughter were feeling after the voy-
age, and, if chance offered, to carry
out q resolution which he had formed
after long and careful deliberation.
This resolution was nothing more
o less than to tell Agnes that he
loved her, and to propose that hence
forth they sail ,ife's seas together.
The old gentleman was out. and
Agnes was at home. And so Tracy
u lOlI, ~ uSSPSAo'S ShOAh " "Ais
told the young lady that he loved her.
SIZE did not seem surprised: how
could she be when she knew of his love
already? Restraining her evident emo
ton, she confessed that no man stood
higher in her esteem and affections
than Capt. Byron.
But she said, 81 have promised my
never to marry without his
1 am now of age, still duty
this promise binding. His hap
piness is my first consideration. See
him and 1 will abide by his answer"
In the exultation of this success
Byron felt sure that every other
obstacle would vanish. He sought an
opportunity to see the old gen. :
tleman, and, without any foolish pre- {
he stated his object. &
He was met by a thunderclap of in a
Mr.. Hayne was furious at Il
what he called "the presumption of al Il
lpstart." The captain said frankly T
hat his own family in Maine stood