The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-30

lision all the time I've
been TO sea--a matter now
N of over forty years. But
"A 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
II was in the fall Of ~, just when
on the eve of sailing, that an old gtn-
tleman stepped on board, and hurried
ly approached me. He was tan,
spare man. with iron gray hair, and
had slight stoop at the shoulders.
Good day, captain" said he. II only
heard this morning that you were SAIL
ing for England, and FASTENED do"1
to ascertain If you could md accommo-
dation for myself and daughter at s"
short notice.
Certainly" | replied, in my hearty
way; II shall only be too pleased 10
take you. AS it happens there are only
three passesgers booked this trip. ana
they are second class, 50 Non can
have the saloon pretty mucl to your
selves"
He thanked me effusivelv, and disap-
peared into the saloon. | marveled at
his precipitancy. and wondered Whtre
the daughter was to come FROM Tor
she was not visible anywhere.
gave instructions tn lie apprentices
TO have their luggaga conveyed On
board, and myself Suoarin:ended tie
slowing of their trunks in the two best
appointed cabins of the ship. While
so engaged, l heard a light football
behind me. and, turning around, l be-
~t-9. Of low ifnnz
that ever frightened my saloon.
MY daughter-Captain HarnOtt,'
said Mr. Brandon, introducing us
I was so taken abaCk by her exceed
ing beauty that | awkardly touched
my cap. and, with the wind clean out
of my sails, stammered:
"Glad to see you, miss"
She placed her soft little white hand
into my big, sun-browned paw. and.
looking me squarely in the face out
of her laughing blue eyes. said:
I'm sure we shall be good friends,
captain, during the voyage
She spoke with a charming colonial
accent, and from that moment I was
her most devoted, humble servant,
slave anything you like. l went head
over ears in love with her at sight.
You may smile, but recollect l was a
comparatively young man then.
Leaving them to arrange their cab
ins to their own satisfaction I ascend d.
ed the companion steps and went on
deck. 1t certainly occupied them a
considerable time, for neither father
nor daughter 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
happiest and saddest l ever made.
Miss Brandon was a splendid sailor.
In fair weather or foul she'd be on
deck, deightng me with the admira- =
tion she expressed for my handsome
three-masted clipper, and the childike
naivete of her questions | used to
pace the quarterback in the morning,
impatient for her first appearance. on
the dullest or dirt est day it was like
a ray of sunshine suddenly bursting
forth from a lowering sky, to see her
emerge from the companion hatch,
looking as fresh as a daisy and a thous-
and 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
Indifference, if not absolute cOldness
Her smiles were all reserved for me,
and she laVlShed them upon me in no
. niggardly manner.
There was a piano in the saloon, and
often in the long evenings she would
sing and play for my sole delectation
while | would sit on the settee along
side and gaze rapturously into her
pretty face The song l liked best was
Tom Bowling" and she infused such
an amount Of pathOs into her express
sion that the tears would sometimes
tricklc down my weather beaten
cheeks as she sang All, those were
happy days; it was heaven while il
4 lasted.
| have scarcely mentioned her father
i yet. The fact is, | was so engrossed
with his beautiful daughter that
didn't pay so much attention to him
as perhaps / ought. At the best he
was a saturnine, unsociabe sort of a
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
In deep thought, in the waist of the