La Junta tribune., 1899-03-11
PHANTOM SHIP
The Flying Dutchman.

CHAPTER /

LHA AD"b Va i'AhNN9fs oAN'
a,ed on the right bank OF the scheldt.
and nearly opposite to the island OF
Walcheren. there was TO be seen In
advance OF few other even more
humble tenements. small but neat
cottage. built according to the prevail
Ing taste OF the time. The outside front
had. some years back. been painted OF
deep orange. the windows and shut
ters OF a vivid green. To about three
feet above the surface OF the earth. II
was faced alternately with blue and
white tiles. a small garden, OF about
two rods OF our measure OF land. sur
rounded the ediiice; and this little plot
was hnnked by a low hedge OF privei,
and ercircled by n moat full of water.
too wide to be leaped with ease. Over
that part OF the moat which was in
front OF the cottage door vas 4 small
and narrow bridge. with ornamented
iron hand-rails. for the security of the
passenger. But the colors, originally
so bright, with which the cottage had
been decorated. had now faded; symp-
toms OF rapid decay were evident In the
window-sills, the door -jambs and other
wooden parts OF the tenement. and
many OF the white and blue tiles had
fallen down. and had not been re-
placed That much care had once been
bestowed upon this little tenement was
as evident as that latteriy 1t had been
equally neglected.
The inside OF the cottage. both on
the basement and the floor above. was
divided into two larger rooms in front,
and two smaller behind; the rooms in
front could only be called large in com
parison with the other two, as they
were little more than twelve feet
square, with but one window TO each.
The upper floor WAS rs usual. appro-
prlatcd to the bedrooms; on the lower.
the two smaller rooms were now used
only AS a waBh-house and q lumber
room; while one OF the larger was fit
ted up as kitchen. and furnished with
dressers. on which the metal utensils
for cookery shone clean and polished
as silver. The room Itself was scrupu-
lousiy neat; but the furniture. as well
IA the utensils. were scanty. The
boards of the floor were of a pure
white, and so clean that you might
have laid anything down without fear
of soiiing 1t. A strong deal table. two
wooden-seated chairs. and a small easy
couch. which had been removed from
one OF the bedrooms upstairs. were NIL
the movables which this room con-
tained The other front room had been
fitted up as n parlor; but what might
be the style OF It's furniture was now
unknown, for no eye had beheld the
contents of that room for nearly sew
enteen years, during which 1t had been
Theoretically sealed. even to the in
mates of the cottage.
The kitchen, which we have de-
scribed, was occupied by two persons,
One was woman. apparently about
forty years OF age, but worn down by
pain and suffering. She had evidently
once possessed much beauty: there
were still the regular outlines, the
noble forehead. and the large. dark
eyes; but there was a tenuity in her
features, wasted appearance, such
as 10 render the flesh transparent. her
brow, when she mused would sink into
deep wrinkles. premature though they
were. and the occasional flashing of
her eyes strongly. impressed you with
the idea of insanity. There appeared
to be some deep-seated. irremovable.
hopeless cause OF anguish. never for
one moment permitted to be absent
from her memory; chronic oppres
sion, fixed and craven there, only to
be removed by death. She was dressed
in the widows Golf OF the time: but
although clean and neat, her garments
we're faded from long wear. She was
seated upon the small couch which we
have mentioned. evidently brought
down as a relief to her, In her declin-
ing state.
ON the deal table In the center of
the room sat the other person, a stout
fair-haired. ilorid youth OF nineteen
or twenty years old. His features were
handsome and bold. and his frame
powerful TO excess; his eye denoted
courage and determination. and as he
carelessly swung his legs. and whistled
an air in an emphatic manner. II was
impossible not to form the idea that
he was daring. adventurous and reck-
less character.
DO not go to sea. Philip; oh. prom
ise me that. my dear child" said the
female. claspiug her hands.
and why got so to sea, mother"
replied P'ii,iD: whats the use Of my
staying mere TO starNci Tor. By heaven.
it's little better. | must do something
for myself and for you. And what
else can | do? My uncle Vanbrenpen
has offered to take me with him. aud
will give me good wages. Then shall
live happily on board. and my earn
ings will be sufficient for your support
at home"
"Phiiip-Philip. hear me. shall die
II you leave me. Whom have in the
world but you7 Oh, my child. as you
love me. and know you do love me.
Philip. don't leave me; but II you will.
at all events do not go to sea-
Philip gave no Immediate reply: he