The Red Cloud chief., 1899-01-20
PHANTOM SHIP
The Flying DUtchmdn.
~N-BYc CAPTAIN MARYhT.
r I.

steu Ou tHe TtBnt Dhnk Vi tue oCHtiut,
and nearly opposite TO the island OF
Walcheren. there was to be seen In
advance OF q few other even more
humble tenements, n small but neat
cottage. built according TO the prevail
ing taste of tho time. The outside front
had. some years back, been painted OF
o 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
W rods OF our measure OF land. sur
rounded the ediace: and this little plot
was fanked by a low hedge OF privet,
and enclrcled by q 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 was n small
and narrow bridge. with ornamented
iron hand-rails. for the security Of the
passenger. But the colors, originally
90 bright, with which the cottage had
been decorated, had o 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
rs evident as that latterly II had been
equally neglected.
Tho inside OF the cottage, both on
the basement and the floor above. vas
divided into two larger rooms in front,
and two smaller behind; the rooms In
front could only be called large la 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 as usual, appro-
priated to the bedrooms: on the lower,
the two smaller rooms were now used
only as n wash-house and q lumber
room: while one of the larger was At
ted up as q kitchen, and furnished with
dressers, on which the metal utensils
for cookery shone clean and polished
as silver. The DON itself was scrupu-
lously neat; but the furniture, as well
az 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 soillng It. A strong deal table, two
wooden seated chairs, and a, small easy
couch. which had been removed from
one Of the bedrooms upstairs. were all
the movnbles which this room con-
talned. The other front room had been
lifted 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 II had been
Theoretically sealed. even to the in
mates OF the cottage.
The kitchen. which we have de-
scribed. was occupied by two persons.
Ono was n woman. apparently about
forty years OF age. but worn down b.
pain and suffering. She had evidently
once possessed much beauty: there
were still the regular outlines, the
noble forehead. and tho large, dark
eyes; but there was a tenulty In her
features. a wasted appearance, such
- to render the flesh transparent; her
brow. when she unused, would sink into
deep wrinkles, premature though they
were; and the occasional flashing of
her eyes strongly impressed ybu with
the idea OF Insanity. There appeared
20 be some deep-scated, irremovable.
hopeless cause OF anguish. never for
one moment permitted to be absent
from her memory; a 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. n stout
Sair-haired. ford 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
or air In an emphatic manner, II was
impossible not to form the idea that
he was a daring, adventurous and reck-
less character.
DO not go to sea. Philip: oh, prom
ise me that. my dear child" said tho
female. clasping her hands.
And Why rot go TO sea, mother"
replied P',i!ip, whats the use Of my
staying here to ~starve; for, by Heaven,
It's little better. must do something
for myself and for you. And what
else can | do? My uncle Vanbrnnpen
has offered to take me with him. and
will give me good wages. Then | shal!
live happily on board. and my earn.
tngs will be sufficient for your support
at home"
"~Fhilip-Phillp, hear RE. shall dc
II you leave me. When have | In the
world but YOU? Oh. my child, "a van
love me, and ! know you 10 love me.
Philip. don't leave me; but II YOU viii,
81 AL events do rot go TO soa."
Philip gave no Immediate renly; he