The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-19

depths, and saving the figure of Capt.
| Smedley sitting on the fore-skylight Of
| the poop with an end OF cigar
In his mouth, there was then no man
upon the ship who would have hand
in the navigation of her, from the wide
breast OF river flowing beyond to that
other distant breast Of river revolving
with black corpses and their ships COM
panies of plumed scavengers
There's Smedley," exclaimed Har-
dy. and Julia looked at the cap
tain sitting on the s1ylight. "If he
ships you," he continued, you will be
sailing away in noble craft" and he
began to talk to himself, what a hoist
OF main-topsail How splendidIy stayed
her spars are! She'll show cloths enough
to get knots from the watt of a sea-
news wing!
They walked on till they came abreast
of Smedley, and then Hardy hailed him.
Come aboard, I'm waiting for YOU"
sang out Smedley with a flourish
Hardy took the girls hand and they
! crossed short platform of planks
stretched between the edge Of the wall
and the ships bulwarks, and descend
Ing two or three steps gained the MAIN
deck, whence they made their way to
the poop by the port ladder. Before
they ascended this ladder Hardy
/
cuddy front. Ii was a true Dutch
picture of its kind 1t resembled the
front of a house with it's door and
, three brass-protected, red-curtained Win
dows of side, and projecting
wing of cabin on either hand, so that
the front was pleasant recess with
! its roof of poop-deck over It, But the
| romance of this fancy of cuddy front
persisted for ever to this and all flu
| ture generations-lay In the carving
that laVishly embellished it; fan
tastic mixture of anchors and flags
with masts ir full sail peering between
and human figures with wings blowing
| horns. There was uniformity in all this
! variety and the complicate picture in
the dark colors of teak was fraught
with meaning to the Interpreting eye.
The sailor and the Girl went on to
the poop, a fine stretch of plank, but
! not quite so white as it would be pres
, entity, when it had been tickied by the
holy-stone, and when the ivory spaces
| of it would take the sun-shed impress
sion of the rigging like rulings in in
digo, clear of the velvet-volet shadow
of the awning
We'll, here, we are" exclaimed Capt
Smedley rising from the skylight and
speaking with that bluntness which many
| admired in his speech, thinking it sailor
~ just as people will inhale doubtful
oioIS IIOHl an inner HdrDOf ana reESn
them as "ozone." What do you think
OF the ship, Hardy?"
But though ne spoke to Hardy he kept
his eyes on Miss Armstrong, and was
undoubed admiring her. particularly
her figure, and the fascinating cock of her
head with its tilted hat.
She's the finest ship l ever saw" an
sWered Hardy with real enthusiasm.
What d marvellous stern! what a delight
full cuddy 'front.'!
Meant to astonish the natives" said
Smedley. ''Fhey have settled the choice
of more than one colored mob, and left the
other passenger ships nowhere"
WELL and what news, Smedley?" said
Hardy
"Oh, I think it may be managed" an
swered Capt. Smedley, sending his frag-
ment of cigar overheard with a jerk of
his arm. my wife is below; let's go
down to her"
They descended into what was then call
ed the cuddy by way of the companion
steps, and this interior was worthy it's
| wonderful front. Narrow slips of look
ing-giass upon the walls of it, and be-
tween each slip was a picture represent
Ing some Indian scene. The effect was
brilliant and novel! Determination to de-
light the Oriental eye was visible in the
grotesGce fgura ton of the three lamps
+ hanging over the table. A japanese ar
fist, delrious with opium might have
Imagined the extraordinary shapes which
supported the globes. All was luxury and
originality. Aft on either hand and
athwartships We're cabins, but the main
accommodation was to be sought in the
steerage, which was gained by a wide
staircase, conducting through a hatchway
in the fore end of the cuddy.
Whilst Julia and Hardy was gazing
| about them Mrs. SmedIey came out of
the starboard cabin under the wheel.
Il am trying TO make my husbands
| cabin comfortable for him." said she,
with her homely, motherly smile. after
greetings had been exchanged. 81 hope
he will soon make his last voyage Capt.
Franklin, friend of ours, was seventeen
years at sea in command, and in ali that
time he and his wife calculated that they
mad only spent one year and three
months, in each others company. 1t is
worse than being widowed"
Much worse, said Capt. Smedley, be
cause you can't get married again. The
beggar's always coming home"
Let us sit down., said Mrs Smedley.
Miss Armstrong come and sit beside me
here. l am afraid we shan't be able to
offer you any refreshments, but Jim when
| he came along said something about dim
ing at the Brunswick hotel"
Capt. Smedleys full of original IDEAS"
eAc4alIHed Hardy, as they seated them
selves at the table What a different
scene, Mrs. Smedley, this interior will
submit few weeks hence" he continued
II see the gallant captain yonder at the
head there, a row of ladies and gentle
men ranged down the table from either
hand of him. The table smokes with
good cheer, deliberately served; through a
window yonder You see an ayah cuddling
a baby and swaying to the heave of the
ship How the sails swell to the heavens
through that skyiight!'' and here he cast
his eyes aioft, and then looking at Miss
Julia, he said, And where will you be?'
well, you may take it as good as set
tied" said Capt. Smedey, land let nv
wife get all the thanks" he added, not
particularly referring TO Julia in his
speech.
''You are very good" said Hardy.
glancing at Julia, who was certainly not
smiling. How shall We consider it as
good as settled?"
you've got to thank my wife; she's
taken great interest in the young lady,
said Smedley
Julia, meeting Mrs. Smedley's eyes.
gave her grave bow, full of the uncon-
scious coquetry of her natural postures
It's settled in this way" continued
Smedley. II arranged that Miss Arm
strong sails as her assistant Old Per-
kins, one of the chiefs who was at the
Office said he couldn't see the need.
freights We're low, and the ship was sail
ed with regard to expense Here the
captain winked at Hardy. 81 told him
the lady was a good nurse and accus-
toned to children, and that the steward
eSS needed helm So Miss Ar,OStrou,