The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-12
: The Captain 5 Surprise 5
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gentle. and without mother-in law 10
nneddle in domestic affairs Some fellows
have luck he ended, with a pretended
groan Of envy
'Ay." said Cairns, my wifcN II not
overburdened with friends, and that
makes me more anxious To take her 20
sea. With the exception OF her sister
whom I never have seen, who Is year
younger and Ike my Isabel when we
first met. a bookkeeper and shorthand
clerk, she has not relation I'm the
world"
The kindly Quakers drew him on Go
talk Of Isabel. how he had first met her
az an evening party given by the wife OF
one OF the Grimport merchants. and how.
In contrast with the loud dresses and
cacklDg voices OF some other young wo-
men who were present--if they had only
heard him, would they have ever called
him delightful again? ~ the refined
beauty and simple grace Of the lady clerk
had gained In charm He told tho story
OF their brief wooins, Of the wedding, a
very simple affair and quite private, az
the Grimport church and described tho
cottage, "A mile outside the town, which
he had taken for the honeymoon. IN
stood in an old-fashioned garden, and
there were clipped yews on each side
or the gate, and behind was wood
whore nightIngales sang day and night
az least, Isabel said they were nightin-
gales.
"'rhe wife will have 10 put up with
gulIs and frigate birds at sea" said Mr..
Jeremy. she cant take the iightin-
gales along with her"
''Or her sister" said Captain nunstone,
pityingly. The poor thing will miss
her. I'll be bound"
"she has friends In London, with whom
she llyes." returned Cairns.
.I.~tf fnr
kindred" remarked the elder Haxby.
'She is engaged 20 the eldest SON Of
these god folks. said Cairns, and I un-
derstand the splicing of the lovers is
only matter OF weeks. He has n berth
as second mate absurd an Australian
liner, and has good pay, Isabel tells me.
and So one may consider Miss Winifred
well provided for.
"Winifred Is that her name?" cried
Dunstone. 1T sounds as though Il
ought o. belong Ia pretty girl. Now, IL
I We're twenty years younger and little
less tough and tanned, there would be a
chance for me-"
Oddly enough" said Cairns. showing
his white teeth I'm smile. II don't know
whether wiuifred is pretty or not.
have never seen 4 protrait OF her. But
In your interests. Captain Dunstone, !
must ask my wife 20 give me a sight of
one. II she has it."
And he bsde the owners and the retir-
ing skipper jovial egoodby. and swung
of al a smart pace homeward. The
mile that lay between Grimport and the
country cottage he had rented for the
honeymoon was soon covered. Isabel
was waiting at the gate. and there were
no passersby TO witness the rspturous
embrace with which the married lovers
met after three hours OF separation.
"Oh, Jem"' his young wife cried, as
abe met his triumphant kiss You have
good news for me, ! am TO sail in the
Venture with you Isn't it true?"
"True ne that the seas are salt and you
are my wife, Cairns passed his arm
around her slight waist; kissed her gold
en- hair--for Isabel was fair beauty
and loked at her with pride. 'rhe
cabin In 10 be scraped. painted and new
rigEed. fit for bride: piano is 10 be
shipped for you at the Haxbys expense,
and this watch and chain are a present
to me because / have been SO lucky as to
marry the sweetest and prettiest girl on
dry land
Isabel glowed at the simple rattery.
Her heart was in her eyes as she looked
at him.
''They should have given Il 90 me. T" she
said, because have married the hand
soonest man and the bravest in the whole
world" She had heard the story of the
sharks and Cairns dive. oh Jem, IL L
had lost you them" She could say no
more.
AS YOU didn't know me them. an
swered Cairns, with twinkle In his
bright gray eyes, IT wouldn't have sf-
fected you
II should never have married" Isabel
fiared out mo other man but YOU
would ever have won my heart! She
covered one OF his large, strong hands
with both of hers. Say" she coaxed,
that If you had not met me you never
would have married.
II should have been ~ea-husband
like Dunstone, welded Ia my ship for
better, for WORSE laughed Cairns.
Though now that the old fellow Is go
Ing ashore for good he'll be wanting
somebody 10 brew his grog and MI his
pipe for him. lie wanted 10 know about
your sister Winifred-whether she was as
pretty as YOU are. and whether she was
engaged, and ! said she that couldnt
POSSIBLY be the one, but / understood she
was the other"
Isabel began 10 laugh How 1 am long
ing TO see your face when you first set
eyes on Winnie"' she cried. What Will
you say? What will you think? Obi
wouldn't show you her photograph Tor
the world, though / have got hall a doz-
en-; IL would spoil the effect | mean TO
create"
ASK her 10 come down and spend a few
days with us before We sail. 4" said Cairns
1T IL, for one thing. only proper consid-
Grafton for your sister, and. for am
other '--
You are expiring with curiosity to see
her" interrupted Isabel with little
gush OF laughter. Then she pretended TO
box her husbands ears and he kissed her
and they went into supper Next day the
letter OF invitation To Winifred Carling-
brook was written. The reply came back
in due cOurse-a letter OF delighted ao-
ceptance, mingled with girlisb express
sions OF grier at Isabeis impending de-
parturc. Mrs. Cairns tossed the letter
gayly TO her husband, and watched him
read H.
"1hc hand is like yours" he observed
Isabel nodded. Cairns said no ncse, but
gave her back Ninifred's lettbr and
plunged into the perisal OF \ legal look
Ing document which had been delivered
at the same time IL was. I'm fact, "a sub
poena 20 appear az a witness for the de-
PENDANT, Capt Dunsione. in a case in
which the plaintiff. an A. -. reduced 90
the ordinary rating for sifecr incompe-
tency. sucd 20 recover fun wages for the
voyage recently completed by the Vent
ure so they can't do without me, he
said. frowning, and pulling his fair beard
"and all through that longshore Swab
who palmed himself of on the skipper for
a seaman. I've got TO leave you. Isabel
and GO up 20 London"