Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-26
BY Henry Seton Herrlman.

"Aucun chemin de neurs ne conduit a la
gloire."
1t was nearly hslf-past eight when Grand
haven ran into a fog-bank. and the second
oficer sent a message to the captains
steward who was waiting at that great
mans dinner table in the saloon.
The captains steward was a discreet
man. He gave the message in a whisper
as he swept the crumbs from the table with
a jerk Of his napkin. The second oficer
could not. Of course. reduce speed on his
own responsibility. %Grandhaven had been
running through fog-banks ever since 1t
left Plymouth in the gray Of a November
afternoon.
Every Atlantic traveller knows Grand
haven. 1t was so we'll known that every
berth was engaged despite the lateness OF
the season. 1t was considered a privilege
to sail with Captain Dixon. the most popu-
lar man on the wide seas. A few million
aires considered themselves honored by his
friendship. One Of them called him Tom
on shore. He was an Englishman, though
Grandhaven was technically an American
ship. His enemies said that he owed his
success in life to his manners, which GER
tainly we're excellent. Not too familiar
with anyone at sea, but unerringly discrim-
mating between man and man, between a
real position and an imaginary one. For In
the greatest republic the world has yet
seen men are keenly alive to social dis
tinctions.
On the other hand his friends pointed to
his record. Captain Dixon had never made
a mistake in seamanship.
He was a handsome man with a trim
brown beard cut to a point In the naval
style, gay blue eyes and a bluff way Of
carrying his head. The women passengers
invariably fell into the habit Of describing
him as a splendid man. and the word
seemed to At him like a glove. Nature
had certainly designed him to be shown
somewhere in the front Of life, to be placed
upon a dais and looked up to and admired
by the multitude. She had written sue
cess upon his sunburnt face.
He had thousands of friends. Every seat
at his table was Booked two voyages ahead
and he knew the value Of popularity. He
was never carried on his feet, but enjoyed
1t simply and heartily. He had fallen in
love one summer voyage with a tall and
soft-mannered Canadian girl. a Hebe, with
the face of a Madonna; with thoughtful,
waiting blue eyes. She was only 10, and,
~ SONA1 OapNoA tdIIltu everything
before him. The girl was astonished at
her good fortune. For this wooer was a
king on his own great decks. No princess
could be good enough for him-had prin-
cesses been In the habit OF crossing the
Atlantic. Captain Dixon had now been
married some years.
His marriage had made a perceptible
change in the personnel Of his intimates.
A bachelor captain appeals to a different
world. He was still a great ~favorite with
men. @
Although Grandhaven had been only one
night at sea-, the captains table had no
vacant seats. These were all old travellers
and there had been libations poured to the
gods now made manifest by empty bottles
and not a little empty laughter. Dixon,
however, was steady enough. He had re-
luctantly accepted one glass Of champagne
from the bottle of a senator, powerful in
shipping circles. He and his officers made
a point Of drinking water at. table. The
modern sailor Is one of the startling pro-
ducts of these odd times. He dresses for
dinner. and when of duty may be found
sitting on the saloon stairs discussing with
a lady passenger the respective merits of
Wagner and Chopin as set forth by the
ships band-when he ought to be asleep in
SSN ~ PASpeIa ~ u the uluQle WdlCn.
The captain received the message with
a curt nod. But he did not rise from the
table. He knew that a hundred eyes were
nxed upon him, watching his every glance.
II he had Jumped up and hurried from the
table the nights rest OF half q hundred
anxious ladies would inevitably suffer.
He took his watch from his pocket and
rose laughing at some sally made by a
%neighbor. AS he passed down the length
Of the saloon he paused to greet one and
exchange a laughing word with another. He
was a very gracious monarch.
On deck II was wet and cold. A keen
wind from the northwest seemed to prom
ise a heavy sea and a dirty night when
the Lizard should be passed and the pro-
lection Of the high Devon moorlands left
behind. The captains cabin was at the
head OF the saloon stairs. Captain Dixon
lost no time in changing his smart ness
Jacket for a thicker coat. Oilskins and a
souwester transformed him again to the
seaman that he was. and he climbed the
narrow iron ladder into the bowling dark
ness Of the upper bridge with a brisk
readiness to meet any situation.
The fog bank was a thick one. It was
like a sheet of thin and very wet cotton
wool laid upon the troubled breast OF the
~ AA~ sAehNe - Az v NaAo II VI
the huge steamer were barely visible. There
was no glare aloft where the mast light
stared unwinking into the D'ist.
Dixon exchanged a few words with the
second officer, who stood, rather restless,
by the engine room telegraph. They spoke
in monosyllables. TIL dial showed fun
speed ahead" Captain Dixon stood chew
ing the end Of his golden mustaehe. which
he had drawn in between his teeth. He
looked forward and aft and up aloft in
three quick movements OF the head. Then
he laid his two hands on the engine room
telegraph and reduced the pace to half
speed. There were a hundred people on
board who would take note OF 1t with a
throb of rneasiness at their hearts. but
that could not be helped.
The second oficer stepped sideways into
the ehartroom. reluctant to turn his eyes
elsewhere than dead ahead into the wind
and mist, TO make a note In two books
that lay open on the table under the shaded
electric lamp. II was twenty minutes to 8.
Grsndhaven was a quick ship. but Il
Was also a safe one. The captain had laid
a course close under the Lizard lights.
He intended to alter 1t, but not yet. The
mist might lift. There was plenty Of time;
for by dead reckoning they could scarcely
hope TO sight the win lights before II
o'clock. The captain turned and said .
single word TO his second ofncer and q