The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-01
A CHANGE OF BASE.
BY J. Q. PLuMMER.

BY J. c. PLUMBER. | Copyright. 1904. by Daily Story Pub. CO.
 What 'eavenly sermon" remarked Mrs. Gaskins, as she emerged from Eben ezer chapel into the rather eooty air o | Southwark.
 Tt would have moved a marble him age." added Miss Carrie, Gaskins. re proachfully eyeing her escort.r Captair Peter Marley.
 Captain Marley bowed his head in dirt l compunction at his hardness of heart He loved Miss Carrie most ardently, ana had proposed to her! five times, but, while she admitted he was not disagreeable tC her, she declared that, until he had be come a truly converted member of tht Ebenezer fold, they could be nothing more than friends.
 Hi could never, never think of mar. rying worldly man." she had at divers times affirmed most positively. Captain Marley had not the slightest objection to becoming a member of Eb- enezer nor, indeed. to attaining that mem- bership by the way of the old-fashioned emotional conversion; in fact. he sorely envied those ladies of susceptibility and avolrdupois who both nimbly and vocif- erously proclaimed their joy at being loos- ened from their sins during the present revival at Ebeneztr. Unfortunately, so rhinoceros-like was the hide of worldli- ness which invested the captain, that neither melting hymn nor denunciatory sermon brought him to the mourner's s bench, and Captain Marley was discour- aged.
 Its your 'ardened 'eart." said Miss Carrie. severely, as he bade her good night.
 T can't make the port" replitd the captain. wearily. Many a good sailor can't just pass for a masters certif- cate"
 Miss Carrie shook her head disapprov- ingly and waited few moments on the steps to see if the worldly-minded Marley would dare attempt to kiss her, but that crushed mariner making no move to- wards such sacrilege, she went in the house abruptly.
 When Captain Marley reached the col- Tier misnamed the Venus, over which he exercised supreme command, he found the dingy cabin occupied by his friend Cap tain Tennant.
 After an exchange of salutations, Cap- tain Tennant explained his errand I've tickets for the theater tomorrow night, but l can't go. as I have an engagement with some friends. Now, I would like you to take her. want her to see some of Lunnon while she's here"
 Captain Marley asserted without think ing of consequences. He was glad to be of service to his friend, but after Tennant had departed the thought of Miss Cas- kins' horror of a play house and the possibility of her hearing he had en- tered one fairly chilled him. His rela- tions with his lady love were strained now. and if she heard of this plunge into sin
 The North of England. breeds some pret- ty girls. and Polly Tennant was of the fairest crop, hence Captain Marley, despite his forebodings of evil to come, could not avoid a feeling of pride at be- ing the escort of such a handsome girl, and 1t was this proud feeling that in- duced him to suggest supper after the play.
 It was with a premonition of evil that Captain Marley hied himself to Ebenezer chapel the next evening. and when, in return for his greeting, Miss Carrie nod ded coldly and sailed on to her bench escorted by Brother limp, a lean, sanc- tifed young man who admired Miss Cas- kins hugely, he feared the smirch of the play house was visible on his forehead.