The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-06
Our Daily $bort Story


 When tho pilot left the mate came aft | .'Pile her Up. on Fire Island or bust her into a steamer. don't care" said the Il captain darkly. ?. s ~-
 me mate strode. forward revolving scnemes for tho proper management of maniac On tho high seas. s.. .- t | The captain, shook off the load of stupe- Lscsion to an extent about nightfall and Iesamed command, but with stony look m nis eyes which made the sailors shake tnoir heads doubtfuliy. ts, =
 The David Dill had crossed the bar and was beating up to Charleston when a peat put out from an anchored schooner end Captain Bowne boarded the Dill. DanI" murmured Captain Stillcombe with the deepest gloom. | Did', you give the letter to Marshy?" asked his friend. T didn't get any an- swer." ..-.-T + With sroan of remorse Captain Still lcomse drew the fateful letter from his lpocket and handed it to Captain Bowne. | seemee-nyr' ejaculated Captain Bowne as ne read, ''she fhowt it was from you. " T ought to hev signed it."- continued captain Bowne, '.I ought to hev." Cap tain Stilicombe, with bowed head and rounded shoulders. resemblcd some old marine monster that had boarded the schooner arsA s' Josh, said Captain Bowne. firmly, '.I hev. on thinkin'. got you into tangle. fou.I hey to marry her" -. What?" gasped his friend. t: shorely." repeated Captain Bowne. you must marry her. We've been wis., itin' them ladies for years, and 1t won't do to mortify Marshy. It won't do." I'd .mado up my mind" said Captain Stilfoombe, feebly, "to die single" t-'
 "Sometinnes a vallyble cargo must be dumped over to save a ship" said Captain Bowne. you must dump your resolutions over now."
 Cant we untangle it?'
 We can't,' said Captain Bowne, stern- ly. I'm sorry for you, Josh."
 I'm sorry 1t happened. Danl"
 The two captains shook hands sadly.
 Arm in arm. eyes fixed and brows wrinkled. the two captains walked up the street to the Pike residence.
 'Dan'i' asked Captain Stillcombe, per- spring profusely. "must I kiss her?'
 "Sartin," replied Captain Bowne, de- cisfvely. and not word about the mis- take in the letter."
 When they were admitted Captain Still combe kissed Miss Marcia Intellectually on the nose, andsthen they sat in constrained silence until Captain Stillcombe arose slowly.
 q am hyar," he said, "to confirm what was in the letter.
 Captain Bowne applauded audibly with his hands.
 "--and to say that though it was Dan'rs letter."
 Captain Bownes foot pressed heavily on the speakers. and he stopped. "Eedyut!" hissed Captain Bowne.
 Miss Marcia arose, her face scarlet.
 "Then 1t was Captain Bowne's letter, and you only delivered it. she said, well. it's not too late to change" and she tossed her head. "I won't change" beloved Captain Stillcombe, q won't let any man hev you but me.''
 "Hurrah!" shouted Captain Bownc.
 Miss Marcia produced Captain Bowne's letter.
 "It's tangie.' she said, but it's easily untangled," and she marked with a pen cil and handed the letter Co its author.
 "Beeloved Lydia" he read. By gum, that suits me egzactly.''
 "It don't suit me- Eiggled Miss Lydia. dying into the kitchen. closely pursued by Captain Bowne.
 ''I really wanted Lydia,'' confessed Cap tain Bowne. as the two captains went back to their vessels. but I was afraid to ask her, and felt we ought to marry one of 'em. suppose old Captain Pike is lOokin' down from Heaven and smilIn' at both his daughters gettin' husbands"
 ''I don't know whether he's loolkin' down or iookin' up,' said Captain Still combe. meditatively; You see, I sailed with him"