The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-01
Our Daily Sbcrt Story

| mere was Q most eloquent sermon' aho | captain Marley fairly opened the pores or his skin to imbibe 1t. What triumph would be to walk up the aisle and shout forth his entrance among the elect | How 1t would discomit limp: but alas hymns and sermons were as Saracen ar rows against a crusaders armor, and he sunk back to his coal boat as far as favor. .' | S'I can't set over the bar" sighed the captain Now a craft like that limp ne sails in ebb or flow without scrapine bottom"
 1 l. AS the Venus was delayed in discharg' Ing cargo Captain Marley spent the fwc following days idly Respondent. He dar- ca not visit Miss Carrie and efforts al Eoenezer membership he felt were use less. hence Miss Polly Tennant tripping down the companion steps one morning found him gloomy.
 I've come to say good-by," she said
 Tap sails this afternoon" Sit down." said the captain, making an effort to appear cheerful. and Miss Polly cbatted away merrily until the en- trance was suddenly darkened and, to the horror of Captain Marley. Miss Car rie Gaskine. her mother and Brother limp entered the cabin.
 captain Marley introduced his guests with the airs of man momentarily ex- pecting shock of earthquake, and when the young ladies began to talk he lis tened to their words with keen anxiety.
 I've had a sweet time," said Miss Tennant. The other evening Captain
 Here the captain was seized with tenn pestuous fit of coughing.
 .af vSaa et.< h. boat" he saids desperately.
 "-took me to the theater," continued Miss Tennant, land afterwards we had delightful supper. Quite dissipated. assure you"
 Captain Marley sunk back on a lock- CT and gasped. Jimp's face darkened with repugnance to such a sinner, but Miss Carries countenance expressed anxiety. Miss Tennant was decidedly a pretty girl.
 When Captain Marley assisted Miss Gaskins over the gangplank she said, softly:
 If you are not too hoccupied, Peter, I'll be 'ome tonight
 The captains heart fiuttered. Never before had her lips called him by his first name. Peter; 1t sounded like a promise of peace, or was 1t only one of those treacherous calms between the busts of Q hurricane? So genial was the manner of Mrs. Gaskins and her daugh- ter when the captain called that night that he felt doubtful lest Ebenezer might have converted him to its fold without his knowledge
 Some bold men of the sea. noting the softened demeanor of Miss Carrie, might have been more aggressive than Captain Marley. but he, dispirited by long chain of failures. arose to depart without talk ing advantage of the prevailing fair breezes, when Miss Carrie spake:
 I'm afraid I've been ard with you, Peter. "I dreamed you were sinking in the great hocean and saying I'd been ard on you," and Miss Carrie shed tears.
 Then Captain Marley saw clear water, the shoals of Ebenezer, and Brother limp lay abeam, and his course was straight ahead.
 He placed his arm around Miss Carries waist. and kissed her loudly
 There were confused murmurs of next May" and Polly Tennant, shall be bridesmaid" after which Captain Marley went to the Venus with the light bouyant step of a happy man.
 Two months after the wedding rumor sayeth that Captain Marley and his wife were seen at the theater, hugely enjoy- ing vaudeville performance.