The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-06-05
THE WOMAN WHO TALKED.

And birds with each love song SO sweet,
Repeat evermore life's old story
And gladden. earth's years all too fleet.
THE WOMAN WHO TALKED.
How She Captured the Captain and Earned a
Loving Cup.
The Alcestris had been visited by
several minor mishaps. The chief
engineer was hurt by something which
got loose and caught him a swinging
blow while he was making an official
inspection. A man had fallen over
board and been picked up and delay
of an hour had resulted. The ships
doctor had been laid up by an attack
of rheumatism.
Captain Thomas FELTON, was an ad-
mirable mariner with proper pride
in his profession and full apprecia-
ton of his responsibility. There were
500 souls in his care and there was a
time schedule to remember.
Naturally, there were occasions
when Captain FELTON, permitted him.
self to feel irritated. Anything that
interfered with the running of his
ship passed upon the province of his
official dignity was quickly resented.
On the third day out from New
York the captain was not In an en-
tirely agreeable humor.
The man who went overheard had
been showed on deck from the rescu-
ing boat, and the captain had just
given orders for the A1cestris to re-
sumo her course, when he saw Mrs.
Fenniger Brown approaching.
The captain had been salty mari
ner for nearly forty years, but he
couldn't get seasoned to the passen-
ger who asks foolish questions-and
most questions are foolish from a liner
captains point of view.
Mrs. Fenniger Brown was approach
ing middle age. She was also ap-
preaching stoutnaas. It was under
stood that she was a widow, travel
ing alone, and that she had plenty of
money.
"Good morning, captain, I" said the
lady. "Quite an interesting cpl
sode?"
She referred to the annoying res
cue.
The captain growled deep down in
his throat, but made no reply.
"Who was the poor man 7"
"a coal passer, madam"
married."
The captain made another inarticu-
late remark.
II do not know, madam"
II was thinking how hard 1t would
have been for you to notify his wife
and children-but perhaps he has no
children. How old did you say he
was?"
The captain swallowed hard.
II know nothing whatever about
him, madam"
IA new man, I suppose. Perhaps
not familiar with the ship How
dreadful it would have been if the
boat hadn't picked him up! I re-
member hearing my brother George
tell about man who fell overheard
IN the night and they burned rockets
and blew whistles. But really, now,
that may have been on the Mississippi
River. Anyway, my impression is
that the man was intoxicated.
The captain did not answer.
"You don't think the poor fellow
will catch cold, do you, captain ?"
the lady solicitously inquired.
''I don't think anything about it, !"
said the captain, gruf1y.
But the inquisitive passenger was
not discouraged.
"And about where are we now,
captain?"
She had asked this question every
time they had met.
The captain frowned darkly.
Madam" he said, ''if you will
consult the second officer he will show
you the chart and give you the ships
bearings"
And he turned abruptly away.
The inquisitive lady wasn't annoyed
by this unceremonious departure.
"He's got such lot on his mind, "
she said, and looked after him sym
pathetically.
And the captain, stalking away
also spoke to himself.
eff that confounded woman both
ers me with any more fool question:
I'll put her in irons-or push hel
overheard"
He glanced as he paused by the
rail. The inquisitive woman had
paused by the chair of the invalic
professor, and the captain could tell
by the way she nodded and gesturet
that she was busy at her favorite di
version.
"Poor chap" grumbled the cap
tain.
A faint smile softened his seriou:
face as he stalked along.
From that moment he carefully
avoided the woman who talked. HI
moved away when he saw her com
ing, he affected not to hear her whei
she called to him across the table.
| And this required constant vigi
lance.
He told himself that in all his ex
perience he had never met such al
annoying passenger. If she had beel
| a man he would have squelched he
curiosity instantly. Being womal
he could only avoid her.