The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-21
The EVENING STORY
The Captain,s Daughter.
(By Jerome Sprague.)

Now I never was savin' and that's
why you're Twin in this old house, and
its why you're wearin' cheap clothes
| when all the other girls have pretty
! things. 1 amt been much of a pro-
Vlder, but / did make your mother
comfortable, I'll say that, Prudie."
You're a dear said Prudence
Tucker, whose name belied her looks,
| for she had hyaway curls tied back
under ribbon, and she was fiyaway
by nature. but sweet none the less.
you're DEAR said Prudence
again. and kissed MIN. land 1 shall
marry whom I like
Just SO it ant Richard Judd" he
And why not Richard:" Prudence
demanded. hes honest and kind and
true and comfortably fixed. If he isn't
Well, he amt savin' " said the cap
tain obstinately. ct amt going to
have you tied to two men who can't
keep cent. It's bad enough for you
70 have that kind of a father, and I
amt goin' to let you have that kind
of a husband
Perhaps said Prudence, with her
blue eyes flashing, you'd rather took
Ben BasSett."
The captain frightened up. Nov,
Bassett's the kind of man I mean.
He owns q shipyard, and he's got a
big house on top Of the hill, and he's
folk. And he's got all that by savin'.
tell you, Prudie, a man can't be any
thing these days without he's got
money. and you'd better listen to me
Prudie's. short nose was in the air.
Il won't listen,'' she said, and
stamped her foot, when you talk
about Ben Basset:."
He asked me last night " the cap
tain went on, regardless of these dam
ger signs, "he asked me last night
whether would give my consent"
Prudence swooped down on him.
And Won told him that voI1
give it, you did. Daddy, didn't you :?
You wouldn't want your little girl to
marry such a n1iser. would you?"
tain. doggedly. you'll have every
thing you want-nice things to eat
and pretty clothes. and horse and
Prudence stood and stared at him.
rembled, you don't know what YOU
are doing; you don't know
80 Vel We'll you Youth think it over" said the
answer in the morning"
That night Prudence met her lover
on the rocks. We've got to find
way out of it: Richard she said.
Dads got to learn that Ben Bassett
IS an old skinfiint, who makes every
boly miserable. Pretty dresses, in
deed, why the chances are he wouldn't
knows that he half starves himself
Richard pondered. IF you could
get the captain to stay with him for
while, he'd see.''
Aunt Melissa's and stay a week, and
I'll ask Ben Bassett to take care of
father while I'm gone"
The next morning Prudence, in a
demure little hat, and a long gray
coat. drifted into the smoky offices of
BaSsett & Co.
I've come to ask you, Ben" she
said to the cringing proprietor, "if
f11Y 0f 60
while I go to Aunt Melissa's. I want
to think things over
Ben's countenance underwent a
curious change. ST am not accustom-
ed to guests" he said. Couldn't some
one else do it?'
Prudence eyed him ca1rnIy. ''You
dor,t mean to say" she inquired.
Why, 1 couldn't be happy without lots
of folks around me-
ooh, surely, surely he stammered,
let him come. I'll do my best
On Saturday morning, Prudence
went gaily to make his visit. ''It will
be a change for he" he said, genial
ly to Richard Judd, who carried his
bag up the hill for him. 1--WE have
things pretty plain at home, and Ben,
now, can afford all the delicacies of
the season.
Amy time you want change"
was Richards offer, you come on
L
chowder. Of course, after you've
been to Ben's you'll turn up your
nose at such plain food, but, anyhow,
you're always welcome
They shook hands and the captain |
waved goodbye" from the steps. "I
wish you had Ben's money he said, |
regretfully. IT think Prudence likes |
you BETTER she does Ben. But she's |
got to marry man that's savin'."
A week later a haggard face peered |
into the little windows of the cabin |
of Richards schooner.
"Can I come in" was the question |
put by the captain as Richard ap-
Sure" shouted Richard, ''its just
dinner time. and I've got a chowder
fit for a king
land I'm hungry, Richard; I've never
been so hungry in my life
MOP" Richard looked his amaze
ment. why. I thought you'd been
Ben Bassett.'
81 have" said the captain, land
don't you ever mention his name to
me. He's the stingiest white man in
the whole world. He bakes his beans
pork-Says they are healthier
that way-irst stews them so, and
his Goldfish gravy with water, and he
don't drink cream in his coffee. and
as for pie believe he begrudges the
apples in them. O-oo-h," the captain
of chowder was waited up to him;
'o-oo-ooh, that smells good!"
Come down and feed" said Rich
ard succincIly, and the dinner that
followed was a feast of harmony and
happiness.
When the captain finished. he said:
Lets go up and smoke pipe" On
deck he announced, you can have
her, Richard. There's limits to saw
Ing'' l.
Just then on the rocks on the town
side of the harbor, appeared a little
figure in a gray coat and demure
bonnet, who waved a reckoning hand. I