The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-11-26
The Captains Story



my house Is the biggest" said.
Reginald.
"weH, mines, the prettdest," re-
piled Ethel, tossing her curly head.
The two children sat digging on
lie hot beach sand, and l found them
thus disputing as l came upon them
Unexpectedly.
"why, Ethel" l exclaimed, what
are you doing here? l have been
looking for you for a long while; and
sitting in all that sand with your
pretty white dress!"
Isn't my house the best?" she
asked, shaking out her crushed ruitles
and entirely ignoring my question, /
was Obliged to smile at her assumed
dignity as she stood regarding her
house with pride and %anxiously await.
ing my decision.
Well, / think that they are both
attractive" l answered. as l saw Regi.
nald almost in tears with humiliation
stopped to look more closely at the
two sand huts. Yours is very pretty.
Ethel. Now let ne see yours, Regt'
nald."
"oh, mines not SO good as Ethel's;
but it's bigger and it's got a real plank
walk"
Sure enough. child. But where did
you get this smooth piece Of wood'" I
asked, lifting IT up. "And l really
think that there is writing upon It"
"oh. ! found It up there in a little
sand pile" interrupted Ethel. land l
gave it to Reggy for his house; didn't
], Reggy?" and she slipped down be-
side her playmate.
But here comes old Captain Will
iams," I exclaimed. Il really think
that you two children interest him
more than his own, old ship
"How-do! How.do! Miss Hall; and
how's my two little sun5eams today?
They're coming with me on my next
trip, aren't you, dears?" laughed the
old captain as Reggy and Ethel seized
either hand. Eyes, it's a fine day for
a stroll, and we'll take a walk along
the sand for a bit. Well, well. Miss
Hall, / guess you've bout got your
hands full %a.watching these two
squirrels"
well, they are somewhat Of a care;
but | am very much interested In a
small piece of wood which Ethel dug
up. 1t is as smooth as paper, and /
can distinguish a stanza Of poetry
carved on the back. On the other side
is something which resembles a heart
cut deep into the wood and containing
some tiny initials. Really, the work
Is that Of a master-hand."
The old captain examined the bit Of
wood. then paused reminiscently.
We'll. I do declared" he said.
you never a tell; you never can
tell. Years ago!5 Miss Hal, when
was Just Starting out as a sailor lad
| came to this spot one summer. That
large, old house high up on the hill
was the fashionable summer boarding
house. Among the visitors was a fine
young girlswith the prettiest face I
' e SEEM She was sought after by
oil the young men in the place: but
she wouldn't listen to nopesof them.
by and by there camel e one
to the place. a young chap, a sculptor
who had Just come back from the
schools of France and italy, and he
followed the rest OF the boys. But he
was different from them. He was the,
finest chap I ever seen. He wouldn't
hold up his head when he passed an
old salt dike me, but he'd just shake
hands with each and all Of us,
well, he won the girl and there
was the biggest rejoicing you ever
seen among the sailors. But it didn't
turn his head a bit. He was he
happiest fellow | ever seen. He snd
his bride 'ud walk up and down the
beach and the other fellers looked on
a.wishing she waS their'n.
"Qne day | saw them sitting close
together on the sand and 1 slipped
down sort o. quiet like and there he
sat a-carving a heart on a bit OF wood.
On the other side he cut a poem. then
he put their names inside the tiny
heart. He dug deep hole in the sand
and put 1t at the bottom, and when
he'd covered It all up he says to his
wife, May the one who finds this be
as happy as We"
The old captain paused ard return
ed the piece Of wood to its owner.
Reginald caught it and. taking Ethel
by the hand, they scampered on to-
gether.
Old Captain Williams looked after
them. sdding softly. MAY they be
as happy as was he and his BRIDE