The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-12-23


knew it until now-I named you for
kindly husband ashore"
ashore and at are two diner
ent places" replied the captain OF
Il the Uriah B. Caster "When I'm
ashore 1 take things easy when
I'm at sea I act accordingly. Sail
dogs. and the more you
beat a dog the better it is. So with sailors
Grind 'em down, rule 'em with an iron hand, and
they'll not only do their work at the run but
they'll crawling along and ask you for
more. That's my. experience. and 80 years at sea,
and boy hasn't inclined me TO dispute facts
they stand.'
81 call it cruelty" said his wife without heat
for she a of sadness.
She knew the cause of that sadness, as did her
husband, but it mentioned between
them by tacit agreement. Twenty-Five years OF
married life had resulted in a fine endurance OF
marital affectiOn-the shippers long absences
from home might have accounted for that in some
measure. The two good friends, and bick-
ering between them thing unknown. There
had been one chtd-Very many years ago, but it
only raised its voice in the great world
and before the mothers heart had quickened in
response the voice stilled forever. The Lord
had given; He had also taken away, and Mrs.
HapshOtt endeavOred to say BLESSED be the
of the Lord" with a good grace though at times
the saying hard.
To hide his emotion the captain threw gruff-
ness into his voice I'm thinking 1 made mis-
take in bringing you to sea, LASS he said. "It
isn't place for women, least of all soft-hearted
women such you are. But you begged and
prayed, and the owners seemed willing"
ut got to be lonely waiting there ashore Hi
RAM" she said simply. at at nights when
when the wind hOwled and the snow fell every
where-I saw other women happy and conpan-
ionable with their about them; and tit
was more than could stand. It would have been
easier Tiff thered-if Amos had lived" He
derstood, and his rough gnarled hand crept out
along the rail until it rested on hers with the
pressure of sympathy
"Hiram want to ask you favor
"Its Christmas day in two days time Are
you going to give the Christmas-a proper
Christmas2"
HapshOtt opened his mouth and laughed,
laugh that was pregnant with cynfcism
"Give them a Christmas proper Christmasl
By which suppose you mean a holiday and
Christmas fare? Why, lass they wouldn't know
what to do with 1t If they had it. Besides we
aren't fitted for Christmas meals. There's
brace OF chickens in the coop that'n make our
dinner that day-Pve been saving them I'D on
purpose: put beyond the pig fOr'ard-"
"Give them proper Christmas, Hiram" plead
ed Mrs. HapshOtt earnestly. ITS wonderful
| day ashore, though a sad That is for me-"
she amended. "I always get thinking of the Child
and of how happy His mother must have been
though she lost Him. too; she lost Him."
+ She thought the wound was fairly healed, but
the hot tears gushed to her faded. pathetic eyes
| Hapshott himself turned away, for he knew the
ache at her heart; it companoned the void at his
own.
"An hands muster aft" cried Captain HapshOtt
The slOuched along TO the afterdeck and
! grouped themselves under the poop break. The
moon sprang up from the blackening sea. and
shone rediy upon them; a full round ball. It
showed sulen. respondent faces faces without
| hope Mrs Hapshott drew near to the pinraiI
and looked down, her heart welled full of pity.
She had done something-she had given these
overworked beasts of burden days rest at
least
ITS stand by till midnight tomorrow" said
/ the skipper in a voice that he fOndly hoped be-
trayed no shame. There's a holiday from now
| on. You'll take your wheels and 'lOokouts as
usual; beyond that-nOthing. Understands