Marble Hill press., 1920-12-16

faint whisper se-mci 10 pass through the
ranks unc or two Or the faces ~ up suddenly
soughei of their assumed age aud bccam. young
and cnmcly once more. II was Christmas eve
and thoughts few with lightning speed O. long
forgotten homes, whcrr Christmas had been n
festival % dcllsh, In those bygone days before
the hungry 80 claimed them a. IT, own.
You've rot 60 thank my wife for that wen,
90 Hnpshott shes asked me 10 give you n
Chrsimas--a Christmas you1l have. Make the
most u H. Tb"refl bc fresh mess served for
dinner tomorrow. and ihcnc1i be grog for all
hands at eight he'ls That's all--dlsmiss"
The men broke az, walked forward slowly
Thea as II moved By common impulse. they
cnm~ hack
"yc 'ish der lady FOR to dank.- gruntca a Ger.
man sailmat"r. lingering his cap "Hey. boys
vat yuu saJsl Aindt lt rrhtr
"Ncs--ia-dots a. Hans" came the replies
Mr. Hnpshott was awaw ~ strange compress
sou IN her throat her eyes smartcd \ stlrcn-
ing ~ the crew was followed BY something faint.
IL Resembling cheer then the men went forward
.iouchngiy. Their tongues wsrr busy and they
wondered
suu morr did they wonder Christmas day
when two bell. having sounded art Mrs Hup
shoti Appeared among them. her arms piled hlgh
with rlfts From the commencement u the voy.
aaf lfF hItiNlD Nhf4Aa NAl hesN busy WITH ilus
and wool. and Bow there was something tor
them all. warm caps that completely covered a
mans bead and held him immune from frosthlfe
in the most rigorous weather: muhiers Jerseys
not one vas forgotten. Even the greasy cook
man ~ foul speech and uncleun habits found
himself the po~scssor ~ slccved walstcoat knit
tel out u the herciest woo.
4 hops you'll have a merry Christmas men
said Mrs Hapshott. and they chcered her--they
were gaining practic,-untI the idle yards
seemed IN swing In answer.
Dinner time came round and s,camlng kits
vere passed into the forrcaste Kits that con.
tained sayory Joints from the porker killed over,
night The men ate and we're thankful. but when
a monster plum pudding appeared they stared
with awestruck eyes.
Don't thank me. thank the mlssus" said the
cook who brought the dun In person "She made
II herSelf-last night; mixed the whole boomn'
thing with her own hands. Amt It onerY
IL was-a very giant among puddings, and as
toCthsome as Il WAS vast Came In the midst Of
the rcyeis call aft whsrc the steward stood at
the capstan with dppcr In his hand Each
man. presenting a pennfkln received tot OF
sterling grog. for Captain Hapshott had resolved
20 do the thing well Dow he embarked upon
it no halfwater measures for him Each man
receiving his allowance. raised his drinking YES
sri In the direction OF Mrs. Hapshott who was
watching them trntu above and drank a silent
toast TO her and TO the memory Of Chrstmases
past
So the wonderful day passed away and once
again night drocped down upon the sea.
Mrs. Hapshott rose, slipped on her clothing and
went swiftly out on deck.
"Iiram--what was thatT The skipper had
awakened and missing her. had made for the
deck. The faint streaks In the sky showed him a
strange 6gure, clad In gaudy sleeping suit such
as sailors love- Mrs. Hapshott clutched at bis
arm and held tightly,
whats whaty He had been thinking what
fool he would seem II the story were ever told
of the day now past. and his manner was ungra-
cious.
~Thatr Her finger was outstretched and Quiv-
ering but all beyond was stn dark.
"a sea bird-your nerves are on edge" he told
her.
Mrs Hapshott drew herself to the taffran and
again the ship had almost lost her way. she was
only crawling through the water to the accom-
panment Of Tapping canvas aloft.
"Hiram, Il wasn't a sea birdr The woman's
voice was full OF something to which her husband
could put no name.
at must have been--what else could II he,
lassr
"To me II sounded llke--but no, that's foolish
ness MY mind Is playing me tricks husband"
Rut she did not leave the rail for fully twenty
minutes, and then Il was to step down the ladder