The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-07

The Captains Way.
BY CLARISSA MACKIE.

alone like this?p laughed Captain
Brooks, shaping his sons broad
shoulder.
Bob made room fer his father on
the big rock, raped the ashes from
| his pipe and carefully refiiled it
When it was lighted ana between his
| lips, he muttered glufniy that there
was going to be a bit of heavy
weather.
sky and grinned. Foul weather
ashore. Bob! What's the matter
Quarreled with Dorethy2"
-NsEer-only we want to get mar
/ ried-and Dorothy doesn't want TO
| leave her mother"
THE other girls all married, Ell ?'
"Yes--three of them, all within two
years. and Dorothy won't even suggest
to her mother that we want to be mar
ried soon-you know that job In cali
fornia-and-
Taking Dorothy away would leave
the old lady all alone 2"
Tes-but she isn't old, dad. Mrs
Fame is eflarnning-like her daughters,
She's had a tough time of it-Wid
owed young and had to raise those
four giFls-took boarders for years.
Now she owns a little home and has
settled down to be happy with Doro-
thy-then.' woof! along / came and
carry off the eve lambkin! It's tough
but hate to so alone"
You know I've never seen. any OF
them except Dorothy-if she's a sam
pie the rest must be pretty nice. I'm
going to New York before long-per-
haps I shall run down and see Mrs
Fame"
Don't try to persuade her, dad.
Dorothy and / feel ashamed to do it
we'll wait a year or so, and then
perhaps she will come out with US
she'd like California"
I'm not meddier, Bobby--I GER
tainly shan't give your plans away
well, I have letters to write and after
ward, IL the tide is good. you might
so out with me and catch a mess 81
blues.
"Risht!~ I'll go down and overhaul
the boat" and Bob, having recovered
his customary cheeriness, went whist
ling down the beach to the wharf. His
father watched him out of sight. hi
bright blue eyes very tender-he knew
the pain of parting from an only son;
Bobs education and training had been
away from the sea and its lure.
He was a mining engineer with q
bright future, and the captain, retired
from sailing the seven seas. knew that
he must spend lonely old age, for
Rob's mother had died many years
ago and an efficient housekeeper ruled
the low brown house on the hill. The
1
and then he smiled at the happy ~
ture ahead of Bob--after all, Bob's
happiness was his fathers JOY.
Dorothy Fame met her future IA
ther-in-law ct the little railroad sta
ton out on Long Island. She was a
pretty girl, with the fresh wholesome
ness of outdoor life, and the blue sky
seemed reflected In her eyes while the
warm sunshine was in her hair and
in her sweet disposition. .
49, Hnt n "
never met my Hothsr." she chartered
as they rode down to the village In
rafting old stage drawn by tive an
client but slsittish horses. II hope you
don't mind being bounced around in
Peters stage-mether likes to have Us
buses have about ruined his business !,
II don't mind-at-alli" declared
the captain jerkiiy as they went over
a bump And he didn't. He was
thinkin 6, that Dorothy's mother. had
very Kind heart to consider the oia
Dorothy must be like her mother to
follow suit SO cheerfully.
ssTIere we arei" cried Dorothy. az
the stage ratified to a final stop before
a white gate. The captain got stiffly
down, looking very smart in his dark
blue uniform and cap, with his hand
some, cleanshayen face. He paid Pe-
ter Pare literally, and then. cap in
hand, went up tho sheii-strewn path to
greet the little lady on the front steps.
Mrs. Fame was small like Dorothy,
with sunny disposition-she had
brown eyes like Agatha-dimples like
Ethel-an Enchanting smile like Beth
and her own lovely snow-white hair
She wore a pretty pink cotton dress
that made Captain Brooks decide In
a moment that PINK was the PrettiesII
color that ever was for young-old
Ia dieSf
ssIt is such a relief to know that you
are going to be just like Bob" sighed
Mrs Fame as they sat down to an old
fashioned country, tea"
YOU do Bob" observed the captain as
he reYeled in delicious strawberry
shortcake and cream:
THAT viii be so easyi" exclaimed
Ethel. for the married daughters were
All there that night. The captain
ioined. in the laugh that followed ana
when his passing glance paused OH
Mrg. Eane's flushed nfrthful face, he
felt a funny little twinge around his
heart-he wondered little breath
lessly if he had been reckless about
the shortcake--.
while Dorothy and her sisters cleared
away the table and washed the dishes.
Mrs. Fame took him into the pretty
little parior with its treasures from
the sea that was SO near and its pieces
Of old-fashioned furniture tina.
brought memories of his happy boy
hood There was an old tinkling
piano there, and she sang to him In
a sweet low voice the old songs they
both loved and that belonged to a
more tranquil decade. -.
The old songs and the sweetness Oh
the crowded garden-roses and china
pinks, mignonette and day lilies
then the quiet little chat with Dor
othy's mother; and afteryard, a night
spent in the slant-wsaiied best room
of the cottage-with pictures of ali
the girls smiling at him from all ages
of observation-disclosures tossed againsL
his window screens by misehievous
Dorothy with an Invitation to break
fast, proved the beginning OF a de-
lightful visit.
The following week was q repetition
of the first day, and the captain lin