Smyrna times., 1932-04-20
WEEKLY STORY
AROUND TABLE
Reading to While Away Time
Under the Evening Lamp
When Days Work is Done
INTERESTING READING
"COURTING OF CAP'N
HORNEPAYNE"
BY James Paux

II tAf N nOtlINEf a l. NE Was WOI-
~ ried. He was on his way to see
Clarissy Martin, the schoolma'am
and for a horny-handed seaman he
was facing a delicate situation. He
intended to pop the fatal question
that would probably take her away
from her duties as school teacher.
For more times than he cared TO
remember. Cap'n Hornepayne had
intended to pop the question. but
every time he tried to do so, some
thing inside of him seemed to reacn
up and get a strangle hold on his
voice. This time, he vowed, was go
ing to be different. He was carry
ing a taIisman that had proved
itself lucky on other occasions II
was small silver horseshoe that
he had won In some long-forgotten
contest
There are a great many people
who believe in the lucky properties
attributable to horseshoes. Clarissy
Martin belonged to that class. She
had a worn horseshoe nailed over
her kitchen door.
Dusk was setting in rapidly and
light glowed from a front window
of the schoolma' ANS cottage, as
Capn Hornpayne came abreast of it
Drawing deep breath, le
knocked firmly on the door. believ.
ing all the while that his heart was
making a louder echo with its rapid
humping. A short pause, then the
door was opened wide.
''Evenin', Cap'n Hornepayne."
"Evenin', Miss Martin" replied the
captain, fumbling with his cap.
Giving him quick, sincere smile
Of greeting. the schoolma'am led him
into the tiny parlor. She was, as the
captain would have expressed it. "all
primped up"
Conversation was desultory. The
scanty news concerning the village
was soon exhausted. The weather
came in for it's share Of comment,
Fishing operations were discussed.
| but that, too. soon languished. II
was then that Clarissy Martin sug.
gested that they sit on the veranda
| for awhile. The captain agreed
| with alacrity.
They found the two chairs placed
in convenient position.
Surreptitiously he slipped hand
! into his coat pocket and like Alad-
din with his magic lamp. rubbed
his fingers over the horseshoe, fer
vently praying for some loophole
that would offer him a chance to
swing the conversation into the
channel he desired.
Perhaps not altogether innocent
of his intentions. Clarissy Martin
gave him the long-awaited chance
as she casually inquired: How Is
your house comm along, Cap'n7
remember you sayin' that you only
had to put a few more touches tc
finish 1t off,"
Cap'n Hornepayne gave a gusty
sigh of relief as those blessed word:
bridged the gulf that had beer
gradually widening between them
The horseshoe was not falling him
He knew he was on the right course
now. He edged his chair closer tt
the schoolma' ANS.
aThe little house is comm along
fine." he told her. with renewed con
fidence. when brought tbs
schooner In this last trip, l came
In with the finest catch O. the sea
son. l got nice pay for 1t, too. OF
course | salted most o. the money
away with the rest had, but KEEP
enough out to put the last touche.
TO the house. Now she's finished
and standin' ship-shape. ready tc
weather any storm"
Don't you find IT bit lonesome
livin' alone like you do. Cap'r
Hornepayne?"
AYE, 1t does get a bit lonely al
times" the captain agreed. Draw
ing a deep breath he plunged int
the opening offered by the school
ma'am's question. 90 course. 4
amt my intention to live alone al
the time | been thinkin' lately
that a man sooner or later ought t
find himself wife an settle dowI
some. | been wonderin', too
We see It's this way. Ye seemed
interested in the house an though
that that We might sort o
like to take over the tiller 2
The question was out at last
The captain was on tenderhook'
as he waited for the Hateful an
swer. Then. as sweetly as the toll
ing of a church bell. the school
ma'am's words fell upon the still
air: Captain, that would make MI
the happiest person alive"
"Chrissy, gall" the captain criet
hoarsely.
In the most convenient way i'm
aginable the captain found he
head resting on his arm, and Il
the same instant he was tmprintini
a kiss upon her willing lips. with |
tenderness that one would never ex
pect to find In a bluff, sea-farini
captain.
II anyone had been watching