Cap'n Dan's Daughter

pper room. The Captain knew that there was a granddaughter, hence his letter; but he had heard John Baxter speak of her as being in school somewhere in Boston, and had all along conceived of her

p the proffered hand in his own mammoth fist, "but I don't kn

. "Captain Baxter's granddaughter. You wr

don't mean to tell me you're 'Liz'beth Baxter's gal Elsie! Well! Well! I want to know! I

angement. The young lady withdrew her fingers from the trap as soon as she conveniently could, but it might have

. "And now, please tell me about gra

ression changed t

hastily. "I mean he's had a stroke of palsy, or somethin', and he ain't got so yit that he senses much of what goes on. Now I don't want to f

raid that he might not be living when I reached here. They told me at the stat

he hesitated. Captain Eri was

id'rably better to-day; didn't he, Mr. Hazeltine? Why, what am I thinkin' of? Let me make you known

ep upstairs and see John. The young lady took off her hat and jacket, and Captain Eri lighted a lamp, for it was almost dark by this time. As its light shone upon the visitor's face and hair the crimson flush before mentioned circumnavigated the electr

s, Mr. Hazeltine," said the C

ced that it was late and he must be going. And

t have b'lieved that savin' distance lengthens out life. Come to think of it, I wouldn't wonder if them stairs

the smile and the Captain's cheerfulness were too plainly assumed to be convincing, and

remember, if he wakes up and does

he white, old face on the pillow. Somehow the harsh lines

oment or two, and then tiptoed into the

hile, so I'll go downstairs and see about supper. No, no, no!" he added, holding up his hand as the girl spoke some

n, clearing his throat with vigor and making

told, as it was also to Perez and Jerry when they came. Mrs. Snow took charg

till you're through, and then p'raps, if one of you'll take my place, I'll eat

t her manner was cheerful, and the unaffected way in which she greeted Captain Perez and Cap

ains had long ago given up this beloved dish, because, although each had tried his hand at preparing it, none had wholly succeeded, and the

don't b'lieve I'd sooner have these bea

cidity that had not been there since the night of the "matching." "'Specially if t

outh full, grunted

was apparently getting more satisfaction from watching her c

en we thought we'd like it better after we got used to it; finally we decided tha

better choice; she's a dear, good woman; I'm sure of it. And now I want to thank you all for

out a shipmate we've sailed with for years and years. But you'd ought to have tried some of OUR

experiences that she and a school friend had had while camping at Chautauqua. Somehow each one felt at home

The Captain made no answer at the time, but after a short consultation with the remainder of the

you ain't goin' to no hotel, that is, unless you're real set on it. Your grandpa's here and we're here, and there's room enough. I don't want to say too much

in Perez harnessed Daniel and we

Nantucket as they sat beside John Baxter's bed. Mrs. Snow was knitting, and Elsie was reading. Later, as Captain Eri pe

here with John? I was thinkin' that it must be a mighty pleasant thing t

"I think so,

betrothed one, it didn't succeed, app

than that to make me hanke

lthough she did not say so, were supposed by the captains to deal with the care of her property while she was away. Having apparently relieved her mind by this method, and evidently considering the marriage question postponed for the present, she settled down to nurse the sick man an

ed nurse. No wife could have been more tender in her minist

less. Order was Heaven's first law, in her opinion, and she expected everyone else to keep up to the standard. Captain

"I can't git used to this everlastin' spruced-up bus'ness. Way it used to be, this necktie was likely to be 'most anywheres 'round,

, ain't it?" said Eri. "Then all you

e; my pipe is sech a place; my terbacker is another place. When I want my pipe I look where my shoes is, and when

most of the growlin' whe

to live in a pigpen it ain't no sign

the wax-dipped wreath that hung in its circular black frame over the whatnot did not appeal to her. The captains considered that wreath-it had been the principal floral offering at the funeral of Captain Perez's sister, and there was a lock of her

through, and innovations like muslin curtains and vases filled with late wild flowers c

ater-colors, and her sketches were received with enthusiastic praise by the captains and Mrs. Snow. But one day

and squinting at it with his head on one side, "but if that's Caleb Titcomb's boat, a

from his friend and critically e

omment. "She couldn't carry it and stand up that way. Besides, the

oat's sails were so white, and the water was so blue, and the sand so yellow t

ful paintin' vessels. Now you jest look at that picture," pointing to the glaring likeness of the Flying Duck, that hung on the wall. "

waves in that picture would be better if they

ou might say. The reel thing is the schooner, rigged jest right, trimmed jest right, and colored jest the way the Flyin' Duc

ike Eben Lothrop can. Eben he used to work in a shipyard up to East Boston once, and when he was there he had to paint s

Jerry wave

ater-color of the house and its inmates. This was an elaborate affair, and as the captains insisted that each member

ave been noticed that the electrician seemed a trifle embarrassed when Miss Preston came into the room, but as the young lady

k again when Ca

, I forgot to ask you, di

he did not. He endeavored to change the

disease that she ain't been on hand when the month was up, to git her two dollars. Got so we sort of reckoned by her like an almana

Mrs. Snow. "One of thos

, I expect there'd be squalls, but I cal'

have sworn that there was just the suspicion of a twink

oung lady,

e is," was the deli

e look l

body! Wait till you see h

curious, that's all. Have y

pleasure. The Captain glanced from the electrician to Miss Pr

nd forth in his chair. "Don't for the land's sake tell me

en many orders," remarked

itently explained that it was dark, that Captain Eri ha

ugh, but, oh dear, it's awful funny! Now, Elsie, you'd ought to feel fl

eston?" asked Hazeltine

non-committal answer. "I think I sh

Young people of the better class are scarce in Orham during the fall and winter months, and Ralph found few congenial companions. He liked the captains and Mrs. Snow, and Elsie

ivery stable, Captain Perez felt the necessity of having him under his eye, and so Josiah lived at the house by the shore, a cot being set up in the parlor for his use. His coming made more work for Mrs. Snow, but that energetic lady did not seem to mind, and even

ousness in which he recognized the captains and Elsie, but these rational moments were few

jollification was short-lived. As for Mr. Saunders, he was the same unctuous, smiling personage that he had formerly been. It was a curious fact, and one that Captain Eri noted, that he never ceased to inquir