Nebraska Newspapers

    0 THE OMAHA DAILY HJSJS ; MONDAY , yOVEMBTSK 20 , 1894.
CAPTftlN BllLTS
By Harriet Preseott Spofford ,
Author of "Tho Amber Uods , " "Tim Thief In the Nlchl , " I
( Copyright , 1S04 , by McClure. )
"So , I'm off , " told the captain. "Wind's
fnlr , an' tide's flowln' . Same blamed old
story. George ! fit I ain't tired carryln' deal !
to Uunslablel Uoinl y ur ship goodby ? , yo.it
trip howdvdo. dot your freight money ,
Take your ballast. Home again. Same old
lights. Same old rocks , Same old harbors
Same old story ! "
"Same old wife , " said Llde archly , stand'
Ing with him at the head of Ihe llltlo pier ,
Kitty swinging back on one of her hands ami
( he baby on her other arm making he !
cheeks ro y with the slapping ot his llttlt
hands , every now and then staying the exer
cise to rub his sweet wet mouth over tin
field of operation.
"Dear old wife ! " said Captain Billy. "Iliu
alt the same , wet storm , dry storm , nothln
happens. Not so much luck as a sight u' thi
Plying Dutchman "
"Oil , Billy ! " said his wlte reprovingly , look
Ing at the handsome sea-tanned sailor will
grave and loving eyes. "Oh , Hilly , dear ! "
"Why , UM be a zort o' mad adventure
Lltle , ter stay tcr homo a trip ! Jcs * now , too
an' Thanksglvln' comln' . " And ho lookei
half Indignantly at the Pretty Toll nanglni
on her cables and waiting for his down tin
bay. " 1 do'no ez I'd mind cf we utraddlei
Norman's Woe this v'yage , fer the sake o
suthln'a linppenln' ! That la , ef It twarnt fc
TlianliPglvlti' close bore. "
"Oh , Cap'n Ullty , dear ! " said his wife
taking the spray of red huckleberry leav ;
from Kitty's hand lyid pinning It on hi
- reefer. "How you talk ! Ain't we bci
thankln1 Providence fer Jes' this ? Shan t w
bo thankln1 Providence Thursdiy fiirtnlt e
you're back safe ? I guess ef you illil Dm
yourself fin the ledge I here , an' thought c :
Kitty an' me an' the baby , you'd remembc
Etch words , P'laps you du need stlrrln' U ;
a tittleYou go to Doston , now , nn1 tak
some o' your freight money while th
schooner's unlnadln * and go to the thoate
on' see the 'Country Circus. ' "
"W'at In the world ilo I want lo see th
'Country Circus' for ? " said ths bluff lllll
cap'n. "See It every day o' my life. N
sir , w'en I go ter the theater I want't gilt
edged , lords an' ladles , an' ' high life , an
poison an" all thct. Thln's'l don't sec ever ;
day. "
"Then you can go an' hear the preache
I read you the sermon of last Sunday tha
was. Jes' think , Hilly ? ills' Ruggles's ben
an' she scs the slngln's no dlff rent from i
choir o' angels ! "
"Wai , ef there's angels In Mis' Iluggles'
choir , It's dlffe-ent from ouni. "
"An1 she ses folks tears their gowns get
tin' In t'hcar him. "
" ' " said the cap'n throw In
"I shan't , then , , )
down the sassafras stick he had been biting
"I guess Dlbbsy'Il licv all the gospjl words
want this run. " "You've got Blubiy. " sal
Llde , laughing , a little anxiously withal. "
shouldn't wonder If Jie give you all the stir
rln' up you need ! "
"I shouldn't either. The blamed tinner
I would'n a' shipped him ef I hadn't bei
short , now you bet ! She ! I mustn't lose th
tide. Nor the wind neither. Smells swee
these days , out'n the piny woods like tc
stay an' smell It blest cf It ain't gooi
enough ter bottle ! By gory , ef this \tut ;
trip ter the Wlnd'ard Islands , an' I wu
goln' trr bring yo home a tub o' tamarln'
mi * a keg o' Porto Hlo rum Jes' fer sick
ness , ye know , " with a twinkle , "an' one c
them long palm-boughs ter stand In th
front room , an' a coral fan ter put on Hi
shelf ! Dut Jes' this one old song forrar
an' back an1 down the middle weais a mate
to Bhoo strings. Wai. Can't be helpci
There comes the skid fer me. Ef you wu
goln * along , Llde"
"Me ! "
"Wai , I don't s'pose EO. nut somehow
never did feel so queer about leavlu' before.
"Oh , Billy ! " Llde answered , with palln
face. "P'raps It's a sign. P'raps bulhlr
is goln' ter but there no It couldn't be !
"No , no secli luck , " said the cap'n rue
fully. Wai , you tck good care o' youi
self. Mine ! w'cn you're a-takln' care <
yourself , you're a-takln' care o' me ! Good
by , Llde , girl. You're a good wife. At
mother ses you bo , too. Some duy I'll sel
tlo down ter house an' gariling an' stay I
homo , you tell mother. But not Jes' ye
Ilev a bis turkey ready agin Thanksglvln
I'll bring some flxln's from Dostoa wo ;
\Val BO long ! " And as far as he coul
sec It Cap'n Billy thought there nevt
was a prettier picture than Llde made wit
her children , standing on the pier head atnon
the rod rock ) In the soft blue autumn welthe
the wind fluttering her gown and hair. An
although ho stepped Into the skiff with
glad whistle , yet long after he was In dee
water with all sail set Cap'n Billy felt Llde
lips warm on. his , felt the dear baby's so ;
cheek and Kitty's little arms about his necl
arms that "By George , It took strcn'th tt
undo , sir ! "
"Tied In a trew lover's knot , I reckon ,
said the mate , as he gave up the wheel.
"You ain't got a wife , Matey , " the cap'
answered. "I'd recommend ye ter lay o
long enough tcr git one. Ye won't nevi
be half a man till yo do ! " And then n
membrance of Llde In a lavender muslin , wit
a bunch of white lilacs In her hand , and hi
sweet face blushing out ot a straw bonm
with a wreath of green leaves and white rll
bens , on their wedding day , filled him \\il
such happiness that he came near letting tl
ship luff In the wind.
It all went as Cap'n Hilly had said It won
smooth water , clear kky , favoring wind
quick run : and ho made his port and ill
charged his cargo , all as ho had done befor
Kven Blbbsy afforded no variety ; for tl
cap'n took his little Jug and emptied It eve
board as soon as everything was shlpahnp
paying no attention to Blbbsy's cjaculatloi
which made the air blue about them the
being no respect of persons on board tl
Pretty Poll , for even If Cap'n Billy was tl
owner , hadn't they all been at .school togeth
and given and taken many a thrashing , ai
hadn't they cut each other out In the matt
of girls , and made their first ventures
company , and wasn't one man as good
another down In Blackpool , and wasn't eai
one doing all lie agreed to do here ?
But tho.cap'n had heard Itlbbsy's vltuper
tlons before ; as they had never made a vo
ago together that this ceremony had n
taken place. "Now , Blbbsy , " the cap'n wou
say , "bring on your jug. "
"I'll bo dcedced It I will ! " Blbbsy won
reply , with further ornamental nourish
the sort.
"Blbbsy , cf you elon't want tcr be.put
Ir.Ons for mutiny " the cap'n woi
begin ,
Anil then out of a sulphurous cloud
words Illbbsy would bo put In Irons I
murder first , he-'d have the cap'n arrest
for salt and battery If 1m touched him , hi
have htm up for a thief If he wenPtiear II
jug , he'd send the- ship to the bottom qul
as sinking ! But the. Jug gurgled over t
side , notwithstanding ; for lllbbsy's outer !
and threats , wrapped In lively and var
gated language , were so familiar as to gl
no one any concern. And through them
Cap'n Billy felt that Blbbsy had a tcmlcrni
tcr old days and ccrtaln'ather passage's , a
n species ot faithfulness to himself , such
R. dog has to tils master.
So , when everything was- ready , the caj
went to Boston for his freight money , a
tald to some oneIn the olllce there tl
after all ho guessed he shouldn't stay
paint the town , them were plenty to defer
for him ; ho would get back to the schoon
and homo to Lttl and the children ; ho v
going to lay oft a. trip for Thanksglvli
And he showed a pair of little red shoes tl
he had bought. And there he dlsappearei
disappeared ui completely as if he 1
tlia.w l and dissolved Into a dew , and i
freight money with him.
The Pretty Poll lay out In mld-strei
below the Dunstable wharves and beyond I
tldo-rlp , where the current used to pi
with such tremendous velocity before I
channel was widened ; and the four men w
in a mini her went and came and thought I
eip'nwas takln * his time ; but such wi
the cap'n's habits that only lilbbiy .
counted for his absence by surmise of i
Irregularity of behavior. The otherus <
lure h had gone down to Me the Cap C
canal , or was looking up the * command of
some lilg ship , for there wan n general Idea
that Cap'n "Billy" was one ot the great
navigators , and If he hnil the chance could
handle a whole navy as easily as ho could
the Pretty Poll. And only when a customs
liouso ofllcer , knowing that Cap'n "llllly"
had taken out his papers the day he
went to Boston , * o that he
might have no delays on his return , hap
pened to wonder what the ship was lingering
for , and made some Inquiries , did It dawn on
the slow minds of the mate and the men
that something hail gone wrong with the
cap'n , and they telegraphed to the offlce
where he had received his freight money ,
and reported to the police of unstable and
to the police of Boston. At the same time
tha harbor authorities tool : the matter In
hand , and the ship wa searched , and the
mate examined ; and the local paper made all
( hero was to make of the sensation ; and a
diver at work on the bridge went down and
dragged thtf bottom round the ship. And al
though all sorts of suspicion ) went to and fro ,
nothing was actually asserted except that
neither Cap'n Billy , ncr a trace of him , waste
to be found ; and neither the mate nor the
ten were detained , although there was a
; eneral feeling that they ought to be , and
10 men were more or less aware of the feei
ng. And so , after a week of bewilderment
nd "fear , the Pretty Poll shook out her sails
ud slipped down the Dimstablo stream for
tome.
"Who's goln' ter tell Cap'n Billy's wife er
vldder about this 'ere ? Pretty Thanksglv-
n" she's a-goln' ter hev ! " said the mate , as
le came up for his watch with BlbUsy , before
ho other men went below , on their last tucker
or home. "I'll be goll-dtirned If I can. "
"I've wrote to her , " said Blbbsy , his chin
pen his breast.
"You hov ? By gosh ! "
"I've wrote to her , " said Blbbsy , "that
guess Cap'n'.BIlly's a-havln * the adventure
ic's been wantln' . I ses to her , b-es I , ef slit
ten make It out that wo wugoln' fer ler
> rlng the Poll home without him. Hut ef
by good fortln' he come aboard last gasp ,
ve'il run up all the flags from stem ter stern ,
o 't she'd know 'thout more words. An' ez
ve ain't a-ftmiiln' up any flags there won't
) e no need o' tellln' her nothln' . " And Blbbay
ga/ed over the blue water with his big wan-
lerlng bleary eyes that made him look like
a fish out of his clement , and drew a long
breath like the melancholy and mysterious
Igh of the porpoise. "I kinder think the
ap'n 'II turn up. Don't you ? " he said pres-
ntly , for the hundredth time.
"No , I don't , " said the mate , opening and
hutting the blade of his Jack Knife with one
huir.b. "An" I don't SCB w'at In wonder
hat little woman's goln' ter do. She's not
he hull durln' world by the cap'n. I mind
v'en she first come ter the Pool , an' I see
ler. I couldn't think of anythln' but a wild
rose a-blowln' 'Ith the dew on It , an' I ain't
v'at ye might rail a notional man cither.
s'pose she's got your letter , Blbbsy. "
"I s'posa j-0 , " grumbled Blbbsy.
"I do' no' who's goln' ter face her , "
said the mate. "I can't keep her on the.
\lnd there. '
"I wouldn't , " cald Charley Woods , giving
he wheel a turn , "I wouldn't for a farm. "
"An" w'at's going to come ot her ? " said
the mate. "She can't bell the Poll till let
ter come , cf she lives er. long as Mcthu-
salem. An' she'll hev Thonksglvln' ellnnct
all ready in case he comes , anyway. That's
her sort. "
"W'nt In thunder Tlmtik'glvln's for tliU
year , IM like ter know , " cried the mate , "cr
any other year. Allus hlntj o' trouble. Ally. !
brings yer troubles up like ghosti. Ore * '
she's got to keep Thanksglvln' tcr watchln'
out fer the schooner ! "
They had never heard , these rough fellows ,
of the old Grecian king and his eager outlook
and rash sorrow. Hut no Aegeus , watching
from hti rock for the sails of hl.i son , should
they be white or black with tidings ot life
.or death , had In him more tragic quality ' than
they found In Llde , looking for the'flag en
their bare and fatal peak , with her baby In
her arms.
"Uy George , It's a shame ! " said the matt ? ,
opening hli knife again In a reckless squan
dering of tobacco. " 11 hedii't orter be. 1
swan I wlsht weuiz n week'g sail out , In-
stcd cr close In shore. Make the light tiow In
less 'n a hour , I guess. It gives a man -
what's that ? "
"Uy the Lord ! " roareJ Blbbsy. "No , no ,
no , 1 didn't ! I swear U wasn't me ! Oh , by
the Lord God In heaven , he's Jcul , he's deJ'l ,
he's dead ! It's Cap'n Billy's ghost ! "
"Hullo , there ! Heave us a line , will ye ? "
cried a voice like the wildest , rlciie.it music
In their ears. And there , looking up from the
strange boat under the weather board , was
the broad , brown face with the dimple In tt
and the Hash of white teeth , the great bluu
eyes , the bright hair standing up like a nim
bus , for his hat had blown off , the laughing
countenance of Cap'n Billy.
"Is this 'ere a dlrelck ? " cried he. "I'll
bring It Inter port an * claim salvage , th n ! "
"It's piracy on the high seas , that's w'at
It Is , cap'n ! " called the mate In a loud and
AS HE CRIED. "POLL. AHOY ! "
oe NBVRIl A PHHTTII3R PICTUUK.
oi'i <
i'i
i'iu ters Is took out , 'count o' the children' !
cl rights , un' I do' no * what else she's got
clh Who's goln' ter take care of her ? "
e "I suppote I shall have ter , ' said Blbbsy
le "Guess we'll all have ter chip in , " sali
lev Her : .
al "Wai , I ain't us folks. " said Btbbsy
als "Anyway , I shell. I writ H In the letter. "
n " "An" thet's only part of It. She'll mis
him. By crlskey , I miss him myself. "
a
"Miss him like , " said Blbbsy.
' "It's a dretfio thin' , " vald the mate , shut
> ting his knife with a snap. "I kinder
nt fe l fer that little woman aslttln * out ther
lat an' watchln' fer this here craft tcr see I
she's a-comln' In bare top or all dressed ou
I
like a gardlng er flowers , 'a may nay. It'u-
era It'a rough It's a ilrettto moment fer her
a Kf she's on the rocks down by the pier , 'It :
ig her baby In her arms , or ef she's to horn
IB 'Ith the spyglass out'u the upper winder
I do' no' I do' no' how "
at "Oh oh I I ca'an't Btand It ! " blub
II bered Blbbsy , with an outright hoohoo. " 1-
IIu Blmn't tech another glass o' tperlts 'n Ion ;
u 's I lire on this created earth ! "
h "I s'pose , ' said the mate , "she'll drop rlgh
ow down's 'I ei.e wuz shut dead faint o
h * "
suthln.
h "She ain't ech peterlu * stuff ez that ,
h know her , " naUl Blbbsy , "I knowed he
> re 'for ever she come to the Pool , ShVII Je
1C shet her little mouth and go about her wort
1Cu You can't ue\jf .mek her b'lleve 'Billy * aln'
r a-comin' b 9lviiiic " ' 'he'll keep thl'n'
taut fer Ulni/ "Poking1 out ftr hli
Joyous voice. And without knowing It , ths
moment , In the hearts of all those men we
a religious service. "Wai , wal , wal , " said 111
mate. "Here's Thanksglvln' afore the go\
'nor's time for It ! "
When Cap'n Billy left the train that ui
fortunate night , on returning from liosto
and the freight office , he had hurried alon
to the slip , where he thought It likely h !
skiff and one ot the men might be waltliif
not meeting a soul on his way , as it happenei
It being the hour of supper. The skiff wa
not there , however. But another boat la
handy , and he took that. Intending Bibbs
or Bert should tow It back. There was bi
one oar In the boat , but that was cnoug
to scull with. It was already very dark-
the dark , although of that soft diffuse tw
light that reflects over the water as If
were a dim light shed from It , or the earth' '
own light Itself , and by which one usual !
sees with more or less mystery , had deei
ened Into blackness , and Cap'n Billy thougf
It likely that but for her lights he coul
not see the shadowy hulk of the Prett
Poll out there In the stream , although he a
ways said he knew every line of her. Bi
there she was , only waiting for him to com
to hoist sail for home , the tldo running 01
fast and the lanel-breeze blowing. And Cap'
Billy thought to himself as he sculled alon
that U was all as it had been before , and c
It would be again the same old story , an
not a ripple to disturb It.
Something did disturb It , though , tin
moment. Kor when he turned his head agali
Just as he crleil , "Poll , ahoy ! " ho saw a lai
tern with a reflector , looking as big as
ball of St. Kmo'a fire , waving around Dlbbsy
head as he leaned across the rail , shcddln
a wane of light full on himself , and Illumli
Ing Illbbsy's face , thnt shone with a mall )
riant and tipsy leer. And then suddenl
lantern and ship's lights and all vanlshc
before his eyes , us If they hod never beei
.aztKl and aghast for an Instant , his gr.it
of the single oar loosened , giving the boat t
t did bo a lurch that sent It out Into tl
rlffa where the tide-streak ran like fire.
But If Cap'n Billy lost his oar , he lost i
hue before he hallooed at the top of h
rcmcndotis voice , again and again. Ho d
lot know , of course , that Charley Woods wi
ashore , and that the mate and Bert wei
asleep In their bunks. If they had nil bee
on deck , however , they would not have heai
ilrn ; for Just then a train was blowing I
eng whistle as It thundered acrosj the brldg
and another engine behind the town was ai
swerlng It. And hero he was swlnglr
away down the riffs , stern first , head firs
and before he gathered his scattered , senc (
there was the Sarpedon , the great co
steamer , close upon him , ploughing her wi
° nto harbor and up to her berth. If ho h :
iad an oar ho could have kept the boat bov
on as the swell reached him , but as It was 1
was helpless. He tried to tear out a thwa
that he might possibly use , but before 1
could do so the swell of the big steam
reached him and swamped him , and 1
was In the water and the dark , cryli
out , "Oh , Llde , Llde ! " clinging blind
to the boat side , and washing down tl
harbor and out to aea , the northwest wli
helping the tldo along fearfully , past tl
can buoy , he thought , past the bar , past tl
bell buoy , he knew , and Into the open ba
H was on the > bar that ho beiievcd for
moment ho wa gone. The great brcake
were racing on cither side ot him ; for i
Instant there , between those rushing Hn
of white fire , he lost the boat ; then he fi
It graze his shoulder , and blindly clutch
It ; It was right side tip , by heavenly chanc
ho nearly pulled It over trying to clamber 1
and then he was there , he knew not' ho
and fallen breathless In the bottom of t
boat , ho swept on , ho knew not where.
Wiien Cap'n Billy came to himself for
must have sunk Into deep sleep after 1
brief unconsciousness , and have been rock
In the cradle of the deep for some time
the waves were still running on theel
tide and before Ihe wind , and the be
tossed like a feather from ono to anotln
He wua wet to the- skin , and chilled to t
marrow ; and the Hying spray , and now a
then the comb of a drenching wave bro
over him constantly. It was still dark , a
he was not yet quite awake to his coni
tlon , but had a curious feeling of being
Insensitive object , like a stem of eea-we
thrown along from billow to billow with
Ill-Intent and toward no harmful end , Th
he had come vague recollection of sitting
the arm of his motner's rocking chair , a
resting his head on her kind ehoulder , a
that passed , too. Presently he rose a lit
on one elbow and looked about. "Wa
said Cap'n Billy to the great void dark a
the sea and the fishes. "I guess I've got i
adventure. Hut I do'no' how Llde an' t
children an * mother are goln' ter come i
ot U , " he added. Ho was alone , In
open boat , without call or oar , at sea a
out of sight of shorn. In tha depth ot I
night , with the wind singing a great eo
In his ears , but he could not have said tl
he was afraid. HU .heart was tremblii
to be sure , but tt was at the thought
tears In Llde's tender gray eyes , of the Ini
cent smile of Kitty , ot thebaby's loving
mouth. "It I njv\r see thorn again , you
must take care of them' ' " ho cried out ,
whether to God \l'0 > ' ' Kreat el ments , or
his own soul. when n little while had
parsed ho contrived ) to finish loosening
the thwart , .110. . , had halt torn
I out before , Xhdi rinsing It to
the painter , and getting It over the stern
as a drag , and ho lay down again , some
thing out of the-is rmon his wife had read
on his last Sunday ot homo flashing on his
memory , nnd he Sent1 out n prayer from the
depth of his being"Ihit " he might be saved for
LUlo. And there , , as a blow tingles again ,
ho recalled that face with the lantern light
glowing like a y | . Ulmo's flro full upon
It , and for a second he felt faint with n
kind of horror , as , It there were n hell and
he had been very near Its devils ! But look
ing up , In this ( iulck horror , ns If to IInd
escape tomewherp , tiore ) were the clouds
blowing to films , and out of them , Just be
fore him , Just above , was a star , a great
sweet star , ns if It gleamed from some halt-
veiled angel's face. And then , as plainly
as ever he ha 1 leen anything In his life , he
saw Llde kneeling at the window at home ,
locking at that gentle star and saying her
prnyers fer him. And 1 e said uftcrwa d that
he knew , as sure as the tides flowed and the
winds bloned , that he should come out ot
this all right and be- homo with Lido for
Thanksgiving ! ,
The morning crept up softly Into the dark
midnight blue , the bland mild Indian summer
morning , the ftar melting away In the sklcy
sen of light , the gray flowing Into rose , the
ro35 changing to gold and the sun soaring
like a burning bubble into the clear blue that
was like the paved work of a sapphire. He
got off his wet clothes and dried them In the
sun , balling out the boat with an old gourd
that was In the stern and giving himself us
hard a rubbing as he could. U took htm
nearly all day ; and when the soft windless
night descended , faint and blistered and
worn out , he fell asleep again with the uni
versal wash and whisper of the waves mur-
mining round him.
It was toward the close of the next day
that he was picked up by an outwuTd bound
steamer , all but utterly exhausted and
slightly wandering In his mind , Hut by the
time the steamer reached Halifax , where he
was bound , he was quite hlmse'lt again ; and
without wasting live minutes In port he tool ;
the return passage on a.smaller boat botlnO
to the port nearest Blackpool. And standing
en deck , searching the horizon with the
captain's glass , what should ho see but
something amazingly like the Pretty Poll ,
An object of somewhat romantic Interest , n ;
he was , the steamer easily went off lit
course a point or two ; and then a boat was
lowered for a mile of rowing , and when II
went back It left Captain Hilly on his own
deck again.
"Wal , wal , wal , " tald the mate , srlnnlnt
like a gargoyle , and shaking Captain Hilly' !
hand as If he would shake It off , and shaking
It again , and coming back and shaking I
once more. "Ef 'twarn't past the time o
meracles I should say , Did you drop from thi
sky , cap'n ? We we're Jes' ez glad ter sei
ye ez cf we said so ! By King , we're glad
Cap'n Hilly ! "
"So be I , " said the cap'n. Glad enougl
ter kiss the hull four on ye ! Finest thlnf
ever 1 see in my life was the Pretty Pol
In the skipper's glass Jes' now , creepln
along , all sail set ! 'Twarn't no meracle , boys
'Twus Jes' LUle's prayers. That's w'a
brought me round right side up with care
Guess we'll make it afore dark , Mr. Mate
Ye'd orter see the style on the furrln * goln
craft ! Hope Llde ain't been much worrlei
Telegraphed ! Would , but they ain't in
telegraph to home her to drive over 'It !
old Nubblns's horse. Thought I'd fetch I
quickest. Cap'n-of" Ihe Halifax said he'i
telegraph , but lie'dMoW so much I couldn *
hear to It. You'd a Jhought I was a man
fish , or some scfch Joutlandlsh thin' , the ;
made so much o' , me morechampagne'i
I'll ever drink agin ct I live till I die ! Glv
mo a hat an' thes o ere" close , an' the womei
fglks give meTiankerchers. . Lost tha
blame cheque for the freight money soakei
all ter pulp. Guess they'll glvo mo another
" "
though ain't no "Joiib"t | of It. Lost then
little red shoes , too.Don't "mind any c
that , long ns I'm , Jiome fer Thanksglvln'-
that's tomorrow , ain't tit ? Wall , tell me al
about It. How'd ye feel ? W'at happened
W'at was yo gojn * ter do ? Do ye s'posi
Llde's been worried ! 1'd , be sorry ter he'
her worried. l'dbo sorry ef she was , an
I'd be sorry ef sbfiyasn'.t. "
"Blbbsy wroto. tn b9r , , Cap'n Hilly , " sal <
the mate as soon AV'.nVrauld get the word
"An1 ho told her wejwiiz afeared ye wuz lost
but we didn't know nuthln' for sartin. An
he told her not to worry , he'd take care 01
her and the babies to his dyin' day nn
never tech the little brown Jug agin. An
we'd a' helped him out , you bet ! Powerfu
glad ter see ye Cap'n ! Powerful ! " grasplni
his hand again. "An" he told her ef yet
turned up we'd come Into harbor 'Ith tin
schooner dressed out In all her flags , an
she'd know the wust there wuz ter know e
we come In 'thout a single streamer flyin * " -
"Git 'em out ! " cried Cap'n Billy. "Gl
'cm out ! Git 'em up ! Dress her out fron
truck to keelson ! Mind how she looked tin
day we launched hecz ef she wuz struni
'Ith posies ? Llde thought I wuz sorte ;
darnin' the expense then. Wlsht I'd hei
twice as many now ! Quick about It ! Se
every Inch o' buntln * there Is aboard her al
the signals an' the pennant , an' the flag o
our union ! By George , my girl shall EC
the Pretty Poll lootf ez gay ez her best bun
nit ! She'll be down there at the pier , an
she'll see the colors flyln' In the sky 'for
ever she sees the schooner ! " And I an
sure If you had told Cap'n Billy the 1m
mortal story of the King of Men and th
herald fires from -Troy to Argos , It wouli
have seemed to him an affair of far Inferlo
moment to the tidings these flags wouli
carry Llde ,
The other men had gone forward , a hal
hour after the Hags had blossomed out am
while the schooner was skimming along llki
a bird , when Blbbsy came up timidly behlm
the captain. "Cap'n Billy , " said Blbbsy
"Cap'n Billy ! "
I The captain turned on his heel quickly am
i looked at the downcast and woe-begono fac
before him and above him , for Blbbsy was i
giant. "Cap'n Hilly , " said Blbbsy , half wills
perlng , half crying , "you know best. Tell m
now. It seems sorter 's cf I'd had a dream-
and sorter 's cf I hedn't. I can't make ou
the rights uv It. I'd I'd hed my Jug filled
yo know. I I can't spem ter sense It bu
do ye make out 'twuz me put out the ship'
lights that night ye didn't get aboard ? "
The cap'n gave him a sound slap on th
shoulder. "Wuz the ship's lights out ? " sali
he. ' "Twarn't nothln' but my consarnei
carelessness hindered my gettln' aboard. Al
lus wuz so cock sure , yo know. Aboard now
though. Guess I don't want no more adven
lures ! This un'll do me 'till Bub's a man. "
"Fetch It In about forty minutes , Cap'
Billy , " called the mate. "This wind wu
made a-purpose ! "
"Wlsht there wuz another Jes' Ilka II
though , " said the cap'n , his face beamln
with hlsjionest Joy. "Forty minutes Is fort
years when ye're waltln1 ter see the cole
spring up ycr wife's face ez bright ez the
buntln' , Ye ain't gat a wife , matey. Bette
get one. I've told ye before. Wal , you'll a
come round un' take Thanksglvln' lunch wit
us. Hope Llde ain't ben much worried ! "
Vc'tcruni of the I.iite } Var Ilemombereil b
tli9 General ( ibirariinteiit.
WASHINGTON , 'NoV ' , 25. ( Speclal.-rer )
slons granted , lssua.ol November 14 , wen
Nebraska : OilBlnal-rAnton Qerber , Has
Ings , Adams. Renewal Henry Wright , Ni
Iowa : Original Henry L. Coolldge , Bom
parte. Van Uuren : William J. Grace :
Trura , Madison ; Jtafthew Julyen , Tami
Tuma : Harrison CX'axirlsh. Archer Grew
O'Brien ; Carl Knodt.-Postyllle , Allumake
Increase Robert B. Ilandall , Lorena , Claj
ton ; Barrett I1. Ouwull , Oswall. Jasper. Hi
Issue Benjamin F.-Moulton , Cresco , IIov
arel ; Moses Weaver. Strnhnn , Mills. Orii
Inal widows. etdWFIellna Manart. 1) <
Molnen , Polk : Mary E. Smith , Walnut Clt ;
Appanoose ; Amanu * C. Kckett , Corulvlll
Johnson. ' * "
Bouth Dakqta : Original Henry 8turt <
0 vant , Carthage , Miner , OrlBlnuf widow
etc. Ann Burscr. Ganu Valley , Buffalo ,
Montana : Original Eugene 8. Holme
Billings , Yellowstone. .
Colorado : Original Daniel Buckle :
Monte Vista. Itlo Grande ; Meliton Valde
c Hastings , Las Anlmusjr Juan Montana , Ss
Luis , Costlllu. Original widows , etc. HI
Lyster , Denver. Arapahoe.
Shirt Jlakcr * Strike feeltlsil.
NBW YORK , Nov. Kj-TI\e strike of tl
shirt makers Is practically over. The a
ceptance by the shirt maker's of the 10 | x
cent reduction an arranged by arbltratlt
has resulted * In the amlcatlp adjustment i
muttiTB. Tomorrow nearly all of the strl !
era will return lo work.
Oregon Kidney Tea cures nervous heat
1 aches. Trial ilse , 25 cents. All druggist * .
\UTUiWS \ i ENERGY IS ENDED
'lush of Speculation Engendered by Sum
mer Vacations Quickly Exhausted.
VAIL STREET WORRYING AND WAITING
Cciluctloiiln the IliirlltiRlnn Dividend , N
Issue of IlomU ninl IliictiMloti ot the
Currency Question the fen-
untloin of the Street.
NEW YOKK , Nov. 2. . . licnry Clews , head
f Ilio banking house of Henry Clews & Co. ,
\rttca of the situation In Wall street :
"As usual nt this period of the year , busl-
ess InVnll street Is dull and drooping ,
'ho flush of speculative Interest that Ren-
rally appears on tlic return of operators
rom summer recreation has exhausted Itself
nd ( hero Is little disposition to undertake
lew ventures on the near approach of the
enson of holiday and of annunl settlements ,
'ho present Is n good time for buying In
reparation for the usual New Year's rise ,
nd therefore even the 'bulls' are not unwlll-
ng to see prices easy ,
"This temper ot affairs has been oncour-
ged by the reduction of the Chicago , Bur-
Ington & Qulncy dividend from G per cent
o -I per cent , the effect of which was a fall
f fully two points In the Mock and nearly
n equal sympathetic decline In the other
granger shares. The surprise Is that this
ccurrence should have had such an effect
upon prices. A reduction of dividends Is
laturally to he expected under such a state ol
juslness as hns prevailed for many months ,
mil a fall In the maiket value of st cks
ias already taken place In anticipation of
hat probability. The market , however , l
lot In a sanguine in ud nt the moment , utul
licrefore the 'beats' found It easy to use
he Chicago , litirllngtou & Qulncy s icduc-
Ion of dividend as a means of breaking
rices.
ABOUT THIS NI3\V LOAN
"Although the railroads are now doing a
air business , yet sjtne of them have to take
relght nt low intes , and , In the absence ol
any special 'bull' factor there Is a dlsposl-
Ion to let prices drift uitlicr than make any
special effort to advance them. The recep-
Ion given to the new government loan haslet
lot yet mateitally helped other securities.
On the one hand , there li some diversity ol
opinion us to the necessity of contracting n
lew loan In such an awkward form to run
"or PO long a period ns ten years. On the
other hand , the requirement tluit the sub
scription shall be paid In the form of gold
ias emphasized the discussion about money
llscrlmlnatlon , which only Increases the
confusion on that question , and Is giving
' .o It an Imaginary Importance beyond what
t really po. sesses. The effect of this sen
sitiveness about forms of money Is , first , tc
emphasize the Importance of the treasury
getting more gold , and , next , to Increase
he lillllculty of Its getting It.
"It cannot be said that this sort of con-
'uslon produces any real apprehension , bill
t has created a ceitaln uneasiness and
: eeps the attention of the patient on the
symptoms of his disease In u way that It
unfavorable to recovery. Nor Is the way
out of this condition of slow financial fevei
as yet entirely open and clear. The large
subscriptions to the loan will help to qulel
this unrest and restore confidence , but the
political doctors are prescribing n long am !
: edlous course of treatment , to which the pa-
; lent Is to be subjected as soon as congress
assembles. The administration Is understood
to have It In contemplation to recommenO
a broad scheme of reconstruction ot oui
currency system , Its main points being the
retirement of the government legal tendei
paper and Its substitution by a more clastU
system of bank Issues than that which now
exists. There Is perhaps no great dlvlsloi
of opinion about the importance of somt
judicious revision ot cur monetary arrange
ments , and when It Is all accomplished tlu
results may prove very beneficial to the
country nt large , nut this prospect Induce.-
another new clement of change , and will
change comes unsettlement and postpone
ments about matters that anxiously awali
ictlon and accomplishment , and not a few
lake It grumbllngly that , having got off the
tariff gridiron , we should now be. pltchoe
upon the hot coals of currency reform. This
new souice of legislative uncertainty Is one
of the Influences that IH now acting unfavorably -
favorably upon the stock market , and II
must be assigned as one of the causes ol
the weakness of prices during1 the pasl
week.
IT IS ONLY A PATCH.
"Then , again , some dissatisfaction Is fell
hut , while there Is no doubt about the lear
jelng subscribed for abundantly In one
form of money or another , yet there Is nt
assurance that the $50,000,1X10 now being bor
rowed will suflice either to maintain the
reserve nt the legal minimum or to provide
'or the deficiencies of levenue. The rent ir
: he treasury finances Is only patched , nol
repaired In such a way as to hold good
When congress reassembles this whole mat
ter must come up , and with so many ell-
vlslve Interests concerned In It there Is ne
foreseeing by what mean's the publle
finances will be relieved of their presenl
sources of derangement. It Is felt on al
sides that the trouble Is no longer one ol
real dllllculty In the handling , and that the
land of a strong and resourceful flnanclei
could readily put affairs Into normal shape
and end the vague distrust that Is now hold-
ng every form of enterprise In arrest. Bui
such a hand seems lacking.
"It seems Impossible that this tlmldlt >
ind hesitation of management can mucr
onger keep affairs In their present uncer-
: alnty. The Immediate problem Is now te
' 111 up the treasury gold reserve and at tht
same time secure for the government a gold
form of Income sufficient to keep the re
serve good under any contingencies. There
could be no really serious dllllcultlcs in the
way of solving this question. The supply ol
jold In the country Is many times over whai
the problem calls for. It Is within reacli
of availability for the purposes of the treas
ury , and It Is within the power of the
janks to make It available sufllclently foi
: he purpose contemplated. The banks could
now afford to pay out a considerable amounl
of gold to Importers for customs duties , am !
f the treasury would back them In so doing
by returning to them ns much gold as pos
sible through the clearing house , the dead
lock would bo broken and affairs would
again run In normal grooves. The presenl
ndlcatlonn me that matters are tending
toward some such simple method of ud-
lustment , and on that account wo hopi
; o see an early end of the present derance-
ments without much dependence on coh-
gresHlonal bungling. When that comes t
narked and real recovery of confidence mai
be looked for. and 'the good times coming
of the 'bulls' will be here. "
LONDON FINANCIAL IIUVIISW.
Builncsn at Stock Kxclmnga During tin
Week Quito Actlie.
LONDON , Nov. 25. Business at the Stocl
exchange during the week was tolcrablj
active , though It wan not up to the level o :
the previous fortnight. There was a dlspo
gltlcn In the early part of the week to taki
profits and prices dropped a little. Latei
the upward movement was resumed , will
every prospect that the advance wouli
make further progress.
The feature of the week was the comple
tlon of the Baring liquidation so far as tin
Bank of England Is concerned. The trans
fer of this money Is thought to Imply i
further locking up of resources , but It 1
probable that the" bank will be forced ti
Invest some portion of Its surplus , thus re
turning It to the market. Assisted by cheai
money , nil first class securities have rlsei
and n fresh boom Is promised In all gilt
edged stocks. Second and third rate de
scriptlons are bound to follow. Consols con
tlluie at record prices , as do also corpora
tlon Issues. Two and one-half per cen
Liverpool stock to the amount of 901,10
was offered at 87. The subscription
amounted to two ami one-fourth times th
amount of the loan , which was placed a
an average of 90 ICs 3d. The stock ha
since sold nt par.
Another Blgii of the condition of Improve
ment In tlui rush to obtain a share of th
Ceylon loan of 500,000 at 3 per cent. Amer
lean railway securities continued neglected
Apart from a rise of H4 per cent In Lak
Shore and Atchlson gold bonds , prices wer
again , lower all around. An Important ae ]
verse Influence was the reduction In th
nurllngton dividend , but U Is not unltkel
that Investors will have to turn to dividend
paying Americans In despair of finding st
curltles elsewhere.
The following declines were made ; Atchl
son , 8H per cent ; Denver preferred , Illlriol
Central , 1U per cent each , and Mlssoui
Pacific , V4 per cent. Speculative Imslnes
centered In the mining share market. Afr
cans w ru generally from ' ,4 to 2 per cen
higher. _ _ _ _ _
LONDON LKKHAL MAKKKT.
ir aor During the 1'uit Week llai lice
Seasonable.
LONDON , Nov. 25. The weather elurln
the past week has been more eeaxonabli
Wheat WBB quieter at 3d to Cd down froi
the top prices. Good business wan done I
llusslan parcels. Other wheats were qule
The stockH being drawn upon ehow a redu (
tlon of supplies which are generally mex
crate. California wheat was quiet , at &
WE ARE doing : the FURNITURE , GAR-
PET and STOVE business of Omaha.
Stacks of goods leave our warehouse daily loaded on
wagons sky.high. It is good goods , low prices and easy
erms that is doing it all. If you have never dealt with
us you should do so at once in justice to yourself.
Teaspoons 50c worth $1.25
Cake Baskets. . . . $1,65 w $
Castors 2.45 worth
. JO.OO
Berry Dislies 2.75 worth 87.50
Knives and Forks. . 1.48 worth 13.00
Sugar Shells 25c worth tl.OO
Oak Center Tables. worth Parlor Suits.$14,75 TOMO
Wardrobss .90 " : "rlh Bed 6.90 * $
. 110.03 Lounges . $
Hall Racis 8.25 Single Lcungcs. . 3.85 TS '
Folding Beds. . . 14ijw } i-.w Divans 4,80 wor"1
Mattresses 2RO worni $1 so I'insli ' llocicrs. : . . 3.00
Springs wnith M.OO Leather Couches. . 9.75
OUR ms B3ILCO DOWN fiHE :
J-10 00 woi-lli of irooils ,
ash $1.00 ] > cr wcok oiSI.00 per month
S2.00 worlh of { ; eels ,
OR 81.50 nor \vook 01$0.00 per month
J50.00 worth of seeds ,
redit. $2.00 wor week or $8.00 per month
. $75.00 worth of Doilf ,
$2.50 per week ur $10.00 per month
Tnko your choice. Your trnelo $100 00 worth of goods ,
is equally appreciated W.OO i.er week or 912.00 per month
whether you pay cnsli or on $20l'.00 ' worth of goods ,
payments. $4.00 per week or 815.00 per month
Formerly People's Mammoth Installment House
Open Monday and Saturday Evenings.
Oil. necl winter wheat , prompt elellvcry , was
quiet , at 21s UI. Flour wus 111 in and active.
Maize was quiet and Rteacly. American
maize was quiet and Bteady. American bar
ley was steady and In good demand. Oats
was quiet and easier.
MANC'HKbTKK TliXTIMtS.
Cloth IIiHlnets 1Vns 1'nlr for Imllii unit
tlilnii.
MANCHESTER , Nov. 23. The market the
past week was disappointed l > y the surpris
ing movement of cotton. In the face of tno
reiterated extreme cotton estimates. The
cloth business was fair to India , China ana
'he minor eastern markets , but South Amer-
Ict hung back. Quotations were nominally
harder , but any advance stopped business.
Yarns were firmer with a reRiilar hand to
mouth manufacturers' business. Good
brands were scarce. Common qualities
wore abundant and dllncult to move. Tnu
advance on the week was about Mi per cent.
The spinners' marKln was decidedly worse
than a week apo. Of seventy-one compa
nies which' ave taken stock since early In
September , twelve show a jirollt of 70.r,00
and live show losses ngKrcKatlni ? 43,016 ,
equal to 510 loss for each of these seventy-
one concerns. _
btrentor Jury liillnil to Agree.
MINNEAPOLIS , Nov. 23. The Jury In tlui
case of AV. 8. Streator , formerly vice presi
dent of the Northwestern Guaranty Loan
company , who has been on trial on an In
dictment charccd with stealing a quarter
of a million dollars of the funds of the com
pany , last nleht declared Its Inability to
agree. _
runso.VAt. r.iti.iait.ii'iis.
Nils Baur , Chlno , Cnl. , Is a Mlllard finest.
W. T. Wattles of NellBh is at the Mlllard.
J. D. Echalllr , Deadwood , Is a Puxtcm
guest. ,
A. J. Mothorscad of Wallace Is at the
Dellone.
n. N. White , Spokane , Wash. , Is at the
Paxton.
P. B. McGlnnis of Hastings , Neb. , Is at the
Barker.
John S. Hoover of Blue Hill Is at the Mer
chants.
N. S. Harding of Nebraska City Is at the
Paxton.
A. L. Clark oC Hastings was at the Mlllard
yesterday.
G. W. Whltakcr of Kearney Is at the
'
Merchants.
A. C. Hull of Hastings Is registered at the
Merchants.
Mrs. E. McComb of Chicago Is stopping at
the Barker.
W. C. Barber of Luella la registered at
the Arcade.
John naeschman , Sheridan , Wyo. , Is a
Dellono guest.
J. V. Sheridan of Indlanola Is registered
at the Paxton.
C. D. Butterfiold , Hamburg , la. , was at the
Paxton last evening.
F. W. Monell , Newcastle , Wyo. , Is regis
tered at the Paxton ,
II. C. Mathlson of Baltimore , Md. , Is stop
ping at the Darker.
S. S. Warren , Blanclmrd , la. , was a Mer
chants guest yesterday ,
D. A. Doyle of O'Neill and C. A. Mills of
Beatrice are at the Arcade.
B. G. Spencer , Kansas City , Mo. , stopped
over Sunday at the Barker.
J. M. Perrlgo and J. O. Burrow of Geneva
were at the Arcade yesterday ,
nlchartl Smith left Saturday for a ten
days business trip In the east.
General G. M. Dodge of New York regis
tered at the Mlllard last evening.
W. H. Kranklln of Austin and J. A. Sheri
dan of Indlano'.a are Arcade guests.
R. S. Hasson of Wakefleld and John Carr
of Stafford took dinner at the Merchants
yesterday. <
Frank Trumuull , receiver for the Denver
& Gulf road , Is at the Mlllard , enroute to
New York.
Members of the "Summer Blizzard" com
pany are making the Barker their headquar
ters for a week.
Congressman Dave Mercer returned yes
terday from the south , accompanied by Mm.
Mercer , who left on the evening train for
Minneapolis. Mr. Mercer start * for Wash
ington Wednesday.
Registered at the Mercer : George F.
Anderson , Chicago ; W. C. Helmbucher. St.
Louis ; V. T. Price , Rapid City , 8. I ) . ; Max
Horzlg , William B. Alexander , Walter Mo-
Lucas , II. A. llrlKKB , G. W. Sloner and wife ,
Chicago ; C. II. Ilreck. Jr. , Deadwood , 8. I ) . ;
J. II. Creger , Cremona ; C. O. Carpenter ,
Abilene. Kan. ; O. II. Beach. Bait Lake City ;
J. T. Hlnshaw , J. D. Colt , New York ; W.
R. Vance , W. S. Klsher , Seaton ; J. W.
Hewitt , Portland.
WM. LOUD ON.
Commission Merchant
Grain nnd Provisions.
Private wires to Chicago and New Yor't. '
All business orders placed on Oleasa
Board of Trade. ,
Correspondence solicited.
Cjfllce , room 4. New York Life DulldlnSi
Omaha. Telephone 1303.
QUESTION OF COJBIISSIOKS
Transcontinental Lines Troubled Over tlio
Old Score Again.
EASTBOUND EUI-INESS IS SiTTLED
Now an KfTorl Will lie .Undo to Hoot Out
on M'cilbouml TraOlo
homo ot the IHfficultlca lo
Ilo Overcome.
CHICAGO , Nov. 23. The eastern line ? , hav
ing disposed ot the question ot commissions
on eastboniul business , have determined to
root out their payment on all westbound bus
iness , and have called a meeting for December
12 , to bo held In New York City. It is ex
pected that the Canadian Pacific will be rep
resented at the meeting , and It Is hoped by
the Central Tralflc association and the West
ern Passenger association lines that tome-
thing may result In the way of settling Ilia
trouble between the western roads and the
Canadian Pacific. That line has refused to
cease the payment ot Its commissions on
westbound business , and , as the eastern lines
are practically committed to the side of the
western roads In the fight with the Canadian
Pacific , It Is thought that It these lines uml
the eastern roads come to an agreement to
abolish tlie payment ot commissions on west
bound trainc , that the dlfllcultles of the west
ern Hues will be smoothed In a material de
gree.
gree.A proposition fdr the formation of a pas
senger pool \\I1I be made at tha meetings
of the western lines tomorrow. The weaker
lines believe that by this plan only can their
Interests be properly conserved. A sustained
agreement to maintain rates will take a largo
proportion cf the business of the small lines
and give It to the big fellows , and the small
lines are not willing to lake the chance * ot
seeing their revenue slip away In that man
lier. The result would be the disruption ot
the agreement In one week.
i ! Is not likely that the proposition to pool
will meet with great favor , as tome of the
lines tire stoutly opposed to It. Those who
arp down on the pooling arrangement are In
favor of a plan for the distribution of the
business , Relieving that such an arrangement
will bo found tovork In a more satisfactory
manner , than any other. Several of the rcp-
rciciitntlves of the transcontinental lines arp
already In the city In readiness for the meet
ing on Monday. The general opinion Is that
an agreement which will result In the forma
tion of a transcontinental association , with
the territory of the Western Passenger asso
ciation under ( he jurisdiction of ono com
mittee , and that of the transcontinental terri
tory under another , and Chairman Cald Well
of the Weitern Passenger association being
In charge of both committees , will be tatli-
factory.
Chnnc"4 on AI xlrnn ItnaiU.
I'UKHLA , Mex. , Nov. 2S.-K. A. While ,
formerly general passenger agent of the
Mexican Central , has been appointed gen
eral passenger agent of the Mexican Intrr-
oceunlc. W , J. Parker , formerly agent ol
the Mexican Central rouel at Han Kranclxco ,
has been appointed general freight and PUH-
en er agent of the Mexican C'uernavucu ,
& 1'uclflo road. J. H. Kaln , formerly chlt
engineer of the Mexican Central road , hau
been appointed chief engineer of the ilex-
lean Interoceanlc ; roail ,
floatlmrn 1'iiclllu Cut * tli * ItaU.
SAN FRANCISCO , Nov. 23.-CJciicral Pas-
pengec Agent Goodman of the Houthcin Pa
cific has wired from Chicago that , conf-
inencliitr Tuesday. November U7 , 11 continu
ous trip rate would be glvfii from all com
mon California points via Ogelen , Mojavc ,
Uarxtow , Dvmlnir uml 1C1 I'UBU to Chlcacu
far 154 IIrut cluBH , and JCJ.W second claim.
This Is a cut of. fi from , the present rat * .