Stories - Cap'ns Three

   

     JOE CONE                                                                                                                  (6000 words) 

     BOSTON POST  ROAD

  Old Saybrook, Conn.

            P . O.  BOX, 47

                                                                     CAP’NS THREE.

 

“Well, Ang’y Berry,” said Captain Jonas Strong, of the three master Helen Strong, then lying at anchor in sight of the Berry cottage, “this is the second time you have refused to ship with me on the life-long cruise. I s’pose it’s the same old reason, but you wanter remember, Ang’y, that even a silor ain’t built hully of patience and perseverance.”

“I know that, Cap’n Jones,” replied the Widow Berry, and furthermore I know that men ain’t got one mite of patience and perseverance in ’em; they’re the most impatient critters on the face of the earth.”

“Two years is a long time to wait, Ang’y.”

“I s’pose ’t is, Cap’n Jones, but you know my ’tarmination, and when I’m sot I’m sot, and there ain’t no use tryin’ to unsot me. When you stop goin’ to sea, and you could stop now just as well as anytime, I’ll think about becomin’ ‘Mrs. Cap’n Jonas Strong,’ but I’ve had one man lost at sea, and I don’t wanter run no chances of losin’ another. I’d a sight rather lose ’em on the land, ’cuz then you know where they be.”

“Well, Ang’y, I don’t s’pose I can force you to take the helm with me, but I’d like mighty well to take you to the Virginny oyster beds this spring on our honeymoon. What say?”

“Me go on a trip on your schooner, Cap’n Jonas? Well, I guess not! It’s bad enough to be a Cap’n’s wife on shore, but as for liv’n tucked up in an old boat’s cabin for a month or two, never!” and the Widow Berry brought her plump hand down on the kitchen table with a bang to emphasize her determination.

“Well, said the Captain, rising reluctantly, “I must be off. The tide ebbs in an hour, and we h’ist sail for New York. If this trip pans out well, Ang’y, I’ll come back and mebbe settle down this fall for good, and then you’ll – “

“I said I’d think about it, Cap’n Jonas,” interrupted the Widow.

“Thinkin’s all right pervidin’ you think the right way, Ang’y.”

He drew near and seized her plump, soft hand in his own great weather-beaten palm, and holding it a brief moment, bade her adieu and closed the door. From her front room window she watched him trudging down the road till his tall form was lost to view amongst the small buildings that lined the wharf. Five minutes later she saw him being rowed to his vessel in the harbor, and soon she witnessed the hoisting of the sails that drove the Helen Strong from the mouth of the Connecticut out into the choppy waters of Long Island Sound.

“He’s a good enough man,” commented the Widow, still at the window, “but land sakes, what’s the use of havin’ a man, with you at one end of the world and he at the other, with the likelihood of his never gittin’ back again? No, sir, I’d ruther be an out and out widder than never knowin’ whether I’m one or not!”

The Helen Strong disappeared from view, after which the Widow Berry set about putting her cosy little house in order.

The departure of the two-master was noted with much satisfaction by two pairs of watchful eyes concealed on the coast but a short distance from the anchoring ground. One pair of the blazing orbs belonged to Captain Caleb Haskins, lone keeper of the Saybrooke light, and the other to Captain Jedediah Maynard, retired sailing master, who had built for himself a small cottage on the Cornfield Point bluff a mile to the westward.

Both old men lived alone, Captain Haskins of the lighthouse being a widower, while Captain Jed, as he was familiarly called, was a bachelor of the most pronounced type. Like Captain Jonas Strong, who had just sailed away on his summer cruise, they had, what was termed by the gossips at the Point, “the widder craze.” All three loved, or made the pretense of loving, the Widow Berry. Not because marriageable women were particularly scarce in the neighborhood was the reason this trio of Captains turned their attentions to the plump and cheery Widow Berry. Like many seaport towns the weaker sex were in the large majority, and Saybrooke had its coterie of sea-made widows. But Dame Rumor had whispered that the Widow Berry had lately received several hundreds of dollars, her late husband’s share in the vessel from which he was lost, and this fact, perhaps, had something to do with the sudden rise in the Angelina Berry stock. Just how many hundreds of dollars had been received by the smiling widow Dame Rumor couldn’t say, but she stated, confidentially, that Mrs. Berry had admitted that she was now “comf’tably well fixed.”

The Helen Strong had barely passed Cornfield Point, two miles to the westward, when a large black cloth was hung from the upper west window of the lighthouse. Captain Jed Maynard, seated in front of his cottage where he was repairing a lobster pot, knew that the black cloth was a signal for him to come to the lighthouse to relieve Captain Caleb. The latter, in all probability, had “and errant up street,” such “errants” happening more frequently since fortune had smiled upon the fair Widow Berry.

Saybrooke light stood on the extreme point of sand that made out into the water where the mouth of the Connecticut joined the Long Island Sound. This little habitation was separated from the mainland by coves, creeks and marshy ground, which at most seasons of the year was well nigh impassable except with the aid of high rubber boots. A long, tiresome and dusty road wound around past Cornfield, but this was seldom used except by those who travelled in teams. The short cut to the village was by boat. Captain Jed invariably made his trips from his cottage to the light by boat also, Captain Caleb, the keeper, using the same craft in his trip to the village. This, practically, made Captain Jed a prisoner at the light while Captain Caleb was absent, it being against the rules to leave the lighthouse without an attendant.

The two shore captains, Captain Jed and Captain Caleb, had been sea cronies in the old days, and now that fate had at last landed them in the same town they retained and valued their old-time friendship. They were confidential on all matters save one – their feelings for the Widow Berry. Each was ignorant of the other’s inclinations in that direction, so as yet their friendship had not suffered the slightest strain. Each, in turn, unbeknown to the other, had paid the Widow several visits of late, and these were happening oftener and of longer duration. Generally a mess of fish nicely dressed was Captain Caleb’s excuse for knocking at the Widow Berry’s door, while Captain Jed’s visit was usually accompanied by a half-peck of choice clams. Between the two, Mrs. Berry’s table was kept well supplied with fresh seafood, and she was wont to confide in herself that had she two more admirers of the same type she could easily start a fish market.

When Captain Jed saw the cloth dangling against the white-washed walls of the lighthouse he dropped his work and gave vent to an exclamation of disappointment. Time was when he would have been glad of the diversion of being light attendant for a few hours.

“Just what I was afeared on,” he muttered. “I was jest thinkin’ about goin’ to the village myself to see if I could find out how Cap’n Jonas come out with Angeliny. I heard that he went to see her ev’ry day he was in port. Well, she’s got to choose ’twixt me and him pretty soon, or there’ll be trouble of some kind. This onsartinty is wuss than sand fleas. If he will on’y stay away long enough this trip I’ll jest do the bizniz up brown, and mebbe ask him into tea with us, me and her, the fust time he comes ashore,” and trying to picture the surprise and dismay of Captain Jonas, he chuckled so loudly that the old black cat, his sole companion, looked up in amazement.

“Acy,” he chuckled, addressing his cat, which bore the title of “Ace of Spades,” on account of its fast black color, “how would you like to have your milk poured out three times a day by the hand of a buxom, good-lookin’ woman, hey?”

The old cat rolled over in the warm spring sunshine, “purrowed” affirmatively, and stretched off to sleep again.

“Blame me, but that cat’s got instinct,” soliloquized Captain Jed, in a pleased manner.

Closing the door of his cottage he moved slowly down the beach, unfastened his boat and pulled unwillingly in the direction of the lighthouse. Captain Caleb saw him coming and hastened to make himself ready to go to the village. He took more pains with his appearance than usual, which fact was noted by Captain Jed the moment he entered the lighthouse door.

“Howdy, Cap’n Jed,” greeted the keeper, cheerily, “I was afeared you mightn’t notice the black flag this mornin’, you was so took up with your fishin’ gear.”

“Well, I cast a sheep’s eye over this way once in a while to see what the excitement is. This here castle of your’n is about all I kin see from my bungerlow, ’ceptin’ water, and that never was no treat to look at, leastways not for me. What’s up today, a weddin’ or a funeral?” and Captain Jed eyed his companion’s dress scrutinizingly.

“’Tain’t no weddin’, not yit,” chuckled Captain Caleb, trying to tie up a small bundle of fish without the other seeing its contents.

“You speak as though you might be thinkin’ about it,” said Captain Jed, suspiciously.

“No more’n I ever did,” declared Captain Caleb. “I’ve been out here all alone so long now that I need all the room myself, Cap’n Jed. A wummun would only be in the way. I see Cap’n Jonas sailed this mornin’,” he nodded, anxious to change the subject, if only for a dangerously short distance.

“Is that so?” queried Captain Jed, thinking that a pretense of ignorance would make it appear that he had no interest in the departure of the schooner.

“Why, how in the world could a schooner like the Helen Strong git by you out there on the beach and you not notice her?” queried Captain Caleb, sharply.

“O, –  me – her, yes, I – I noticed a three-master comin’ out of the mouth of the river, but I didn’t much think about who it was,” replied Captain Jed, innocently. “How long is Cap’n Jonas goin’ to be gone – I mean how long are you goin’ to be gone, Cap’n Caleb?”

“Probberly most of the afternoon, unless you wanter git back home special early; why?”

“O, nothin’, only I was thinkin’ of goin’ over to the village myself today, but ’tain’t nothin’ special. I kin wait just as well as not.”

”That’s too bad,” replied Captain Caleb, regretfully. “Anythin’ I kin do for you? I’d be mighty glad to do any of your errants, Cap’n Jed.”

“No, no, I ain’t got no errants but what I kin jest as well let go, or what I’d have to tend to myself,” answered Captain Jed, thinking of his contemplated visit to the Widow Berry’s.

“Well, my errants are pretty pressin’ otherwise I’d stay to home today an’ let you go,” said Captain Caleb, hurriedly untying the boat, fearful that the other might change his mind and want to go himself.

“No, you go ’long, Cap’n Caleb, and I’ll go over tomorrer. Got anything new in the readin’ line? I’m all read up over to the shack.”

“Yes, there’s a new magazine up on my bedroom table. It’s jest out, and they’s some mighty good sea stories in it. Mart fetched it over yesterday. His brother fetched it from Boston. Help yourself, Jed.”

Bidding his companion adieu, Captain Caleb pushed from the beach and was soon pulling vigorously for the wharf a good two miles upstream.

“Cale seems in a tarnal hurry to git somewhere today,” commented Captain Jed, peering through a “port-hole” at the disappearing boatman. “Guess I’ll foller him up with the glass. He’s so all-fired particular with his duds they must be somethin’ in the wind. Well,” he mused, consolingly, “one of these days one of my visits to the village will give the old feller a bit of a jar, I reckon,” and thinking of the surprise and exuberance Captain Caleb would probably display in the event of his marrying the Widow Berry, he gaily ascended the stairs in search of the magazine.

Meanwhile Captain Caleb’s strong arms had sent the light skiff speeding toward the wharves, just back of which began the village street. A short walk brought him to the Widow’s door upon which he knocked vigorously. The occupant of the cottage had seen the boat leave the lighthouse, and suspecting a visit from Captain Caleb had had ample time to fix herself up for the occasion. It was a very neat and inviting looking person who opened the door in response the Captain Caleb’s knock.

“Good afternoon, Angeliny! I was jest a-goin’ by on an errant an’ I thought I’d stop and see if you wouldn’t like a nice mess of blackfish? I ketched some old whollopers out there yesterday, an’ they’re jest as fresh as a June rose,” said the Captain, holding out the parcel.

“Thank you, Cap’n Caleb, I should like them very much,” returned the Widow, smiling. “Won’t you come in and rest yourself?”

“I – I dunno’s I orter stop – I – I ain’t tired – I’ve got so many errants to do up to the center, but p’raps, jest for a minute. It’s been quite a while sence I’ve set down – I mean sence I’ve seen you,” stammered the Captain, accepting the proffered chair.

“Yes, Cap’n Caleb, quite a long spell; sence day before yesterday. Wasn’t that a long, long time ago?” and the Widow Berry laughed merrily.

“Was it as long – I mean as short ago as that, Angeliny? My! How time flies – I mean drags, out there to the light. I lose all track of time. It’s pretty lonesome out there, too, Angeliny.”

“I s’pose ’t is, Cap’n Caleb.”

“Yes, I long more and more for a companion, someone to brighten an’ cheer my existence. Life is pretty dull out there to the light, Angeliny.”

“Land sakes! Why don’t you take Cap’n Jed out there with you? He’s all alone, and is fust rate comperny. He’s real funny at times, they say.”

“What, Cap’n Jed? That old fishawk? No, Angeliny, I couldn’t stand it, to have him around very long to time, besides, he wouldn’t leave that old coop of his’n on the beach for nobuddy! No, that ain’t what I want or need. I want a – a wummun, Angeliny, that’s what I want. I want someone to talk to an’ confide in; someone to git my meals an’ mend my clothes an’ make the house bright an’ shiny inside when it’s dark an’ stormy outside. Yes, Angeliny, I’ve hed it in mind for some time, an’ I made my mind up today that afore I went back I’d stop and see you, an’ talk this matter over an’ kinder see how you felt about it, an’ see if you didn’t kinder feel the same way I did about it, an’ see if we could fix it up some way, Angeliny, becuz I – I think a heap of you, an’ bein’ you’re all alone an’ I’m all alone an’ both of us alone, I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea if we could kinder cruise along together, me the cap’n, an’ you the mate, or you the cap’n an’ me the mate. What do you think on’t, Angeliny?”

Captain Caleb appeared relieved when he had once completed his lengthy proposal. He was quite out of breath and played with his heavy cap nervously. The face of the Widow Berry had grown serious and thoughtful.

“Cap’n Caleb,” she replied, not unkindly, “livin’ in a lighthouse is the last thing I had ever thought of. It’s pretty lonesome and inconvenient here ashore, and what it is out there I don’t know, but I reckon it must be awful cramped and dismal. You can’t git now’ers nor see nothin’ nor nobody. Why a wummun couldn’t even keep chickens out there. You’ve been very kind to me, Cap’n Caleb, and I appreciate it, but honest, I never thought of nothin’ more.”

“You ain’t a-goin’ to say ‘no’ be you, Angeliny Berry?” and the Captain’s voice rose to a high pitch and trembled with anxiety.

“No, I ain’t exactly said ‘no’,” replied the widow, alarmed by his show of earnestness, “but I should have to have time to think it over; I never even dreamt of such a thing, Cap’n Caleb.”

“An’ how long would it take you to think it over, Angeliny?”

“O, Lor’, Cap’n Caleb, ever so long; six months.”

“Six hull months, Angeliny?”

“Yes; that ain’t long for a wummun to take to make up her mind, Cap’n Caleb.”

“Well, I s’pose not, Angeliny, but I was in hopes we could settle it here and now. However, I should like to ask you one question afore I go; that is, if you don’t think me too presumin’. Hain’t anybuddy else been round here an’ got any better hawser holt than I hev, has they?” and the Captain looked at her searchingly.

“Lor’, no. Cap’n Caleb, I’m jest as free as a gull awing and just as airy,” and the widow Berry waved her arms and whirled her body once around in imitation of the great white birds that were circling in full view from the window.

“I’m glad of that, Angeliny,” said the Captain, brightening up, “an’ in jest six months I’m to have my answer; is that it?”

“I s’pose so, Cap’n Caleb,” replied Mrs. Berry, heaving a sigh of relief.

Captain Caleb looked at her wistfully for a brief moment, then rose preparatory to his departure. He was plainly disappointed, yet he was not without hope.

“I must be gittin’ back right away,” he said. “Cap’n Jed for some reason or other didn’t seem over anxious to stay for me today. He seems to have lost his bearin’s lately, an’ I don’t know what to make of him.”

Captain Caleb left the house and headed for the wharf. Mrs. Berry, who had followed him to the door, hailed him.

“Why, Cap’n Caleb,” she called, “you said you had some errants up street.”

“So I did, so I did, I nigh forgot,” blurted the Captain, confusedly, and again cautioning the widow not to forget her promise, he started for the center without really having anything to call him thither.

As soon as the door was closed the widow Berry rushed to her bedroom where hung a long mirror into which she gazed long and fixedly. She saw a plump, pink face devoid of wrinkles, a pair of soft, blue eyes, dark brown hair sprinkled with gray, and a mouth well-shaped but undecisive. All this was good to look upon, but it was un-noticed by Angelina Berry, for she was without conceit.

“Two proposals in one day!” she exclaimed. “Of all things livin’, if this don’t beat my galhood days. I wonder what had got into the men, anyway? I s’pose Cap’n Jed would be around on the same errand if he could git away,” and laughing merrily over the strange situation she fell to wondering how far Captain Jonas Strong had progressed on his way to New York, and speculated as to what his attitude would be if he knew how matters were shaping themselves at the Point.

Meanwhile Captain Jed, shut in at the lighthouse, had not been idle. With the aid of the strong spyglass he had followed the movements of Captain Caleb. An expression of surprise and enlightenment spread over his drawn features when he saw him go directly to the Berry cottage.

“I might have knowed it, the deceivin’ old skate!” he muttered. ‘Here I’ve been tendin’ light for him off’n on for two years while he’s been courtin’, or tryin’ to court, Angeliny Berry right under my very nose. Well, I guess it’s about time to wake up. Two kin play at that game, an’ there’s only one winner,” and Captain Jedediah Maynard drew his lips together in a most determined manner. The battle was on. It was to be a three-cornered fight and he was going to be in the thick of it.

Captain Jed was tall and spare, wearing a smooth face, while Captain Caleb was his opposite, being short, stout, and with a full beard of iron gray. They were entirely unlike in disposition as well, the keeper of the light being of a cheery nature while Captain Jed was sharp of tongue to the degree of sarcasm. In stature Captain Jonas Strong was unlike either of them. He was tall and powerfully built, looking like a veritable giant as he strode the deck of his beloved vessel. He was all that his name implied, and few there were on land or sea who cared to arouse the ire of the gigantic Captain.

Captain Jed had thumbed the pages of the magazine of which his chum had spoken, the advertisements of which had interested him most. To one advertisement he had turned repeatedly. It was that of a Boston tailoring firm who did business by mail.

“Jest what I want,” he confided to himself. “I’ll git a durn nice new suit, made entirely to order, an’ then we’ll see who’ll do the outshinin’,” and copying down the address and particulars he determined an order should go forward for the clothes the following day.

In about two hours Captain Caleb returned, full of good cheer and appreciation of his friend’s willingness to come over and spell him. Captain Jed, still rankling over his chum’s visit to the Widow Berry’s, plead to not feeling well and straightway took his leave. That night he labored hard and long over the self-measuring for his new suit. The figures were finally put down, the letter sealed and the following day found him trudging the long distance overland to the post office. As usual, he stopped at Angelina Berry’s.

“I couldn’t go right by ’thout stoppin’, Angeliny,” he confessed, holding out a large tin pail the top of which was covered with a piece of sail cloth, “an’ as I had a sight more clams than I could possibly git away with I thought mebbie you’d like a taste. Then, too,” and he looked at her appealingly, “there’s only a few of us round here, an’ there’s nothin’ like bein’ a little neighborly, you know.”

“Yes, that’s about what Cap’n Caleb said yesterday when he left me the blackfish, and they was awful good, too,” said the astute Widow Berry, smacking her rosy lips.

“Cap’n Caleb leave you some blackfish? Why, the doggone ol’ – O, I didn’t know he was ketchin’ any jest now, he didn’t say anything to me about ’em when I was out there,” replied Captain Jed, modifying his language when he noticed the widow’s face lengthening. “You see, I would have begged a mess for myself if I had known he had some on hand,” he added.

“Why, don’t you ketch ’em yourself, anytime you want some?” queried the astonished widow.

“O, yes, gen’ly I do – that is – sometimes, but lately I – I ain’t had no luck,” stammered Captain Jed, shifting uneasily in his chair. “I say, Angeliny,” he began, nervously, “does ol’ Cap’n Caleb come round to see you very of’n?”

“No-o-o, no of’ner than you go out and tend light for him,” was the aggravating reply.

“An’ that’s been about ev’ry other day for quite a spell back,” replied Captain Jed, significantly, now satisfied that his chum was also his active rival, “but I can tell you one thing, Angeliny, he won’t come so of’n after this cuz I’m goin’ to be pretty busy from now on. Besides, tendin’ light ain’t my bizniz; I don’t git nothin’ out of it. I say, Angeliny,” he continued, determined to sail right in while he had a clear course, “I come over here this mornin’ on bizniz.”

“Bizniz, Cap’n Jed,” she repeated, arching her eyebrows, I didn’t know you were a bizniz man, I thought you were – “

“Well,” he interrupted, “I s’pose you might call it bizniz an’ pleasure combined. Anyway, whether it turns out to be a pleasure depends on what you’ve got to say follerin’ my lead. I’ve been a-comin’ over here off’n on for a year or more, an’ of course, you must have knowed what ’twas for, mostly, anyhow, I didn’t know till yisterday that Cap’n Caleb, the sly old dogfish, was a-comin’ here also; that is, reg’lar. But now that I know it, it’s all right. What he does doesn’t consarn me, nor what Cap’n Jonas does neither. This is a free country, an’ I’m cruisin’ on my own hook now. I hove in here this mornin’ to see if you ain’t about tired of livin’ this kind of lonesome life an’ ready to tie up to a shipmate who, as you well know, ain’t very rich nor yit very han’some, but who has got a little somethin’ laid by, an’ who will give you a good home with plenty to eat an’ wear an’ the pertection an’ comfort that you need in this vale of tears. It’s lonesome over there on the beach, Angeliny, an’ I take it that you git lonesome here sometimes?”

“Yes, Cap’n Jed, I git lonesome here, speshly in the winter time, but I hadn’t thought anything about, as you say, tieing up with anybuddy jest yit. I git along pretty well as I am. The neighbors are kind, speshly Cap’n Caleb, an’ Cap’n Jonas, when he’s in port, and I ain’t a-worryin’ anything about somethin’ to eat and wear. Besides, it’s an awful out the way place over there, and hard to git to. I’m perfectly sure that my cat never would stay over to any sech place as that,” added the playful widow, seriously.

“If that’s all that stands in the way I’ll sell out over there an’ build a new place over here,” answered Captain Jed, eagerly.

“’Tain’t that altergether, but I’m so s’prised and flustered I – I don’t know what to say. As I said before, I never thought of sech a thing, Cap’n Jed.”

“Well, it’s time you did, then, an’ right now’s the time to do your thinkin’. I’ll give you jest fifteen minutes to decide in,” and Cap’n Jed looked straight at the clock on the wall.

“Fifteen minutes! Why, I should need six months!” exclaimed the Widow Berry.

“Six months?” echoed the Captain, “why I could make up my mind to marry a wummun in six minutes, if she was the right one.”

“O, Lor’, you git out,” returned Mrs. Berry, artfully; “you’ve been nigh onto two years makin’ up your mind to marry me. Besides, I can’t understand this sudden fever you men have been took with. You see, I’m so situated now that I don’t need to marry anybuddy,” she replied, meaningly.

For a moment Captain Jed was non-plussed. But it was for a moment only.

“Angeliny,” he protested, “I should have brought it to a focus long ago if I’d ever had any encouragement.”

“Encouragement? Fiddlesticks, Cap’n Jed! It’s only a feint heart that needs encouragement. Men like Cap’n Jonas Strong don’t need no encouragement; they hafter be held back at arm’s length.”

“Well, that’s neither here nor there. Cap’n Jonas never done me no harm, an’ I have nothin’ to say ag’in him. Only he thinks more of his ol’ plug of a schooner than he does of a home an’ a wummun. He’s out to sea now, an’ I’m here. Once for all, Angeliny Berry, are you willin’ to take the name of Mrs. Jedediah Maynard, for better or for worser, an’ start off on a new cruise? That’s what I want to know.”

The woman dropped her eyelids, and fingered her apron nervously. Cap’n Jed leaned forward, never taking his beady eyes from her face. He would have assumed the same attitude had he been bargaining for a half-gross of second-hand lobster pots. Mrs. Berry felt the coldness of his proposition, nevertheless she was nervous and half-frightened.

“I – I don’t really know what to say, Cap’n Jed, I really don’t. As I said before, I never thought of sech a thing. You’ve took me so by surprise I shall have to have some time to think it over. I – I appreciate your offer, but I can’t give my answer now. You’ll have to give me more time, Cap’n Jed.”

“How much time, Angeliny?”

“As I said afore, six months.”

“Six hull months, Angeliny?”

“Yes, six hull months. Lan’ sakes, that ain’t very long to wait, Cap’n Jed.”

“Can’t you make it any less, a leetle less, Angeliny?” a mournful note creeping into his voice.

“No, I can’t, Cap’n Jed; you can’t beat me down a single day. It’s a serious step, and mustn’t be took too suddent.”

“All right, then,” said the Captain, disappointedly, “I shall look for my answer in jest six months from today; not a day over.”

“In jest six months,” affirmed the Widow, gaily.

Captain Jed arose, and with one hand on the doorknob, hesitated.

“Angeliny,” he began, sheepishly, “they’s jest one more question I’d like to ask afore I go, an’ that’s this: Be my chances jest as good as anybuddy else’s round here?”

“Jest as good as fur as I know, and mebbie better,” replied the widow, coquettishly, and with that Captain Jed took on a more cheerful look and passed out.

While proposal number three was in operation a bit of exciting news had found its way to the lighthouse. Mart Haley, wharf employee and fisherman, while scudding past in his dory, had sought to put Captain Caleb on the anxious seat, and had succeeded better than he knew.

“If I was you,” he shouted, “I’d keep a weather eye on the Widder! I jest see ol’ Cap’n Jed hangin’ roun’ there!”

Mart Haley passed on, and Captain Caleb climbed the stairs in search of the spy-glass. For fully twenty minutes he kept it leveled on the cottage of Angelina Berry. At last his efforts were rewarded. He saw Captain Jed emerge from the house and head toward the village center.

“The sly ol’ skate!” he growled, “I’ve suspected somethin’ was up with him for a long while back. He ain’t been himself lately. Now I know why the back of that magazine got broke, an’ why the page advertisin’ them suits is so dirty. He’s a-goin’ to git a new suit from that Boston store to do his courtin’ in, the ol’ cat-fish!

Waal, two can play at that game,” and straightaway Captain Caleb set about measuring himself, according to directions, for a new suit.

The time limit was well nigh up. Captain Caleb’s visits ashore had been few owing to the fact that Captain Jed had ignored his signals. The latter had dropped in on the widow several occasions to remind her of her promise. Captain Jonas’s vessel was rumored to be discharging a cargo in New Haven, and, contrary to expectations, was to make a flying trip to the mouth of the river. This promised event gave Captain Caleb and Captain Jed no little concern. The long-looked for clothes were slow in coming, and both Captains had sent letters of inquiry. At last both boxes arrived at the depot and lay in the express office two days before their respective owners were notified. Suspecting the contents of the boxes several of the young men who made the depot a rendezvous managed to erase Captain Jed’s name from his box and placed Captain Caleb’s thereon, and vice-versa with the box assigned to Captain Caleb. The clothes were duly delivered, which chanced to be the day before Angelina Berry was to give her answer to the three impatient lovers.

The trying on of the suits can better be imagined than described. Captain Jed’s flapped round his spare form like bunting around a flag-pole, while Captain Caleb’s fitted him so snugly that he was dared not to sit down for the fear that he’d burst them open.

“After all,” said he, trying to comfort himself, “tight clothes may be the style in Boston. I’ve got to wear ’em termorrer, anyway, an’ (surveying himself in the glass) they probberly look a durn sight better’n they feel.”

Captain Jed, who had difficulty in keeping his suit where it belonged, came to the conclusion that loose clothes were the style in Boston, and decided that by setting the top button over about six inches he would present a very dazzling appearance.

When the two Captains looked out the following morning they were not a little disconcerted at seeing a three-master riding at anchor about a half-mile off the Point wharf. It was the Helen Strong. More determined than ever, Captain Jed pushed his preparations, and by ten o’clock was on his way to the Widow Berry’s. He took a northerly course from his cottage and came down by way of the village, thinking to escape the powerful spy-glass at the lighthouse. Captain Caleb was also on the alert that morning. He had twisted and squirmed into his new clothes, and having secured a shore-man to relieve him, was by ten o’clock pulling cheerily towards the wharf. Every little while he would rise in a vain endeavor to pull his clothes down to where he thought they belonged.

Captain Jonas Strong, however, had stolen the march on both of them by half an hour. About the time his rivals were preparing to leave their places of abode he was knocking at the Widow Berry’s door. The latter swung open and the portly but well-dressed form of Mart Haley, dock-master and freight agent at the Point wharf, appeared over the threshold. Captain Jonas took a step backward in his astonishment.

“Good mornin’ Cap’n Jonas!” he cried, to that surprised individual,  “it’s right glad I am to see you. Sure you’re just in time for the weddin’, man.”

“Weddin’? Weddin’? What weddin’” queried the skipper.

“What weddin’ is it, you say! Why whose weddin’ could it be but me an’ the Widow Berry’s, of course? Oh, but you’ve been away, Cap’n Jonas an’ you haven’t heard the good news. Well, me an’ the Widdy have decided to partner up, an’ it’s right glad we’d be to have you look in on the doin’s.”

The Captain’s face grew dark and menacing for a moment, while he looked first at the tidy house and then at his ship in the harbor. Turning again to the beaming man in the doorway he said:

“No thank you, Mart, not today. I jest merely stepped ashore to tell Mrs. Berry that I would have brung her them Virginny oysters as I promised, but they wouldn’t keep. You kin tell her that for me, Mart, an’ give her my congratulations,” and whirling about the Captain strode from the yard.

With a puzzled look on his face the prospective bridegroom re-entered the house to deliver the message. Captain Jonas had gone but a few yards when he met Captain Caleb who was making a sorry attempt at hiding behind a tree.

“Hello, shipmate!” he called cheerily, to the keeper of the light, “I see you are all togged out for the weddin’!”

“What weddin’?” gasped Captain Caleb.

“Why, the Widder Berry’s an’ Mart Haley, haven’t you heard about it?”

“I ain’t heard about no weddin’,” gulped Captain Caleb.

“You don’t say? Why I s’posed ev’rybuddy round here knowed it; it’s all over Christendom. I’ve knowed it for quite a spell, an’ I’ve jest been up to congratulate her. You’d better foller suit; it’s the proper thing to do.”

Captain Caleb appeared crushed, and looked longingly toward the lighthouse. By this time Captain Jed was seen cautiously approaching from the opposite direction. He appeared to be lost in his clothes.

“I reckon here’s another one who ain’t heerd about the weddin’,” laughed Captain Jonas, looking the new-comer over quizzically. “Heave to, there, Cap’n Jed, where you bound?”

If Captain Caleb was an object of mirth Captain Jed was more so. He was too flustered to speak coherently. He looked first at Captain Jonas and then at the bursting form of Captain Caleb.

“I – I jest had a little errant to – to Widder Berry’s,” he gasped. “What – what did you say about a weddin’?”

Captain Jonas wasted no time in making his acquaintance with the facts. The two shore Captains eyed each other curiously.

“I – I guess you have got my clothes, an’ – an’ I’ve got yourn’,” squeaked Captain Jed, the truth dawning upon him.

“I’ve got my own clothes,” snapped Captain Caleb.

“Well, I’d advise you both to trade even to boot,” suggested Captain Jonas. “It looks to me as though both of you expected to be the bridegroom, but you didn’t make your landin’ soon enough. How about it, Cap’n Jed?”

“Well, I – I did have an app’intment,” admitted Captain Jed.

“An’ you, Cap’n Caleb?”

“Well, I s’pose I might as well out with it, I had an app’intment, too.”

“Well,” chuckled Captain Jonas, “I’ll be honest, I thought I had one, too, but it looks as though all of us was beatin’ on the wrong tack. Now shall we all go to the weddin’, or shall we go aboard the Helen Strong an’ have a day of it?

“Go aboard!” thundered the two shore Captains in unison.

“All right, an’ when you two fellers git aboard for heaven’s sake swap your duds; they’s been an awful mix-up somewhere. It’s lucky for you the Widder Berry didn’t see you rigged out in that canvas.”

Locking arms the three Captains swung about and headed for the wharf. Once aboard the three-master the jovial skipper did the honors as only a jovial skipper can. With Captain Caleb and Captain Jed seated at the table he rose and sang them the following toast:

                    “O, I know of Captains Three,

                     And a jolly crew they be;

                    They can sail a craft with wind abaft,

                     To any far countree.

                     But they can’t make love, no, no,

                    Where the shoreward breezes blow;

                    So they’s better keep astride the deep,

                    And let all the widders go;

                    So they’s better keep astride the deep,

                    And let all the widders go!”

 

 

The two shore Captians now being familiar with the words, and recognizing the old-time air, joined in the chorus:

                    But we can’t make love, no, no,

                    Where the shoreward breezes blow;

                    So we’d better keep astride the deep,

                    And let all the widders go;

                    So we’d better keep astride the deep,

                    And let all the widders go!”