Page 127 - 1921 VES Meteor

"Oh !"
TnE llbTEOR
9
"Ycs, she was with the Captain when the boat struck. ){other was very fond of the Captain." The boy spoke 50ftly, studying his toes as they splashed, numb and blue, through the icy water.
The sailor started-the lines in his face grew taut--he gazed at the boy's back in a sullen way.
"So that woman was your mother," he muttered softly to himself. "That dame what caused the whole thing, what was the talk of• the whole ship for being seen in the Cap'n's quarters. Her what kept the Cap'n off his duty-what lost tho ship-what caused me to lose the best bunk I ever had I" His eyes glowed with a wild light. "And so he's her son, is he. Well, I'll'fix him, and I only wish to God she could see me do it!"
He moYed inch by inch toward the dreaming boy, eyes staring fanatically, arm upraised.
"So you're her son, are ye ?"
The boy leaped up, startled, but seeing only the sailor> re-
Sl'nted l1imself. ·~,
"Ycs," he spoke almost inaudibly, "you see, the Captain
was my father." And he dragged his feet in the water once more.
w. s. W I L S O N .