A Yankee's Proposal of Marriage.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue II, 11 January 1902, Page 68

A Yankee's Proposal of Marriage.

"Captain Martin, of the liner Gaelic. was a man of many experiences; but a fresh one eame to him when Silas Z. Crackston proposed for his daughter Susan. It was not only that Mr Crackston was a millionaire—in pounds, not dollars—but the Captain had never previously had such a suggestion made to him; and the suitor's manner was unconventional, at least from a Britisher's point of view. "‘Say, skipper.” the American said one evening as the two paced the bridge deck together after dinner—“say, skipper, that's a daisy girl of yours you have aboard this trip.” "She's been well brought up," assented Martin, "though I've had anxious times about her since I lost her poor mother: but you are a widower yourself. Mr Crackston, and know what that means to a man." "Nou bet,’’ the other answered, with more feeling than the words seemed to imply: "but when I get down to bed-rock of the thing I reckon I'm not sorry sometimes my Priscilla didn't leave me chick nor child. She was a p’ain woman, was Priscilla; and I calculate my cash and her babies would have been a tough team to drive togethe- nowadays." "1 he sailor laughed- "Mell." he retorted. "I know nothing about that, never having had money enough to make trouble that fashion. If I had Susan would know well enough how to handle any she had to do with. She s all there, though I sav it mvself." "I guessed that."Crackston answered in his deliberate drawl, "which is just why I think. Captain, me and you might make a bit of a deal about her." The ether flicked the ash of his cigar ever the rail and stared at his companion, but did not answer. The master of a ship carrying millionaire passengers soon learns that silence is golden. 'I guess. the speaker continued in a perfectly level voice, "you'd be glad, now, to see Miss Susan w'ell married and settled down?" That s so. replied the skipper: it s in the natural order of things. Not but that I'd be sorrv to lose her." “Yup," concurred the millionaire, "that s the right thing to say: but you see I'm on the other side of the fence—l’ve made my pile, and a fairish one. too. as you know. Captain—and I rather reckon what I want now is a wife with tone to help spend my income. And I think Miss Susan's just the gurl to do it. and get the value for it every time." "T ou want to marry her?'’ "That is my notion. Captain. I’d settle what you please on het: ami if you’d a fancy to drop the sea and start shipowning ash :re 1 guess there ain't no impediment to the money she’d have bein' put into shippin". Is it a deal?” Martin was much perturbed. \ better match fina cially he could hardly hope for: and. spite of the prosaic way in which Mr Silas Z. < raekston s business instincts had led him to put the matter, he knew the American for a man w ho would make an indulgent husband for his daughter. But there were difficulties, and the Captain hesitated. ”1 never took stock in family myself.” the ether continued, noting his uoubt. but if that's in your mind I calculate it s obtainable. There was a man of my name in the Mayflower; and if you say the word I'll ’send an order to the right place for the alltiredest kind of ancestry they hold, and get a pre-emption on the family estates if so be as Susan has a n( i_ tion to be lady sqniress. You can count on Silas Z. every time. Caplain." Tisnt that," Martin said at ength: "and if she chose to take you I wouldn t stand in the wav: but *’ "I jump." interpolated the Ameri•an. quickly; "there's another man?" "I wouldn't just say outright; but I have my suspicions." So. ( raekston was all alertness. 'Then he's got to be worked. I'm tot the kind to let a little thing like hat stand in my way. Who is he?" “ The Salving of Susan Martin," in "Chambers' Journal.”