A Light Cargo. . .

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 150, 16 May 1903, Page 12

A Light Cargo. . .

THE skipper was standing on the deck alternately exchanging compliments with the watchman on the wharf and lairruping the ship's boy with a rope's end, not because he had done anything in particular, but just to keep a lad who had his living to earn from getting above himself. As a matter of fact, the old man was a bit short in his temper that morning, because he had been waiting the inside of a week for a cargo. Turning round to address the watchman after planting an artistic flick on the boy's trousers, he encountered the school girl standing on the edge of the wharf, and shyly swinging her satchel. ''I beg your pardon for interrupting you," she said, looking at him with a pair of frank, blue eyes, and speaking with girlish diffidence. The old man removed the quid in his mouth from one oheek to the other as a mark of respect and attention. "Well, my dear. What can I do for you?" he asked. ''I wonder if you would mind telling me," she began in a rather faltering voice ; "but perhaps you're busy ?" ''Allus time to speak to a lady. Won't you come aboard ?" said the skipper, arranging an empty soap box for her to sit on. Neither of his wives could deny that he had a soft tongue for the women. The girl stepped slhyly aboard, and sat on the edge of the soap box, while the skipper stood expectant. "Can you tell me how long it would take you to take thirty tons of coals to Cardiff?" she asked. The skipper smelt a cargo. "From here?" "Ye — es, from London, you know." "Well, it might, be a matter of five days — or six for the laying in." "Oh, I sice. Six days, if it were sent here in carts and things," said the girl, thoughtfully. "I could quote you a freightage for the thirty tons to Cardiff," suggested the skipper with an eye to business.

"Oh, thank you s>o much , that's just what I wanted," 1 epked the schoolgirl, smiling sweetly at him, and taking out a pencil. "Well," said the skipper tentatively, with a view to a hasty climb down. "Suppose we say fourteen pound ten and have all good and complete," he added to give a business flavour to the proposal. The school-girl sucked her nencil thoughtfully, and glanced at her notebook. "That's much less than they seemed to think." she said half to herself. "You see, I'm an honest man," said the skipper, with inward regrets. "'Eire, 'Aw kins, tell 'em to get the bunkers ready." "I suppose if you took a day or two longer, it might cost £25?" she said inquiringly. ''Well," said the skipper, taken aback, but just managing to rise to the oocasion, "We'll take a day or two longer, and charge £25." "Ah that's better," said the schoolgirl. The skipper gasped that he thought it was better too. "Now can you tell me," said the school -girl, "how much less it would be if there -were only twenty-nine tons eighteen hundredweight and three quarters?" The skipper shook his head. "It wouldn't be no less " he said "But, su/rely, it must be less p " said the sohool-girl. "No. we couldn't make any reduction on taking a quantity," said the skipper, with a further recollection of business terms. "I don't understand," the schoolgirl murmured, glancing at her notebook. "Oh, it's only as per usual," said the skipper. The sohool-girl mused for a moment. "And isn't it rather funny to take coals to Cardiff? Don't coals generally come from Cardiff?" she asked "Well, they do, in a manner of

speaking," said the skipper. "But that wouldn't make any difference to the terms." "You are sure of that?" asked the school-girl. ''Oh, no. We shouldn't make it no moie " said the skipper, generously. "May I ask, my dear, 'oo you come from." ' I don't think," said the scthool-girl, "that you ought to say 'my dear.' YouVe already done it once. You see, I really hardly know you." The watchman, who had poined the group, gave a loud "Hee, hee," much disturbing the skipper's dignity. However, in view of the cargo, he contented himself with calling him a "puttyfaced swab," and turned to the schoolgirl. "And when shall we expect 'em ?" he asked getting to business. "What?" asked the school-girl, with great surprise. "The coals." "Oh, the. coals — they aren't coming," she replied, sweetly. "Then, what the " began the skipper "I see you don't understand. The coals aren't real coals, they're imaginary coals." The skipper said several thing® in a loud voice about the coals, ending up with, a wish that he might "eat 'em, and 'cap 'em on 'er head." The school-girl rose with, quiet dignity. "I must say I cannot see any reason why you should be so angry," she said. "You said you weren't busy. and I thought you might help me. Of course I wouldn't have asked you if I had known that it would have annoyed you." The watchman gurgled and the skipper threw a martin spike at him. "You see," proceeded the school-girl, producing her sum-book, with, an air of complete justification, "here it is. If it costs £25 to carry thirty tons of coals from London to Cardiff, how much will it cost to carry 29 tons 18cwts. and 3 quarters ?" Them, she stepped on to the wharf, and strolled off with a demeanour suggestive of being much wounded and disappointed, while the skipper gazed at

her retreating back with feedings that even a full and eclectic vocabulary failed to express. It was uaifortunte for the elhip's boy that he ahould have chosen that moment to come up and announce that the bunkers were ready. — Harold White, in "To-day."

Mrs. A. L. Wilson, of Watson-street, has gone on a holiday visat to Auckland and Rotorua. The Rangitikei Hunt Club bail is to be held on June 12th (Friday), and the Point to Poin,t Steeplechase will come off on the following day. Dr. and Mrs. Martin leave Wellington on the Kith instant, in order to winter in Japan, thus missing the coldest of our winter months. Their little son will remain with his grandmother, Mrs. Rose. • • * I hear that Mr. and Mrs Percy Baldwin are returning by the North German liner Prince Regent Luitpold. leaving England on April 22nd. It is timed to arrive art Sydney an June 14 Hon. Walter and Mrs. Johnston leave shortly for Sydney. ♦ ♦ • The College Rifles have issued invitations for their annual birthday ball, to be held in the Sydney-street Schoolroom, on Friday, 29th instant. • * * Mr. Arthur Pearce leaves by the Athenic on a business trip to England. * * ♦ Miss Duncan (Wangaaiui) is on a \isit to Wellington. • • • Mr. and Mrs. Napier-Bell have gone to Napier. It is hoped that the milder climate will be beneficial for the latter's health. ♦ • ♦ Miss Fitzherbert (Hutt) has been visiting Mrs. J. H. Coleman (Napier). * * • The engagement is announced of Miss Vera Wilson, youngest daughter of Mr. H C. Wilson, Bluff Hill to Mr. F. Price, of Waipawa, and son of Mr. Price Poranghau, Hawke's Bay. • ♦ ♦ Miss Jessie Griffiths has leturned home to Wanganui. * * * Mrs. Frank Loughnan has been visiting her cousin, Mrs. Sinclair Thompson, Dunedin. •* * * A marriage of more than usual interest was solemnised at St. Paul's ProCathedral on Tuesday, May 12th, when Mr. Guy Powles, eldest son of Mr. C. P Powles, a well-known resident of Wellington, was married to Miss Jessie Richaiidson, eldest daughter of Mr. C. T. Richardson, also of Wellington. Many guests and friends witnessed the ceremony, which was performed by the Rev. T. H. Sprott, and the bride, who was given away by her father, looked very lovely in her wedding gown of rich ivory duchesse. The skirt was trained, and finished with a deep flounce, and the bodice prettily draped with moxissehne de soie, the graceful sleeves being of that material also. Her beautifully-embroidered veil was worn over a wreath of ora.nee flowers,

and she cairied a showei bouquet of w lute roses and maidenhair. * * # Two sisters of the bude (the Misses Rebe and X Richardson) were her bridesmaids, wearing graceful and becoming gow ns of ivory canvas voile, slightly trained, with wide insertions of Fans Lace, and quaint hanging sleeves, scarlet hats, and bouquets the same shade, tied with scarlet satin ribbons, gave a touch of colour that was delightful for a winter wadding. Mr. Allen (Levin) acted as best man, and Mr. Keeling as groomsman. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" was played by Mr. Robert Parker, organist of St. Paul's, and the bridal party drove to the Syd-ney-street Schoolroom, where a large number of guests- were received bv Mr. and Mrs. Richardson. * * ■* The hall had been furnished as i drawing-room, bright fires burned c'heeifulJy, and rugs, chesterfields, and palms were artistically arranged. The bride and bridegroom received the w ann congratulations of thear many friends, and tihew health was proposed by the Rev. T H Sprott, and drunk with musical honours. The bridegroom responded in a few appropriate words. Delicious tea was handed round, and some excellent music was enjoyed, songs being sung by Mrs. B. Wilson, Miss Phoebe Parsons, Miss Ethel Parsons, and Miss Howard, of Auckland Later in the afternoon Mr. and Mrs. G. G. Powles left on their honeymoon, the bride's travelling dress being a smart tailormade of green cloth, made with pleated bolero, opening over a dainty vest of lace, and a large picture hat. * # » Mrs. Richardson (mother of the bride) wore black brocade, and carried a charming bouquet. Mrs. C. P. Powles (the bridegroom's mother) was in black, relieved with white. The Mifeses Pow les wore stylish gowns of green cloth, w T ith deep collairs of panne velvet. Mrs. P. Smith was in a dark gown and black hat. Miss Greenwood wore black, Mrs. Geoffrey Kemp, a long grey braided coat a pretty gown, and felt hat with violets. Miss Atkinson wore a black tailor-made gownMiss Edwards, a chaiming gown of pale green silk. Mis. Spiott wore a handsome black gown and a black velvet coatee. Miss J. Blundell wore a> dark blue voile, relieved with lace. Miss Howard (Auckland) had on a stylish black costume, and hat with tips. Mrs. J M. Richardson wore a handsome black gown, with a* touch of violet and a pretty bouquet of lilac flow ers and autumn leaves. Miss G Richardson, in white cloth go<wn, and large white hat, with birds and black velvet. Miss W. Richardson wore a pretty gown of white zibeline flecked with black, and a blue chiffon hat

Mrs. Parsons was in black, Miss Phoebe Parsons, a dark green, gown. Miss Ethel Parsons wore red. Mrs. G. Parsons wore a dark gown, effectively trimmed with orange velvet, and a hat the same shade. Mrs. B. Wilson, was in a pretty Russian costume, with wide collar of panne velvet, and hait to match. Miss Mabel Brown wore a gown of violet cloth, and ha<t to match. Miss M. Barber looked well in red, and a black hat., with tip 6. A pretty black voile gown was worn by Mrs. A. Meek. Mrs. W. Meek wore cornflower blue; Missi Dixon, a green costume ; the Misses Fleming, dark tailor-made gowns, and becoming bright hats. Mrs. Adams wore a sage greien gown and furs. • • • Mr. and Mrs. G. G. Powles' home for the next few months will be in the Taranaki district. * * * One of the prettiest weddings celebrated recently was solemnised at the Wesleyan Church, TaranaJn-street, on Wednesday, April 29th, the contracting parties being Mr. George Edwin Bow les, eldest -son of Mr. George Edwin Bowle&, of the Railway Department, Auckland, and Miss Louie Agnes Wilton, eildesit daughter of Mr. E. W. Wilton,, of Wellington. The bride wore a handsome gown of white tucked silk, trimmed with silk lace and insertions and sprays of orange blossoms, and carried a beautiful shower 1 bouquet. A wreath, of orange nowers and tulle veil completed the toilette. * * * There u ere six bridesmaids in attendance Miss Dean Wilton (chief) and Miss Violet Bowles (sister of the bridegroom) wore grey silk voale dresses, \Mth chiffon trimmings, and pink chiffon hats, carrying pretty bouquets to correspond. Misses Lily and Violet Wilton wore dainty cream, tussore silk dresses, with Pans insertion, and pink chiffon losettes, and large white felt hats. They also carried pretty bouquets. The Misses Hilda and Alma Wilton wore pale pink silk frocks, with Valenciennes lace and insertion, white silk hats, and baskets of pink and white flowers. • • • The bridegroom's present to the bride was a handsome gold chain, to the senior bridesmaids gold and pearl brooches, and to the younger ones gold dove brooches. Mr. H. J. Burd acted as best man, and Mr. W. Otho W. Wilton as groomsman. After the oeremonv, which was performed by the Rev. W. C. Oliver, a large number of guests were entertained at a reception at Melbourne House, Cuba-street. Mrs. E. Wilton (mother of the bride) wore a noh, black brocade, trimmed with white satin, and black guipure. Mrs. G. E. Bowles (mother of the bridegroom) was attired' in black silk voile, with ecru trimming and insertion. The bride's travelling gown was a rich red Melton cloth, with black silk ecru trimmings, and a hat en suite.