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foreigners of all kindsbut the Latin variety of foreigner in
particularCaptain Zelotes Snow cherished a detest which was
almost fanatic。
And now his daughter； his own Janie； was receiving ardent love
letters from a play…acting foreigner； a Spaniard； a 〃Portygee；〃 a
〃macaroni…eater〃！ When finally convinced that it was true； that
the letters had really been written to Jane； which took some time；
he demanded first of all to be shown the 〃Portygee。〃 Miss
Donaldson could not； of course； produce the latter forthwith； but
she directed her irate visitor to the theater where the opera
company was then performing。 To the theater Captain Zelotes went。
He did not find Speranza there； but from a frightened attendant he
browbeat the information that the singer was staying at a certain
hotel。 So the captain went to the hotel。 It was eleven o'clock in
the morning； Senor Speranza was in bed and could not be disturbed。
Couldn't； eh？ By the great and everlasting et cetera and continued
he was going to be disturbed then and there。 And unless some of
the hotel's 〃hired help〃 set about the disturbing it would be done
for them。 So； rather than summon the police； the hotel management
summoned its guest； and the first； and only； interview between the
father and lover of Jane Snow took place。
It was not a long interview； but it was spirited。 Captain Zelotes
began by being what he considered diplomatic。 Having assured his
wife before leaving home； and the alarmed Miss Donaldson
subsequently； that there was to be no trouble whatevereverything
would be settled as smooth and easy as slidin' downhill； 〃that
feller won't make any fuss； you'll see〃having thus prophesied；
the captain felt it incumbent upon himself to see to the
fulfillment。 So he began by condescendingly explaining that of
course he was kind of sorry for the young man before him； young
folks were young folks and of course he presumed likely 'twas
natural enough； and the like of that； you understand。 But of
course also Mr。 Speranza must realize that the thing could not go
on any further。 Jane was his daughter and her people were nice
people； and naturally； that being the case； her mother and he would
be pretty particular as to who she kept company with； to say
nothing of marrying； which event was not to be thought of for ten
years； anyway。 Now he didn't want to beerpersonal or anything
like that； and of course he wouldn't think of saying that Mr。
Speranza wasn't a nice enough man forwell； forfor 。 。 。 You
see； everybody wasn't as particular as he and Mrs。 Snow were。 But
Here Senor Speranza interrupted。 He politely desired to know if
the person speaking was endeavoring to convey the idea that he；
Miguel Carlos Speranza； was not of sufficient poseetion； goodness；
standing； what it is？ to be considered as suitor for that person's
daughter's hand。 Did Meester Snow comprehend to whom he addressed
himself？
The interview terminated not long after。 The captain's parting
remark was in the nature of an ultimatum。 It was to the effect
that if Speranza； or any other condemned undesirable like him；
dared to so much as look in the direction of Jane Olivia Snow； his
daughter； he personally would see that the return for that look
was a charge of buckshot。 Speranza； white…faced and furiously
gesticulative； commanded the astonished bellboy to put that 〃Bah！
pig…idiot！〃 out into the hall and air the room immediately
afterward。
Having； as he considered； satisfactorily attended to the presumptuous
lover； Captain Zelotes returned to the school and to what he
believed would be the comparatively easy task； the bringing of his
daughter to reason。 Jane had always been an obedient girl； she was
devoted to her parents。 Of course； although she might feel rather
disappointed at first； she would soon get over it。 The idea that
she might flatly refuse to get over it； that she might have a will
of her own； and a determination equal to that of the father from
whom she inherited it； did not occur to the captain at all。
But his enlightenment was prompt and complete。 Jane did not rage
or become hysterical； she did not even weep in his presence。 But；
quietly； with a set of her square little chin； she informed Captain
Zelotes that she loved Speranza； that she meant to marry him and
that she should marry him； some day or other。 The captain raged；
commanded； pleaded； begged。 What was the matter with her？ What
had come over her？ Didn't she love her father and mother any more
that she should set out to act this way？ Yes； she declared that
she loved them as much as ever； but that she loved her lover more
than all the world； and no onenot even her parentsshould
separate them。
Captain Zelotes gave it up at last。 That is； he gave up the appeal
to reason and the pleadings。 But he did not give up the idea of
having his own way in the matter； being Zelotes Snow； he certainly
did not give that up。 Instead he took his daughter home with him
to South Harniss； where a tearful and heart…broken Olive added her
persuasions to his。 But； when she found Jane obdurate； Mrs。 Snow
might have surrendered。 Not her husband； however。 Instead he
conceived a brilliant idea。 He was about to start on a voyage to
Rio Janeiro； he would take his wife and daughter with him。 Under
their immediate observation and far removed from the influence of
〃that Portygee；〃 Jane would be in no danger and might forget。
Jane made no remonstrance。 She went to Rio and returned。 She was
always calm； outwardly pleasant and quiet； never mentioned her
lover unless in answer to a question； but she never once varied
from her determination not to give him up。 The Snows remained at
home for a month。 Then Zelotes； Jane accompanying him； sailed from
Boston to Savannah。 Olive did not go with them； she hated the sea
and by this time both she and her husband were somewhat reassured。
So far as they could learn by watchful observation of their
daughter； the latter had not communicated with Speranza nor
received communications from him。 If she had not forgotten him it
seemed likely that he had forgotten her。 The thought made the
captain furiously angry； but it comforted him； too。
During the voyage to Savannah this sense of comfort became
stronger。 Jane seemed in better spirits。 She was always obedient；
but now she began to seem almost cheerful； to speak； and even laugh
occasionally just as she used to。 Captain Zelotes patted himself
on the back； figuratively。 His scheme had been a good one。
And in Savannah； one afternoon； Jane managed to elude her father's
observation； to leave the schooner and to disappear completely。
And that night came a letter。 She and Miguel Carlos Speranza had
been in correspondence all the time； how or through whose
connivance is a mystery never disclosed。 He had come to Savannah；
in accordance with mutual arrangement； they had met； were married；
and had gone away together。
〃I love you； Father；〃 Jane wrote in the letter。 〃I love you and
Mother so very； VERY much。 Oh； PLEASE believe that！ But I love
him； too。 And I could not give him up。 You will see why when you
know him； really know him。 If it were not for you I should be SO
happy。 I know you can't forgive me now； but some day I am sure you
will forgive us both。〃
Captain Zelotes was far； far from forgiveness as he read that
letter。 His first mate； who was beside him when he opened and read
it； was actually frightened when he saw the look on the skipper's
face。 〃He went white；〃 said the mate； 〃not pale； but white； same
as a dead man； oror the underside of a flatfish； or somethin'。
'For the Lord sakes； Cap'n；' says I； 'what's the matter？' He never
answered me； stood starin' at the letter。 Then he looked up； not
at me； but as if somebody else was standin' there on t'other side
of the cabin table。 'Forgive him！' he says； kind of slow and under
his breath。 'I won't forgive his black soul in hell。' When I
heard him say it I give you my word my hair riz under my cap。 If
ever there was killin' in a man's voice and in his looks 'twas in
Cap'n Lote's that night。 When I asked him again what was the
matter he didn't answer any more than he had the first time。 A few
minutes afterwards he went into his stateroom and shut the door。 I
didn't see him again until the next mornin'。〃
Captain Zelotes made no attempt to follow the runaway couple。 He
did take pains to ascertain that they were legally married； but
that was all。 He left his schooner in charge of the mate at
Savannah and journeyed north to South Harniss and his wife。 A week
he remained at home with her； then returned to the Olive S。 and
took up his command and its duties as if nothing had happened。 But
what had happened changed his whole life。 He became more taciturn；
a trifle less charitable； a little harder and more worldly。 Before
the catastrophe he had been interested in business success and the
making of money chiefly because of his plans for his daughter's
future。 Now he worked even harder because it helped him to forget。
He became sole owner of the Olive S。； then of other schooners。
People spoke of him as one destined to become a wealthy man。