The Columbian fountain., 1846-03-02
THE WATERWAYS ARMS.
A TALE OF DOVER.
BY WARD f. WE L d.
Continued.

But without waiting for speech, she ex-
pressed her own kind feelings, regardless of
the presence of others now drawing Alice
towards her, clasping her as though she
never would release her, again holding her
at arms length, and looking upon her as
though doubtful of her identity kissing,
laughing, crying, talking, all in breath,
while the recipient Of all these kind atten-
tons, amid her bushes, looked far from
being one who ever did or ever could
smile coquettishly. Twas heavens own
smile she wore now and, as for Meg, she
was not now the landlady of the Water
mans Arms-her !" occupation was gone,"
she was mere woman. Her heart was
touched as she felt the girl she had reared,
scolded, petted and loved, was now no
longer hers. Like thousands Of her sex,
she seldom troubled her own heart, till from
laying idle it had rusted, or acquired, as it
were, an incrustation. But the work Of
years was dissolved in moment, and the
crust removed ed-there was the kernel as
warm, as pure, as kind as ever.
However, she recovered that is to say,
she awoke from this heavenly trance to
feel she was mortal, and that mortals were
present to witness these bursts of affection.
I" Why Alice! only think of it, before
the men!'' But Alice did not flee their
presence. Her ordeal was not over, and
she quietly remained by the side of her
husband to receive fathers blessing or
wither beneath his frown.
Who could be present at scene like this
and not feel awkward !? The old man stood
with his glass under his arm, with face
as stern as Nelson's quartermaster, and as
speechless as mummy, chilling all except
Meg, who, with her warm heart and happy
feelings, would have melted an iceberg.
There was no keeping her still, for her GU
riosity was aroused, and as she said, she
meant to know all about it -awhen, where,
how, and who married them y and in her
JOY, she emulated kitten in antics, running
from one to the other, and returned only to
consciousnessupon receiving hearty smack
from the lips of the bridegroom, rendered
in exchange for gift similar, though only
a mere shade more delicate, which, the mo-;
ment before, she had unconsciously bestow-
ed on him.
"Put stop to this foolery tell you
the tide serves and away with you to the
boat,'' said the stern old man.
sBut, father, one kind word first ask
it for my WIFE"
"Aye!" {" said all present.
HWell, well-it can't be helped, so God
bless you both; and now, boy, say good
bye to your wife, and be lively in getting
aaoat."
''No, let him stay and take my next
chance-l'll take his now. owe them
both good turn, for my i'll manners awhile
ago." interrupted the one whose rudeness
had brought about the reimbursement.
''You have all said goodbye to your
wives-a pilots turn is his turn, married or
single; and in the boat my son goes!"
CHAPTER II.
The harbor of Dover, one of the Cinque-
ports, owes its safety more to art than ma
ture; and in storms, like the one we have
described, is inaccessible, though once with
in its docks, the weather-bound mariner
may rest in security. Two long piers, half
a cables length apart, stretch into the sea
these form the harbor's mouth, and to be
in harbor there, is to be in dock, as stout
walls, with massive gates, are built from
pier to pier, forming basins, much like
those we see in the construction of our
own canals. Upon the end of one of these
piers stood frame lighthouse, containing
all illuminated clock, which, in addition to
telling the hour, told the time Of high water.
At the period these piers were constructed,
there was clean bottom and deep water at
their outer extremities, but now, from the
repeated force of storms, there was accu-
mulated a sand bank, which rendered ac-
cess, except in smooth weather and high
water, matter attended with danger and
difficulty though not whit less so would
be the attempt at egress.
AT this time the sea literally broke over
the pier heads, and from pier to pier, and
as far as the eye could penetrate in the
gloom, rolled one confused mass of break
ers. Huge overgrown seas came rolling
in, heaving their snowy ciests aloft, as if
conscious of their might, while their APP
proach was heralded by deafening roar
As they dashed against the pier head the
light house would become yelled from view
for the moment, while in the next its sickly
glare fell on sea Of whitened foam.
But here are the boats crew we were so