Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-01-14
4 Grlett .TaIe.
AN oLD-FAsHIONED ELOPEMENT.
A True Story.

In the month of June, 1882, the ship
Fame, Captain Jones, arrived in New York.
from London, and moored at one OF the
docks in the North Biver. Her commander,
George Jones, whom will pass over light
ly, was an Englishman, rough, untutored
and boorish yet he was thorough h-bred
SEAMAN, and a perfectly fitting man to COM
mand the hardy crew under him.
The chief mate, Charles Barton, the hero
of the present sketch, was the only and
cherished son Of wealthy planter from
one of our slave holding States, then decea-
sed. He had been educated in the most
liberal and expensive manner by his father,
who spared neither pains nor expense to
perfect him in any thing he wished TO ac-
quire. AT an early age, and while at Col
lege, Charles acquired-unfortunately, his
father thought-a passion for the sea, which
grew with his growth and strengthened
with his strength, until it became absolute
ly too strong for control, and he de!ermi-
ned TO indulge it, coute qui coute. He was
of a noble, highSpirited nature, very hand
some for man, brave and generous to a
fault and withal his whole existence was
made up of romance. He was never
happy, never contented except he was en-
gagged in some enterprise in which he could
call forth and exercise 10 the full extent
all his powers and energies.
He disappeared suddenly from college,
and after wandering round the world for
three or four years, while his father and
friends mourned his death, returned TO his
native land in time 10 receive his fathers
forgiveness, and 10 take possession of his
estate and fortune, TO the great disappoint-
ment of about fifty cousins. His passion
for the sea, however, did not leave him;
and, having received an offer ofthe berth oi
chief mate ofthe Fame, he left all his affair.
in the hands of a trusty agent and again
went TO sea, and as such we now find hin
in this port.
The vessel had been in four or five days
and the cargo was nearly discharged. i
wasa warm, sultry day, and the men who
had been at work all the morning, were a
their dinner in the forecastle. Captain Jone.
was walking backward and forward on The
quarterback, smoking, and Charles wa
seated aft without his coat, apparently ir
deep thought, his eyes fixed on the deck.
sis the captain on board 2" enquired Z
soft, melodous voice, which caused Captain
Jones to stop suddenly, and turn round to
gaze on the querisi, aroused, and for mo-
ment was utterly paralyzed.
The person who had asked the question
yet unanswered, was a girl apparently
about eighteen, handsomely clad, but of 4
beauty and leveliness that battles my pow.
erS of description. Her hat, which wa.
small, but half concealed the fiaest head ol
glossy jet black hair in the world, which
played in wavy ringets over neck and
shoulders of surprising whiteness and beau
ty. Her forehead was high, and white anc
smooth as Partisan marble. Her eyes wer,
large and dark, and they shot forth an ex.
preston which could not or cannot be ex.
planned by me. II was SO wild, SO sinsu
lar, yet SO beseeching, SO appealing, iba
one could not look upon her or then
without feeling an emotion of pity and al
most reverence.
sis the captain on board ?" repeated !h
young lady, as the captain and his Office
in silence feasted their eyes upon he
charms.
"Yes, ma'am," blunily and half rudel
replied Captain Jones, putting his ciga
and walking close to her, with a lew,
loose air. "They call me captain for th
want Of better"