Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-05-05
THE LOVERS srRATAGEM.

1t was one morning in the latter par
Of January, 1916, that large numbe
Of the good citizens of the town of New
castle, d laware, were collected on it
landing, or pier, to witness the progress
and ultimate fate, Of a small vessel dow.
the Bay, scuddins under b,re poles
and endeavoriug to make port. Al ont
moment she rose on the crest of the
waves, and the n xt was lost 10 SIGHT ii
the trough OF the sra.
The storm, which had continued
through the night, and still ragged, though
most of its fury was spent, rendered the
chance for the little craft to gain the
harbor extremely pcrilous.
The spray dashed quite over the crowd
of spectators, who s,lil held their places
entirely absorbed in watching her, and
trying, with the aid of glasses, to make
out her name and i stination. New.
castle, at that time, contained a number
of agents of Philadelphia merchants, in
terested in private armed ships, who,
unable to pursue their former trading
during the war, had embarked in the
rather hazardous business of priyateer=
ng. Among thnse stood one whose name
was Chri stan Wernwag, the son of a
Dutch merchant, form rly of Ph ladel-
phia, who had left at his death a veil
established mercantile business to his
hopeful h ir.
Christian, like his father, was of sa-
wing, plod.ling character but his ca
pacity was narrow and his disposition
niggardly.
At last, through tie skill of her helms
man, the little vessel approached the
pier, and was hailed with loud cheers
as sic ran up the American flag.
No sooner was she moored at the wharf
than she was hesieged by crowd of
people, eager to welcome her hardy
crew. She proved to be the schooner
r. O., well known in her time as a sue.
cessful cruiser, and had mede the voyage
safely from Cuhaven, in the North Sea
Christian, who owned share in her,
hurried on board to see the.Cal tain bnt
startt d back on beholding a passenger at
the gangway door, with cloak on, and
a saaIl trunk in his hand The face he
immediately recognized, and at once com.
menced a retreat, bat on the second
thought he stopped, and awaited the
Capt4in's leisure. Meanwhile the pas
senger had gone over The side of the
vessel, and proceeded to the hotel. Or
stage office. a short distance off.
" Il is George Selby, sure enough, y
uttered Christian to himself; " what
could have brought him home at his
time, and in this vessel P,rhaps h.
has come on some speculation which will
make his fortune, and if so, then fare
well to my hope Of Mary Morrison, Bui
| viii find out" and then he ran in haste
to overtake him.
Mr.. Selby, young man of FIVE and
twenty, turned at the approach of Christ
ian, and eyed him more severely than
otherwise, returning his low bow by only
slight, formal nod. Repulsed though
he was, he was still bent on closer ac-
qua ntance; but he did not wish to lose
sight Of the Captain. So, retracing hs
steps, he learned from that officer that
Mr.. Selby had paid him five hundred
dollars for his passage home.
Returning to the town, he found his
way into the presence of Mr.. Selby,
just as that gentleman had engaged a
scat in the mail coach to Philadelphia
Christian, as we have said, was of nar-
row capacity, but he saw clearly the
path of self interest, and always follow
ed it. He was not destitute of speoula-
tive views, and had been heard to pride
himself on superior cunning, though this
boast, among those who knew him, gain
- him M aradit
g Mr. Selby;;" said he, 6 i hardly ey-
pect we can be can be friends; but that
is no reason we should be enemies. We
may be rivals-honorable rivals. If
wealth is on my side, you have other ad-
vantages. But come, let US dine to-
gethar; I am axious to hear the news
from abroad, and perhaps" he added,
with an attempt at a smile, my home
news may be acceptable to you"
His manner was frank and open, and
to say the truth, Selby was anxious to