The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-11-07

!. uttered the last sentence, caused the bloc
: to chill through the veins, and rush like
: cataract upon their hearts.
Morane, finding that remonstrancs wa
, vain, consented for them to retire, BY them
selves, the man Of want having quieted thei,
fears that no harm should befall the lady.
There, said ho, as he olsscd the dool
after them, have you any knowledge ol
thisT presenting her at the same time Q
gold ring.
YES il Is the one my husband Wort
away, and would have given thousands to
see It return on the same hand but now !
am convinced he Ia among the unknelled
victims that feed tho monsters Of the deep.
'How long is II since your husbands do
| partureT
Fourteen years. ...--s
Gould you recognize him after 50 long
an absenceT
Most certainly could. Ifhis features
are TO changed, just behind the thumb on
bis left wrist, his name is inscribed in un-
fading characters; in that cannot be de-
ceived.'
'Read that, said the stranger, as he gave
her his callous hand.
The lady was just able to read David Pot
ter, and sunk exhausted by her agitated feel
ings. The noise Of her fall brought Morane
into the apartment, with several Of tho wed.
ding guests, who had now arrived, and be-
holding Mrs. Potter senseless upon the floor,
supposins some violence had been done to
her person, they ordered the supposed ruiiian
to leave the house Immediately. In vain
did he protest his innocence. lie was seized
and iorcibly dragged out. As soon as Mrs.
p. had recovered sufficiently to speak,
'Mcrciiul Ileaven' exclaimed the anxious
lady, where is my husband? where is Capt.
Potter? Do l dream or is it reality?'
The woman is mad, said one.
'IIer brain is crazed, cried another.
Itis the wild impulse Of Dream con-
tnued third.
Capt. Potter, who had been thus forcibly
dragged from his own house, was at length
called back to the scene from which hc had
been compelled, though reluctantly, to re-
tire. The priest who by this time had ar
rived, was oyerjoyed to see his old friend,
the Captain.
Rejoice said hc to Mrs. Potter, 'thy
husband was dead, and Is alivc-was lost,
and is found
Capt. Potter now requested all to be scat
ed. that he might make known to them the
story of his long absence. Order was soon
restored, and he proceed as follows:
you behold in mo the same Captain Pot
ter who has been an unwilling exile from
home for fourteen years. l was captured
by an Algerine pirate ship, near the Island
of Malta, and compelled to serve those vile
hordes. Oh how hard is servitude among
a people whose tendercst mcrcics are cruel.
was forced to labor at the oar, and from
fatigue, could no longer grasp 1.-THE
muscles Of my wrists were scared with hot
brick, until my hands were immombly
clcnched. Isighed for death to come, and
remove my insupportablc load. Every year
seemed an age, 50 tardily did the wheels Of
time move along. At length, by treaty
with the United States, the Dcy of Algicrs
was required to release all American slaves.
Being set at liberty, embarked for this
country we encountered furious gale.
which drove the vessel on desert Island.
Here all the crew perishcd except four, who
were taken Of by merchant ship, in state
of inscnsibility. The vessel which rescued
us was bound to the East Indies. On her
return to Liverpool, l was pressed on board
a man-of.war, and compelled to serve three
years before could make my escape.
From the moment learned this intended
marriage, resolved to surprise you in the
manner you have seen. You saw me weep
at the sight Of you, my own Mary; they
were tears Of joy. Having suffered incrcdi-
BILE hardships both by sea and land, l stand
before you in these tattered garments, with
a broken constitution, rendered infrm by
intense bodily exercise, yet rejoicing that
am permitted to stand among my former
friends, and in the land Of the free And,
said the storm-beaten mariner, addressing
himself to his wife, 'if you prefer this gen.
tlcman, whom you were about to wed, all
sh.ll be right; if you prefer your former
husband, hc will be happy in your choice.
Poor Morane sat like one forlorn ho at
tempted to appear Indifferent, but retired
US soon US the forms Of ceremony would per-
nit. His career was short; he came to the
grave q wretched inebriate, in few short
years.
On the following day, Capt. Potter invit-
ed his friends and acquaintance to meet
him at his country seat. The scene was one
oilively interest, and the company returned
home with this salutary lesson indelibly
stamped upon their minds. Never, never to
forsakc those in adycrsity.
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