True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-05-14
Sflttt GaIe.
MARRYING INTHE DARK.
A TRUE STORY.
BY HAKIM,

lu the month of June, 49,, the ship
Fame, Captain Jones, arrived in New
York from London, and moored at one of
the docks in the North river. Her comman-
der, George Jones, an Englshman, whom
Twill pass over lightly, was rough, untu-
tored, and boorsh; yet he was thorough
bred seaman, and perfectly fitting man to
command the hardy crew under him.
=. The chief mate, Charles Barton, the he
70 Of the present sketch, was the only and
cherished son Of a wealty planter from one
Of our slaveholding states, then deceased.
He had been educated in the most liberal
and expensive manner by his father, who
spared neither pains nor expense to perfect
him in anything he wished to acquire. At
an early age, and while at College, Charles
acquired-unfortunately, his father thought
"A passion for the sea, which grew with
his growth and strengthened with his
strength, until it became absolutely too
strong for control, and he determined to in
dulge it, coute qui coute. He was of no.
Bile, high spirited, nature. very handsome
fora man, brave and generous to fault,
and withaI, his whole existence was made
up of romance. He was never happy.
never contented, except when he was en-
gagged in some enterprise in which he would
Gull forth and. exerc Use to tile full extent all
his power and energies. ~
o. 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 to receive his fathers
forgiveness, and to take possession of his
estate, to the great disappointment of q bout
fifty cousins. His passion for the sea
however, did not leave him; and having
received an offer of the berth ofchief mate
Of the Fame, he left all his affairs in the
hands of trusty agent, and again went to
sea, and us such we now find him in this
port. Sac
The vessel had been in four or Eve days,
and the cargo was discharged. 1t was a
warm. sultry day, and the men, who had
been at work all morning, were at their
dinner in The forecaste. Captain Jones
was walking backward and forward on the
quarter deck, smoking, and Charles was
seated aft, without his coat, apparently in
deep thought, his eyes fixed on the deck.
sis the Captain on board!" enquired a
sof, melodious voice, which caused Cap
tain Jones to stop suddenly and turn round
togaze at the querist, aroused and for
moment utterly paralyzed. g., ID,
The person who asked the question, vet
unanswered, was girl, apparently about
eighteen, handsomely clad, butof beauty
that battles my powers of descriptions
Her hat, which was small, but half conceal
ed the finest head of glossy jet black hair
in the world, which played in wavy ring
letsover neck and shoulders of surpass-
ing wiiteness and beauty. Her forehead
was high and white, and smooth as Parian
marble. Her eyes were large and dark,
and they shot forth an expression which
could not nor cannot be described by me.
1t was so wild, SO singular, yet so beseech,
ing. so appealing, that one could not look
upon her or them without feeling an emo
tion Of pity and almost reverence.
"Is the captain on. board!" repeated the
young lady, as the captain and his officer
in silence feasted their eyes upon her
charms. 5
"Yes, ma'am," bluntly and half rudely
replied Capt. Jones, putting his cigar, and
walking close. to her with lewd air
"They call me captain for the want of a
BETTER" ",st-sn ss- .as
l"Willyou marry me, sir!"- inquired the
lady,ss ta 3ffts
s."welll if that aint good one.
Marry you' Why, my dear, my wife is in
Liverpool ohhow, and | ddn'i knowhow many
childrepi 60 I can't marry for good, but j
have NJ objection to marry you while we
stay bere.'' a.'s 7
sTheprOud lip of the fair girl curled with
ptouder scorh, and her bright eyes flashed
With 5edoublsd brillianey, as she gazed for
one single Instant auponiithe rude boor.
she sufbed her feelings, and turned from
him with an expression on her bright and
beautiful face that made him puff hiscigar
with redoubled ferVor and to hide his shame
he retired to the cabin. s
She turned to Charles. He was stand
iaeRssr her. his bright and inielligeut