Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1856-03-28
CRATER III.

some nNc years hiteT the uate Oh the occur
cnccs detailed in the prccecling chapters,
Captain Munson, who had been in port but
. few days, was quietly looking over his
afternoon paper, when he Suddenly jumped
up ard shouted
" Halo : ship ahoy' Well II that don't
beat the IL. let me read that adyer.
tiscmcnt again.
:" lf the gentleman who loaned Young
man one hundred dollar, in Washington
parl, about the middle Of December, 1919.
will call on John Sterling. at the Astor
lIouse, between the hours Of 2 and G o'clock
=. NJ, am day before the Goth inst, and
bring the security with him, be will receive
paymen. in rull with interest to date"
"It is five o'clock now. III 90 at once
Here's the security, safe ani sound" said
,hcCaptain, a, be held Mrs. Sterling watch
TO III, ear; and capita time.piccc il Is,
too. I've been wanting to find that young
man these Eve years. Ivea great respect
for bim. Ipickcd him ovt Tor puss's hus-
hand on that very might; aud now her
father is dead and there will be nobody to
break on tn, match
In haitian hour Captain Munson knocked
at the door, which he opened in obcdienco
to vigorous come in" Ilc tried To act
a. though he had nothing particular on hr'
mind but the attempt was Iidiculously trans
parent. Hut John S.crlinr, recently from
California, and much enlarged and improved
siac5 that awful night, Immediately came
forward, aud cordially extending his hand
frankly said
lit is needless, supP,'o, sir, Tor US to
stand on ceremony now, a' it was on that
stormy night. Have youibc security then
gave you2"
Yes, have il; but shall not settle
tho matter In This easy WY. II was high.
way robbery, ar, :oll YOU at the time"
.ard the captain In = manner which he In.
tended 10 be overwhelmingly severe and
crushing.
John was completely taken aback but
after rejecting a moment 10 laid
Perhaps, sir, il you knew the ,ircum.
stances under which acted, You would
think differently. aud ac,cpt the personal
rcraratiou have 80 long bcon anxious To-
make"
- know all about Il. You were poor,
You saw me- counting my gold in the pawn
brokers' shop, and followed me to lonely
place and demanded my money orme. You
got It. You have since become rirh and
YOU want to pay me and have an end of the
matter. But that won't do--czcept on one
condition"
"Namc il, said John.
IL, Is that YOU will tall in love, AMI
marry a young lady, 10 whom shall intro
due, SOU in about forty minutes"
THAT 3. impossible, 80 You may at ouco
proceed with your prosecution"
Impossible Sir, the lady is my uoic'.
DO You mean to say that it l. i'rossiblo FOR
anybody not to hll in loyc with my ncIcc'
Sir, YOU don't know her. B."
Tho captain was really excited, this cx-
element was fast being intensified to rag.
Not wishing to cyaspcratc him, John said
81 have no doubt, sir, ;hat your ncicc j.
everything an uncle could wish
Wen, I'm not the man to waste timo
in talking viii YOU as personal favor to
me, take a scat i'm my carriage and ride to
Sixteenth strcct?"
with pleasure, sir" said John, quito
willing to humor a man who hal done him
50 great a service.
Please remain there few moments,'
said Captain Munson as he ushcrcd John
into the parlor and closed the door after
him. John looked carcles,ly about. and
wondered what would be the end Of such
strange adventure.
+ Thocaptain soon returned leading bcau'
tinl young lady by the hand, TO whom he
said
Here, Sarah, is ayounc friend to whom
| wish to introduce you; Mr.--Mr. Why
great Neptune | don't know the rascal's
name"
go, John dear John !. you2" c1.
claimed Sarah as she rushed into his arms.
TIalloo, here? Graphing at once, b.
fore shots fred What in the name OF
Neptune docs this mean?"
90, Uncle Jack how Kind It wi'inyou
to prepare thi, surprise for me-" said Sarah
as soon as she and John had performed tho
ceremonies appropriate to the occasion.
"Surpri-e for you Egai, | think tho
urprise was for me-. But how Is this; this
isn't the young fellow you've been pinins
for this six years, Is IT,"
"Thc very same, Uncle Jack"
And is this the girl whose father broke
90 the match, when your father became
poor and died, and all that sort Of thing,
that Ned Ilinkum, the rawn-brOker toldm
about2"
"Thc very same, Uncle Jack" said
John.
"W-h-e-w, said Uncle Jack, spinning
round the room. 90. say, can you 500 by
the dawn's early light? Here! take your
watch; the only condition is that your first
boy shall be named JoHS MrNsoS STIR.
LING.