Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1858-03-04
The Captains Ward.
CHAPTER 3.

! senseFejaculated Capt. James Har
per, as he read a letter which b
bad just received, at bis club,roon
! in West street, in the city Of Bos
ton. -.
What is the matter, Harper2--
Has she Tilted you at last9' said 1
CHEEKY voice beside him. as it's own.
er struck him good-natured blow
on toe shoulder, that nearly knock,
ed him down. xe
| 'Zounds, Peter, it is well ] am
a sailor, or ! never could keep my
footing with you at hand!' said
the captain, hastily. @
Bahl-that's Dothing-you should
see me when ] really undertake to
upset man. But, never mind that
-only tell me what you were groan-
ing over, at such rate, when ! came
up
This letter. replied the captain
striking the sheet he held in his
hand. There's my old friend, Har-
ry Reeves, whom you used 10 see
often with me in port, has died, and
left his only daughter under my care,
as token Of his respect and es-
TEEN for me. Poor Harry!--l am
sorry he has gone, Peter,--but,
what the---there, WON'T swear! on
ly what the world am / to do with
this girl? Can you tell me?'
Capt. Peter Hammond looked
profoundly puzzled.
I'm sure ! can't say. If she was
only boy, now, you mightput him
right aboard your craft, and the
thing would be settled Bot, / sup
pose that can't be done now
why. not exactly, should think
'How old is she?'
Not more than fourteen or fifteen
she can't be, for its only sixteen
years since poor Harry married.
'The mother Dead, eh?'
Yes, years ago.
And she has property of her
own?'
Yes
And are you her only guardian?
Certainly
Then, said Captain Hammond, in
a kind Of Jack, Bunsby fashion, 4
should advise you to keep her at
school for u year or two. By that
time, you can give up cruising, take
a wife and settle down, or watch your
ward
sRshaw..'
Aud go and see her before you
sail this time!' continued the imper-
turable P. Its only !air, to-day, to
give kind word or two to the poor
little thing, especially as you are
the only friend she seems to have
| think Julia Reeves would have
laughed heartily if she bad seen
these two acquaintances SO uncere-
monious!; discussing and settling
her destiny. For Capt. Hammond,
though one of the tenderest- hearted
men, was a huge. overgrown speci-
men Of m,n, With a gait something
like that of a Polar bear, and grasp
of the hand like vice, and bis friend
though a finelooking man,in the very
prime of life, looked at that moment
so thoroughly beWildered and as
founded at the news be bad received
that she could not but have been high
ly delighted with bis perpIexity-and,
it may lie, tempted to increase Il.
Her guardian was by no means
delighted with the task imposed up
on him. But when, in accordance
With the advice Of bis brother.in-laW.
he went to see her; and when, in
place of the fashionable young lady
he had expected to see, pale. deli.
cate child, with soft, brown eyes and
hair, and face which was the exact.
copy Of bis dead friend's, entered
the room, his heart softened at once,
and he drew her to bis side, and kiss
ed her fondIy, s.4I
You are roor Harry's daughter,
sure enough, be said, 10 he gazedl
into the large eyes raised so conf
liugly to bis, How old are you, my
iear??' ssssa saI
i am in my fourteenth-year.'
Aud do you know who / am, my
dear JuIiai' 81 ~ tss
sPapa's friend, she answered. sim.
ply, as she nestled more CLOSELY to
bis iids: