, 1859-09-14
A fzIt of Romance in tho Life of Lieut..
muAfys

AuAI1s
Tllk following DIT Of romance in tho 1ifo OF
Lieut. Muary is related by Mr.. Willis in tho
Home Journal:
sin the earlier days Of his professional ca
rccg, the present Commander was midship-
man on board one Of the sloops Of war sent to
cruise in tho Pacific. The duty being mainly
to give author1ti.o countenance 10 the uleF-
chant vessels in those scas much Of their ti1no
Of course was past in the anchorage Of the dill
fe1ent Islands; and Mnury, always having u
taste for languages had employed his ma0y-an-
idle hour, MS coxswain Of the go-aslore boat, in
mastering the dialects Of tue natives. So Sue
ccss!ul lad l,o been in this volunteer study
that he became at last the regular interpreter,
and was tho main chauncl Of communication
between the Commodore aud the petty sovcT-
eigns Of the Islands
s4The thing he most struggled With, in those
days, was constitutional bashfulness; and
lie was not little aabbcrgastcd, therefore,
when ho was summoned to the quarter deck
one bright morning, to interpret between
the Commander and young Owhyhec Prin-
cess, the lavorite daughter Of tho Chief Of
The Island where they were anchored. She
had swum OF to the ship and climbed up the
side, and now stood in all lcr tropical flores
ccnce, e1quisite]y developed youug woman Of
sixteen; drapcd mainly in ler flowing tressea,
und her unconscious modesty and gesticulating
in the mos: lively manner, to the very great
admiration Of the officers and crow. She
had evidently a message Of importance to
communicate.
"Obcdient to the summons, Of course, the
gold-laced cap Of the young interpre.eE-1niddy
made its appearance; and he rroceedcdto to open
communication with tie fair Undine- getting
| side intimation from the officers audicnced
about On the gnp-carriages md portfolios, that
the dialogue Of inquiry should be prolonged as
far as possible. ~. "
"ue was not long in learning her GRAND
but how, with Lis bashfulncss, to translate it
| 10 the Commodore aud those groups oflistening
| Lieutcnauts? 1t was no less than an auihori-
tatiye expression Of tic Islands admiration Of
his superior knowledge as shown in the mas
tcry OF their language, and O proposal for the
tue honor Of lis hand. The girl had SWIM of
as her fathers eInbassador, to make the oiler
Of 1leyselG-the answer being await cd On shore
in full council Of wasrior-chielsl
"Tho difficulty Of maintaining tic proper
quartor-deck grurity, or Of SO rcprcsslng the
1nirtA Of tho surrounding epnulettes ms not
to girc offence to the native pride Of the anti
question-popping Princess was considerable.
Maury has no rccollections ut present whether
he himself stood on his head or his heels dur
ing the interview. The Commodore was dis
Greet however, and it WAS soon understood that
the legate Of foreign power was to be treated
with respect, whether the diplomatic drapcry
were more or less entire, md the proposal was
to be respectfully received. The wurd.roon,
boat was meantime ordered to be manned, and
tue ships newest flag spread on the seats ID
cuvelop the roya1 unclad on her less water.
draped return. Maury was to so rs co.swaln,
and restore the lady to her parents; but his
orders were discretionary. Ho was to make
every assurance Of amlty between tue United
States aud tho Pacific, and get clear, if lie pa
cifcslly could-but on no acc INT TO make
any such rejection Of tho proposed honor rs
would lend TO misunderstanding.
1T was pull Of q milo or two, the sea
smooth aud tile tars willing to cit once more
with their backs to tho bow. Tho officer and
his aag-euvcloped passenger had tho con-
yersation Ill to themselves; md lie was busi,
" eogitating, in the bashlul back parlos Of his
mind how lie should beharc under tue proba-
lie circumstance-phaso lst I'd, or 3d-whcn
tie young lady unexpectedly jumped over
board and swan tile rest Of the way to the
beach; ,taking to her heels, on arriving Mt the
sand, with celebrity for which lie could in nc
way account Was she angry? Was there q
! probability Of Ills being *diselnbowclcd and
burnt, if lle should try to oycrtake her and ex.
plain :? lie concluded that it was best, on the
whole to carry ont the Commodore's policy
and, by following up the fugitive, to get q
chance, perhaps to pacify the papa. So leay-
ing tho boat drawn up on tic beach, he took
Ills way alone to the chiefs bungalow.
lit was some little distance inland, and, on
arriving be found lie was considerably expect
cd There was every appearance Of psepara.
ton for festivity, the tables spread for a roy
Al banquit, and tile fruits and drinks in abuud-
ant prodgality. The chiefs were already in 4
state Of excitement which prccludcd all ex.
PLANTATION or modification Of plans. There was
nothing to do hut to yield to circumstances
Ho must marry "a Ia Owl,yhce mud she) to
keep the pence and project tho commerce 81
| tile nation.
"The delays were apparently inconsideral1e
In a very short time the runaway bride ap-
pcared, dressed in all manner Of Pacific orna.
,nents attended By her mother and bcvy oi
sister is1andesses. Tho Commodore was either
not expected, OF not missed; the ceremony
was performed {wl,at there was Of it, with
only native witnesses, and things proceeded
as USUAL
t "For tho remaining Winter months, the
sloop wasy' anchored at the same Island,
aud Prince Maury, Of course, had fine oppcr.
tnnity to become acquainted will, the manners
and customs. His coprer-colored papa proved
very gontlcmanly, and, as long as he stayed,
| lie was most aflecsionate1y treated. His sub.
sequent half century, as the world Of science
so well knows, las been devoted to the study
9: natures more universal alunexpectedne-ses-
tue charm Of this first lesson, acting, perhaps,
! Unfit mira ro11Eh-1,,tt tk.1lnt},ar
the Owl'yhee romance, as prelude to n very
iistint,uisbad man's lifc.lans. n,ts,,its is uell