Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-01-14

poseu enough 10 attend 10 my outy.
Here was strange position to be
sure. At that moment l would have Civ
en- all l was worth to have been on shore,
for how could | experience anything but
pain, under such circumstances? To be
thus near the being so wildly loved
to be with her-in the same cabin with
her-to see her sweet face, and hear her
tuneful voice-to see her smiles, and
know her priceless worth-and yet see
her another's! 1t made me mad-the
very thought-and it was dinner time
ere | could pluck up the courage to go to
the cabin. 8ut when l went down /
found that Kate was not there, and when
her husband came, he informed me that
his wife was very unwel, and would not
grace our table that day. A young ne
gro boy, some twenty years old, accom-
panied Mr.. Hampton, and this he inform
ed me, was his servant, whom he called
Cato. There was also female servant
in charge of Kate. My stateroom was
next to the cabin, on the starboard side,
my first mates on the larboard, and the
other officers were further forward
Mr.. Hampton and wife had engaged the
largest room, which was next forward to
my own, but separated by a transverse
passageway where the ventilators were
set.
Kate did not come out to supper, and
so saw no more Of her that day. When
l went to my stateroom at night, I saw a
neatly folded note upon my table. 1t was
written with pencil, and in a tremulOus,
uneven hand, but recognized Kate's Chi
rography at once. l remember we'll the
exact words, for read it over many times.
II ran in the words:
BENJAMIN, my-(here she stopped
and made rub with her finger, and then
went on) Mr.. Hampton does not know
that ever knew you. For the love of
mercy, do not let him know it, for he is
-(here she stopped again, but knew
what she meanD, but you know what
mean. My heart may break, but I will
keep it hidden. O, 1 have not been false.
but could not help this. They made
me do it. But we shall meet in heaven.
Until then there is no happiness for Kate.
My father told me you would not 20 in
this ship-O, | wish you had not, for I,
(here she stopped again, and after this
she only signed her name, but if [ hadn't
known the hand, l should never have
made KATE out of the tremulous scrawl
with which she closely
OF course | resolved to brace myself
to the task, and by the next morning
had worked my soul into comparative
quiet. Hampton introduced his wife to
me, and proiessed to be very happy to
make the acquaintance. Good heavens
how my heart futtered at that moment.
Kate's hand was as cold as marble. and
her face was as pale.
This sea trevelling does pot agree
with her. Hampton explained, as he no.
ticed her look.
| made some remark don't know
what--and then we sat down to break
fast, and while ate, I couldn't help con-
trasting Mr.. Hampton with myself He
was tall, slim man, with sharp angular
features, black eyes, straight, coarse,
black hair, and with a harsh, bitter ex-
preston Of countenance that had no re-
lief. He was near forty years of age,
and just such man as I should pick out
from multitude if wanted something
to distrust and despise. Kate was lust
twenty, small and plump, with sunny.
curling hair; deep lustrous eyes of a sort
Of rich, warm brown; features of rare
ioFeliness and purity, and carrying in eve
ry look and tone the soul Of one who
could only live happy for something to
love and loving.
At the end Of a week Mr.. Augustus
Hampton had made himself obnoxious TO
every living thing on board the ship
Kate kept her stateroom most of the
time, and when she did make her appear
ance, she could not hide the traces of tears
upon her fair cheeks. Poor Cato came
il. for more kicks than coppers. His
master was ugly and abusive in the ex-
treme. Several times when HAMPTON
had been abusing the poor negro had [
been on the point of interfering. but |
feared rupture between him and me.
and my heart was already as full of bit
terness and hatred as it could hold. for I
knew that he abused Kate In fact. he
was by nature an ugly man, and one OF
those strange beings whom we sometimes
meet, who seem TO be always full of ven
ON which must be spit out upon some