The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-11-07
RICHMOND, WAYNE CO., lND.,


"Tha day his ship wa. to sail on her ne1
voyage, sent my trunks on board the shiI
Then | tound NJ. captain. and said: 'Cou,
with me. and redeem your promise. and
will keep miue.' We went to a church.
license was ready. and We were married
The ship was ready to sail, and I knew tbs
my ,stber was on board to give bis last d
rec,ions aud see her of lwent on boar
with my husband. and my father vas nc
surpris d, for l had often sailed out Wit
him. and returned in the plot boat
when he ship had got good ofine
and the pilot was ready to take u back, N,
father said bis last words to the captain ant
shook hards, wisaing him a good voyage
Come darling said he to me: say good
bye to Captain Waller. for we must go now.
! ".Desr father said l. 'forgise your dar
ling; cannot go with you now. l mus
sail t. is voyage With NJ HUSBAND. Captait
Walter!'
He looked from one to the other. to see
If this we're jest or earnest.
".FaIher dear, 'ssaid. I, you could neve.
have found me SO good husband. So
took him this morning and made him marry
me, and here is the certificate that | am his
wite'
"Poor father! He turned very pale. but
it was done. and there was no help. He
held me 10 his arms and kissed me. while
his tears ran over my cheeks. He went
home alone in the pilot boat. l waved him
my fearful sdieu as long as could see him,
TOR be was ever a kind and indulgent father.
We sped on our voage.
''The shores OF England faded from our
sight, and We were on the open sea. We
had fair winds and foul, stiff gales and gen.
tie breezes, and | became a sailor. We
crossed the line. doubled the Cape of Good
Hope. and sailed on for weeks and weeks
through the Indian seas to Batavia, and
then to Canton: you have read abou, it in
Lord Anson and Captain Cook. When our
cargo was completed. We sailed homeward
again. 1t was a long aud solitary voyage,
but l was never lonely. My world was
with me. wished to see my father. but
We we're home " ard bound.
"Oue day, as We were reaching our north
ern attitudes. my captain came hastily into
the cabin to get his spy glass, and followed
him on deck. There was a vessel in sight.
be ring down directly for US. She had
changed her course since we first saw her.
aud il was evident she meant to come near
US.
"My captain took long look at her.
'Well?' said /. standing at his elbow. and
taking the glass from his hand
"'You have good eyes. darling sal he,
see what you can make of her.
Il adjusted the glass to my eye, and look
I'd intently. 1T is an armed vessel said 1.
l see ports and large gun amidships.'
"'You are quite correct-as usual said
ny captain.
- |.
v ar said I, and l do not think she is En-.
glish
".No more is sLe.' said he Either war
has been declared. and she is a privateer.
Or she is . cursed pirate
81 was never coward held the glass
steadily in nv hand. and watched the brig
as she bore down with all sail SET, and i: was
evident that she was good sailer. There
had been talk OF war before we left England.
but my father did no. believe in it. shud-
1ered a! the iiea of its being pirate.
"'Whatever she may be. said my captain.
she has no business with us. l shall give |
ler a try a. all events So W. tackled |
'hip and stood of in the contrary direction /
rom that in which we had been ealing
The stranger had tackled also before We were |
veil on our course. In half All hour she .
lad gained perceptibly.
"'She can beat us on a wind said my
aptain. looking very serious. There is
othing left us but to show the cleanest pair
4 heels we can
"RJund we went to our best point of
ailing; out went the s,udding sails. the
argo was shifted to give our ship the best
possible trim, the sails were wet; but il was
oon apparent that, after all we had done.
he brig was gaining OH us-slowly. indeed,
'ut certainly gaining.
IA stern chase is long chase. Calisss,
Iarling.' said my captain. cheerily; but |
ould see that he was no: at all satisfied
With the aspect of affairs.
"'You know that l am not a coward
aid L; tell me jus, how i, is
"'I know your soul is bigger than your
'ody. my darling said be. This rascaIIy
rig gains on Us. If we can have foul
weather. to night, we msy change our course
nd lose sight Of her see 40 other hope.
We are not strong enough to fight her.
"'There are muskets and pistols in the
abin.' said I, and we have Two cannons on
eek
".Well enough to frighten savages, or
est of Malay pirates; but that brig is well
rmed, and must have plenty Of men by
he way they handle her. If she is priva-
eer. we must surrender. If a pirate. We
must fight. Her Long Tom will make oven
vood of us, but We must take our chance
Eve held on, praying for night, and
torn. and darkness. The full moon rode
Ugh in the heavens, and silvsred the waves
Trough which our good ship pIowed gal
antly. Nearer and nearer came our pur-
uer. Once the wind freshened, aud We
eemed to gain . slight advantage, but it
oon fell off again, and the brig crept nearer
nd nearer. Few slept. By the full morn
ng light there lay the handsome brig. full
yer our taffrail. bounding along with . bone
D her mouth. Ny brave captain was in sore
rouble. He had made the best possible
for defeuse,the crew we're ready
D obey his orders, but the case was hope
,ss.
LAS the light increased l watched the
rig closely through tie glass, trying 10 as
ertAin the character Of our pursuer. A dag
stars and stripes went NJ to her mast
cad. and the smoke of 3 cannon curled up
-otn her deck Ii was the FIRST SIGNAL.