The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-11-11

we came, after I was first mate, to fall in
with a Pirate on the high seas. .-IRe beat
him; but I was wounded, and they took
me up for dead. Z lived however; and
though Z had lost a leg, and had a great
scar across my cheek, seemed likely TO
/ live. lcame back to America, aud nv
heart being sofrened by a long illness, I
/ lOnged to see home and my. good old
father; so from New York I travelled TO
my native place. Twas thirty six years
old on the day when I, limpcd through
Butler, where the stage stopped, and saw
the garden in which I had given Miss
Princely that kiss which had cost me 50
much. My heart was so full that
could have wppt. Butler and our place
had grown such near Teighbors that they
were almost one.s Oaly two or three
green fields lay between them, A new
street had been built, and the tavern now
stood on that Il was altered, and had
wings and another story, but thsns was a
sign-The Town Hotel, W,i5Trabb. A
boy was lounging at the door. side
is old Mr. Trabb living yeti? I ask
ed s2T. n ...--
Yes Sr,' said the boy, and he's
right smart, though they say h6saOy,r
ninety -a.l f. .f. an sazs ss.
He'll not remember me- thought.
I'll 90 in and see him.
I knew the way to the parlor5, and I
went toward it. The hall was oil-clothcd
and painted, and when I looked into the
room I hardly knew it. rs walls were
papered, and It was furnished as modern
parlors were. But I did know the form
that stood there-the slight, fair woman,
with her bands of golden hair--Hctty-
older, but not altered-the sweet girl
changed to a lovely woman. She bent
over the chair in which her old father sat,
and, standing there, ] heard him speak,
his tones thinner than Of syore AMI with a
quaver in then.at rI 7--... -rr OH
My dear, wish you'd think twice Of
this. I'm, sure John Westbrook would
make you a god husband "a Ike 70
see you mari. d before / die
'Papa, she answered, Pm too old to
marry. I'm thirty-fve'
"a mere child yet, said the old man.
AND you might have been married twenty
times. Tdvu't want to lose you; but
John would take the business, aud we'd
live together. Make opEyour mind to
marry him -'T 9a fai-
I cant't papa; indeed I can't marry
John Westbrook I must live and die
an old maid
4 can't see why yod slould throw
yonr life away, said the old man.
Dear papa, she said, 1t is not wasting
my life to sPeud it with you. 4 have
never loved. any one but poor Arthur
Mafit, aud it would be. very wrang to
marry without loving. He has all Z ever
had to give Gs7s 1- as.fT 2.
The sea can not give up its dead, said
tie old man.
'Amon" she said, and-ben her head
upon his shoulder and wept aloud.
Then I crossed the Ethrcsh ld=and7stEod
before them.
'Hetty,L am,not worthy efyour- tears
] said. And with a cry, she turned and
fell fIinting in my arms. .-.- ~
An hour after we sat alone together,
and Isaid to her: Vi -l--T 10 ~
'Hrtty, Ihave no right, altered as2I
am after SO many years, to come between
you and better man. But / am ve-y
selfish. Can you forget the bitterly-re-
pented fnlly,of an hour enough to forgive
and bless a man who loves you, and has
always loved you, better than his life ?
VIII you be a crippled sailof's wife, Het-
ty, or must Itake my lonely way again,
and bear my punishment until i die;9-
waited for my answers not. daring to
look at her until she put her little milk
white woman's hand in my brown, rough
palms and left it there. -a-