The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-05-24
A SAILORS YARN.

1he captain wife 3nQ daughters gen.
orally accompanied him in lis voyages
( Th latter was one of those sweet era
lures that one cannot see without admir-,
ing, and cannot admire without loving
You may easily suppose, then. from the
numerous opportunities which circum
stances gave the Of meeting and convers.
ing with her, that il was rot loRg before
/ began to feel a more than ordinary
pleasure and interest in her society But
soon discovered the bopelessness of any
feelings beyond esteem for her virtues,
/ aud respect for her person, for We bad
not been above week at sea, when | saw
tokens of reciprocal attachment between
her and Tom Truehold. Nothing partic
ular occurred during cur voyage. One
afternoon, as l was walking on the deck
Truehold came up to me, 10 state o.
great agitation. and told me that the
Captain had just ordered him out Of the
cabin.
| asked him what he meant.
After few minutes be told me that
he and the Captains daughter had long
cherished an affection for each other; and
that he had just asked her fathers per
mission to marry her when We arrived IN
port again. On hearing which the Cap
tain had flown into violent passion. and
ordered bin to go on deck, never 20 enter
I bis CABIN in future, and never to dare to
mention the subject to him again
In the mean time the Captain had
called his daughter into bis cabin. and told
her-with threat of solitary confinement
10 case Of 0be6ience-never,u under any
circumstances, to allow any communica.
ton to take place between her and True.
hold, unless in his own presence. which
she-two well knowing the infexible
nature of her father to think lightly of
his threats-for some time tried TO obey
For the first month or six weeks oF our
voyage the painful injunctisns Of the
Captain were, to all appearances. strictly
observed by his daughter and Truehold
But the effects of so terrible struggle in
her heart were soon evident and in spite
of all that buth the Captain and his vile
could do to cheer their daughter. her
spirit sunk, the ruddy tinge disappeared
from her cheeks, and she gradually
dropped, till at length the slender thread
of her earthly existence seemed all but
broken 10 all bis anxiety for her-for
the Captain really loved bis daughter
perhaps it never once entered into his
mind that her illness was only the result
Of his own unnatural severity nor did
she disclose to her mother the secret that
preyed upon her heart and beneath which
she was sinking
We had been at sea about six weeks,
rs | said, when one night, after having
been relieved from my watch, Tremained
for some time walking the deck, admiring
the beautiful scenery Of the skies above
me, After having remained short time
IN conversation with TruehoId, who took
charge Of the watch, babe him good
night, and went below to my berth but,
feeling rather disincined for sleep, sat
down, and. taking up a volume which lay
By me, comWe0ced reading. | had not
read above fifteen or twenty minutes,
when | thought | heard a slight sound
like the opening of door listened for
a few seconds, but hearing nothing more
| again turned to ny book. After the
space of about FIVE minutes, | was again
startled By creaking noise ike the
oPeuing of another door, which. from the
direction, | knew to come from the Cap.
tain's berth. Surprised, l attentively
listened, putting out my light to avoid
drawing attention to me, and Immediately
heard heavy foot Cross the cabin, and
cautiously proceed toward the stair. as if
Tor the purpose of going on deck With
noiseless step ! left my berth, aud on
iresching the bottom Of the staiT | saw