The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1865-04-07

storm struck US. But as can't 20 to-
day, the next best thing is to go to Sleep
We left him to the sleep be so much
coveted, and went down to the parlor with
Mr.. Wilson, who had very little of the
captains patience-I suppose because he
had not been drOWnded.
you have been very kind, my friend,
said he, 'and before I leave you wish to
tell you something about myself. Three
days ago I was going home with heart
full Of hope. Now my hopes are gone, or
indefinitely postponed; but I am happier
than when was hopeful. If I bad been
left to the terrible sorrow of going home
with Captain Martell's body instead Of his
living, happy self, then l should have
known trouble.
Two years ago I begged my mother to
let me go to sea. She is a widow, and /
&. am her only son. She was not willing
that should be a sailor, but finding that
1 could not be happy at home, she consent
ed to consult Captain Martell' about me,
and take his advice. Of course he adVi-
sed her to submit to fate, and took me on
his own vessel. Our first voyage was to
China in the good ship Midas, that is
beating herself to pieces out there on the
rocks. We had a fine voyage, and came
home laden with tea and silks. I was
twenty years old when we reached home.
l staid at the captains day and night be-
fore 1 left for my own home, which is some
distance from Plymouth On this visit,
at my captains, l first saw his Wife's. sis
! ter, Annie Lawrence. I lost my heart to
the dear girl. Annie was a lady, and her
father was wealthy, and she had many
suitOrs. She was eighteen years old, and
had set her heart against the sea.
4 will never marry sailor, though he
were captain of gOldenship,' said Annie
4 would sooner marry an apOtheeary, and
live at the back of the shop, and smell as
safetida all the time
Captain Martell laughed. Tremember,'
said he, my wife said the same; but she
got over her prcjudices when she found
that could not be coaxed or driven.
My mother had a good property, and
she put half of it in my hands to make
ventures in our ship, and for a year past
1 have been trading with Captain Martell
to the West Indies, and adding to my cap
ital very rapidly. Just before our last
voyage I felt determined to have a last
word with Annie about the sea. She
knew very well that I loved her better
than all the world, though I never told
her so.
You may think it strange that I should
tell you all this, but you seem just as if
you were my brother and sister. The
night before we sailed was lovely sum
mer evening, and Captain Martell and his
wife, Annie and I were sitting In an ar
Dor in the garden; for though the house is
close to the town, they have a pretty gar
den. We we're all very merry, probably
because we we're not happy.
Mrs. Martell seemed to know. that I
wished to speak to Annie, aud she drew
her husband away, and left US alone.
annie, said 1, ARE you in earnest when !
you say you will never marry man who
goes to sea-?
4 am,' she said.
you know, Annie said I, that am
now second mate of Captain MartelPs ship, |
and that when am twenty-One, which will /
be next month, shall be first mate
'Is that any thing to me? said she, al /
most harshly. -. a
'Annie, said I, 4 love you, and if you
have any regard for me, it is something
to you
She buried her face in her handkerchief,
and wept passiOnately, terribly. ~ /
'Oh Ralph, she said, you don't know +
how miserable / ami I have every thing
to make me happy, people say, but am
miserable, about the sea. l was Wretched
about Captain Martell before I knew you,
but since I came to be your friend
'To love me, Annie, said 1, do say that
well, ever since the first day saw you,
and thought of your going on the hateful,
treacherous ocean, 1 have dreamed about
you every. week, I verify believe. And I
have always dreamed that you we're wreck
ed, cast away on some dreadful breakers,
and always you and Captain Martell were
drowned. 1 have seen your bruised and
bleeding bodies on the rocks and sands,
beaten about among the breakers, full fifty
times. Oh, who would love a sailor, if It
were possible to avoid it? Oh, if you
could escape from the seal But you can
not. Captain Martell is your Fate you will
never leave him; and the end will be as I .
have seen in my dreadful dreams so many
times. And then what viii become Of
Lizzie and me? L
Il, --orL
'But, Annie, will you marry me if 1 leave
the sea? 1 must go on this voyage
tYou will never return alive, said she;
you and Captain Martell will be drowned.
l saw you both last night, wrecked and
cast ashore dcad.'
'Annie,' said I, 'if I return alive from
this voyage, will you marry mc?' h
Her only reply was, that if we made the
voyage we would both be drowned.
Il left her the next day tn a great sor-
row, and now I am going back to her pen ,
niless, for all my property was in the ship. (
How can 1 marry and be dependant upon
my Wife?' Z
1T is better than being wrecked and
drowned BESIDES said Angus.
Better, but it is not well, said Ralph
Wilson.
In the afternoon Captain Martell was
able to get up and be dressed. In the
evening he came down stairs.
1 shall be as good as new tomorrow,
said he. Il wonder if the people here will I
gather the pieces Of my poor Midas if
they do, Doctor, save q piece for me big {
enough to make caue. There is one {
oomfOrt-We were insured, vessel and car i
60