The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-26
n -INTERRUrTED wEDDINa.

"Oome and have q pipe on the fox'le
old fellow" said q mate of His Msjesty
ship Tartar, then lying of Spithead, TO :
brother mate
aAl right Wood" and the two walked
off to the ~forecsstle, the only permitted
place for smokers and smoking. As soon
os they were each comfortably putting al
their short pipes, the elder, Wood, said
II say, McHeile, you've often saved
Graham from getting into awful scrspes
can you save him from getting sPliced to.
morrow 2-for if you can, ! think his fath-
er would thank you"
"Splicedl you don't mean TO say he'l
fool enough 70 try that again, do you7"
"1f you can't stop il, Mary, the old bar.
maid at Keppers Head, will be Mrs. ira
ham tomorrow"
"WhAt an SIS he is r. said MeNeile
awhy, it wss only when we were ct Ber-
muds that he fell in love with q 'mudiAn,
and was going to marry her, only 1 told
the captain aud booau1o- "a knew his
father, he stopped his going on shore, and
q week afterwards Graham told me / was
the best friend he had, and had saved HIM
from ruin"
w Sill you II nave bhhAP NOAA NV w
It's all SrrRnged for tomorrow morning.
He's going 10 the nod LhVu, IN tho roed ~
B., and she's to join him there, and then
they go on and get spliced at B.
Church.
"Well, it Will be sharp work, but I'll
try" said McNeile, ~rehectively, sand I
must go and get leave ct once p 20 eff he
went to the captains cabin.
Il, Al, -.1.-., O-. Az .sE
this conversation, was pacing up and down
the deck, reading occasionally but listlessly
from q copy of Tupper's "Proverbial Phi
losophy," which he held in his hand. He
was q pale, fair haired young man, with
an almost feminine delicacy of feature and
complexion, but the indecission that could
be traced to the mobile mouth gave .
weak irTesoluts look 70 the whole, and
took away the interest that his otherwise
handsome face would have inspired. He
evidently older than either Of those
who had been discussing his future with
such parental interest and his l~ieutenAnt's
uniform showed that he bore q higher com
mission. McNeile o Joined him, and
they began walking up and down the deck
together.
HMy dear fellow" he began, Hyou can't
think how tired I am Of this life. Only
consider what a waste it is of all ones in
tellectuAl powers; in the morning to have
to look after the decks berg cleaned, and
TO watch the Goals and breau being slowed
away, what 8 degradation for the soul Of
man 70 .pr7
al don't know about the degradation,
Graham, but 1 know the duty must be
done, sndI know that we hsve undertaken
to do il, else we should not be in the ser
vice; and after all, you have spoken of the
worst part of your life"
HAh, but" drawled Graham, Gte be q
clergyman, now, in asWeet country village,
with leisure for every pursuit. able 70 cul-
tivste ones mind, and enter into commun-
ion with the most highly cultivated intel
lects ; only think how far happier fhsn
our lot I shall leave the service, and take
orders"
SAN right old fellow. I'll come and
hear you preach your first sermon; but
what are you going to do tomorrow ?
You've got leave to go ashore haven't
your"
A close observer might have seen . slight
hush or Grsham's cheek, IS he hesitsted
for s moment before answering; McNeile
saw II, and said;
"Going to enjoy q little communion with
q highly cultivated intellect, chi"
81 am going TO spend the dsy with 8
friend, and perhaps have q ride in the
country; he offered me 6 mount
McNeile was too true hearted to endure
the least approach to untruth he saw
Graham was lying, and turned away in
disgust. But he was too staunch q friend,
in spite of all shortcomings to leave him
70 fall without making an effort to save
him, 30 he went below, and finding Wood
in his cabin, the two talked oYer the plans
they thought most likely TO answer. . 8
Very early in the morning MeNeile
landed ST Portsmouth, and took his way
to the KeppeTs Head. There Was . new
BARNARD, sure enough, and when he asked
for Mary, he heard that she had left ito be
married" the day before. HOould any one
tell him where Ehe lived 2" No no one
could tell him Wnere she wal 70 be found,
or who she was about to marry. Fooled in
this, he next ordered q horse and rode of
in the direction Of the Red Lion, half way
between Portsmouth and the village of
B.. Arrived there he put up his horse
and walked into the house.
"Thst room, sir" said the landlord, dis
engaged"
SindsedI for a wedding party, may I
ask z" b..
"Something like it, 1 believe" said the
man. This seemed TO be conclusive eVi.
dence IS to the truth of Woods informa-
ton, for surely few wedding-parties would
- .1 1,iaarahla rot horaa Ike 4he
Red Lion. A piece Of gold secured the
landlords help, and with him he soon ar
ranged his plsns. He ordered fires to be
lighted in two small rooms, and desired
that when the gentleman arrived he should
be shown into one, and the lady into the
other. He also carefully tasted the lsnd'
lords stock Of spirits and finding nothing
very choice, produced = small flask Of first
rate brandy, and q box Of excellent cigars
which he had brought with him.