Maryland free press., 1866-11-22
VOLUME l..

going customer, and liked Bill very much beside
it wasn't long before he gave it. Just about this
time, the folks in the village were frightened at
the report that the press,gang were OUT that they
had been as far as Plymouth, four or five miles
from the town there, and pressed one or two
men. The captain and Ellen wanted to put the
wedding off, but Bill wouldn't hear to it, and
strange to say Paul sided with him. Well, on
the very day afore the wedding, a strange man
as hadn't been seen in the village afore called at
the house to speak to Paul, aud neghbor as
happened to be present at the time, said after
ward that she had seen them talking together on
the road TO Plymouth. Now, mind me, in the
evening, and just as they were sitting down to
supper and drinking healths, Paul, who was late,
ran into the room, leaving the door open behind
him, and aentreated Williem to look to himself,
asthe press gang were already in the village
ard afore poor Bill could get away the press.
gang were inside and had seized him, and in
spite of his struggles and Ellens cries and Paups
entreaties, carried him to- the beach, where boat
lay ready and took him away in it. ~
''Is that ALL" asked. ,,' .aa,.
E'Not exactly, mate, said my friend, finishing
So, replenishing his glass and reflling his
pipe, he continued. :....., MID ,.- -.....
r. Well every one, of course, was very much cast
down at this, but poor Ellen particularly; how
ever, for many months she kept brave heart,
always telling the captain ihat she knew Will
liam would return, and, they would be happy
yet; and dye see, no ono liked to tell the poor
thing different although but very few thought
they'd ever see him again. At any rate it was
clear that Or. Paul didn't for after awhile he be-
gan again to pay his addresses to her, and this
time more in earnest than before; but it was no
use. Ellen would have nothing to say to him at
all. Now, abont two years after they had pres
sed poor Will, when it was getting on towards
winter time-there had been good deal of dirty
weather about, and several vessels had been lost
on the coast-there WAS report that several
crews had been paid off, and then Ellen made up
her mind more than ever that William would re-
turn; when one day neighbor comes in and
says he has heard that vessel like the Spitfire-
that was the one that William went out in, had
gone down off the Scylis, and it was feared all
hands had persisted; he heard it, he said, from a
party who was told SO by Paul, who had learned
it when he went over to Davenport the day be-
fore on some matter of business. This was bad
business for thepoor lass, but believe she still
hoped and prayed for her sailor sweetheart, and
all along Ike pit telling the captsin that he would
live to see her and Will Randall bride and BRIDE
groom yet; but fortnight..after this; Paul comes
in, in great hurry and shows the captain
bottle, which he said had been picked up on the
Cornish coast, no doubt having drifted in; and
in it was paper saying that the Spitire couldn't
live the night through, and praying that whoev-
er found the bottle would, for Heavens sake send
it on to Captain Meredith, of Cawsand, with the
last prayers of poor Wi lliam Randall.
This was dated back about the time the Spit
fire was said to have gone down; and so now
there seemed to be no hope at all, and so poor
Ellen seemed to think at last, for she got paler
and weaker every day, and moved about like one
who had nothing to live for. To make things
worse the captain had got into debt and diff
culties got bigger and bigger. Well, one day
all on a-sudden, the doctor goes to him and of
fers to marry Ellen out of hand, promising to
discharge all the captains obligations, and sta
ting his long and ardent attachment had indu-
ced him to make the proposal The captain, as
you may believe, didn't much fancy Paul for q
son-in-law, but at last he relented, and pressed
by his debts and troubles, urged Ellen to
accept him. The poor lass refused, for o long
time, but when she found her fathers welfare
and liberty depended on it, and besides had lost
all hope of ever seeing Will Randall again. at last
she consented. ...-~ .. .'. s'
"But you don't mean to.say they were mar
red?' ! said. r..r... .'s r..tst,
ln,two or three months they were, and pret-
ty couple they were; she with her tall figure and
pretty face, and he with his red head, and bow
legs shambling along by; her side. They were
married at the Millbrook church, on the hill, sir,
and Will Randalls old master read the service.
Tlss said Ellen didn't cry or faint, or have any
nonsence of that kind, but went through her
share quietly and calmly enough, while the doc
tor seemed all abroad. Now it seems this very
evening, about dusk, when the captain had gone
out to smoke his pipe, that Paul. who had gone
up stairs, heard terrible loud scream and rush
ing back into the room where he had left Ellen,
finds her tainted dead away upon the floor, and
William Randall himself kneeling by her side.
William used to say afterwards that he never
could forget Pauls face when they saw one an
other for the frat time: he used to dream OF it, he
said; he hadimany and many time seen the ia
ces of strong men who had been struck down in
the heat and passion Of battle, or who had vio-
lent deaths in other ways; but Paul's face, he
said, reminded him only of o picture he had seen
when quite a lad of the devil, which he remem-
bered had frightened 'him then, but which he had
forgotten till,their eyes met that night. When
Paul recovered his surprise he said not a word
about the marriage; but when William said he
had just left Plymouth and hadn't seen soul
in the village yet, he suddenly seemed delighted
at meeting him again, and insisted on their
drinking together. He led Ellen into. another
room where, he told viii, his mother would at
tend to lier, and shortly after returned with two
glasses of stiff grog, which b. put on the table
bsty7sen them. Snow, Bill, old mate, says be,
wo II drink to your return home sAys he; gut
what about Nelly, mypoor girl? says WILL
Never mind her, sayslaul; mother will s,ou,