Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-08-08
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MARRYING A CONVICT.

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MARRYING A CONVICT
Ihsd served twenty-five years on board an Eas
Indiaman, and for the last ten years had command
ed the Belle, one Of the finest crafts that eve
Aoated Twas an old sea-dog, who had dwelt s'
long on SAB water that I had almost hatred
dry land.
On the 3Oth of October, 1923, I received order
to put myself in readiness to sail for Cayenne
was to transport rs soldiers and convict 1 hae
orders to treat this individual well and the lette
I received from the Directory enclosed another
with huge red seal, which I was not to open unit
between u and % west longitude; that is, jus
before we cross the line.
The letter wasa long packet, 80 well closed upor
every side that it wasimposible to catch the slight
est glimpse of its contents / am not naturally su
perstitous, but there was something In the hook o.
the letter that I did not altogether Ike though
could give no reason why. However, carried il
into the cabin, and stuck it under the glass OF
little shabby English clock, which was fastened &
,boye my head. - -,
I was busy fixing the letter under the clock
when, who should come into my cabin but the con
vict and his wfel This wss the first time had
seen either of them, and may say, that q, more
prepossessing couple I never met The woman
was scarcely more thanifteen, and as handsome as
picture; while the husband was an intellpsnt
magni6centy- formed man, on whose features ma
ture had never written ''vilGanp
His crime, to be plain, was the misfortune OF be.
ing hundred years ahead Of bis age. He and
others had attempted something which our govern.
ment called treason, and which it punished with
death 1t, therefore, occasioned me considerable
wonder that he should be placed under my charge.
But more Of this afterwards. r,
He had, Is said, his wife hanging upon his
arm. She was as merry as bird she looked In
deed Ike turtle dove, cooing and nesting beneath
his great wing.
Before q month had passed over our heads,
looked upon them as my own children. Every
morning used to call them into my cabin The
young fellow would sit writing at my table, that is
to say at my chest, which was my bed. He would
often help me at reckoning, and soon learned to do
better than could; was amazed at his ability.
His young wife would sit upon one Of the round
stools in my cabin working at her needle.
One day we were, all three, sitting in this way,
whenI said: 81.
edo you know, my young ones, as it seems to
me, we make q very pretty family picture. Mind,
7 don't mean tn ask questions, but may be you
have not much money to spare, and you are, both
Of you, as I think, too handsome to dig in the
burning sun of Cayenne, like many poor wretch
of convict before you It's q bad country, take
my word for it. /, who have roughed through the
tempest, wind and sunshine, till I have the akin Of
rhinooeros, might get along there; but you-Im
afraid for you. So, if you should chance to have
a bit of foolish friendship for your old captain,
why, I'll tell you what I viii do. III get rid Of
this old brig; she's not much better than an old
tub after all SO III settle myself down there with
you, if you like. You see have not living soul
in the world to care for, or that cares for me. |
want relations, want home, Iwant family.
should like to make my home with you, my pretty
onesl What say ye?'
They said nothing at all, but kept looking at
each other, and then at me, as If they doubted
whether they understood what said
At last the little bird threw her arms around my
necS and cried ike baby.
ssBut," said she, suddenly pausing, 'syou have
not looked at the letter with that big red seal"
I felt queer creeping come over my flesh as
she said this.
"Hang It" 7 exclaimed, ''it had slipped my
head entirely"
With a cold, dreaded sensation, went to my
chest to see where we were. I found that We had
several days remaining before We should reach the
proper longitude for opening the letter.
Well, there we stood, all three Of us, looking up
at the letter as if it could have spoken to US As
it happened, the sun was shining full upon the glass
of the clock-case, and fell upon the great staring
red seal of the letter., could not help fancyine
it looked like great big monster, an ogre's face
grinning from the middle Of the fire; it looked!
"Could not one fancy" said I, to make then
laugh, 'its great eyes were staring out ofts head
"Ah, my love- said the wife, 1T looks hkt
blood" ....
'sPooh, pooh," said her husband, taking, hel
arm under his, 1T looks like aletter or invitation
to wedding. Come, leave the letter alone if i
troubles you 50. Let's to our room and prepare
for bed"
And off they went upon deck, and left me witt
the beast of letter. remember that 1 KEEP
looking at it as I smoked my pipe; it seemed tt
fix its great red eye upon mine, fascinating like the
eye of serpent. 1t was red, wide, raw, staring
like the nav of fierce wolf took my grea
coat and hung it over both clock and letter, ane
wentupon deck to finish my pipe.
We were now in the latitude of the Cape d.
Verde Islands-the Belle was running before fai
wind at the rate of ten knots an hour. 1t was
splendid night-the stars large and shining; tn
moon rising above the horizon, as large as sun o
J silver, the line of ocean parting it, and loni
stream Of pale, shimmering light falling upon tn
waves, which, as they broke, siarkled like jewels
I sat upon the deck, smoking my pipe and watch
ing them.
All was quite still, except the football Of tn
watch, as he paced the deck-gazing, as did, up
on the shadow of the vessel, stealing over the 81
lent waters.
I love silence and order-I hate noise and con
fusion. The lights should all have been extin
guished by this time; but when I looked upon tn
deck, thought I saw little red hue Of light jus
beneath my feet.
At another time and place this would have mad
me angry but knowing the light came from tn
cabin of my little deportes, 1 determined to Sc
what they were about.
I had only to look down. could see into tn
cabin through the sky-ight
L.