Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-04-10
srIfrl CaIr.
MARRYfNG A CONVICT.

had served for twenty-five years on board
East Inliamau and for the last ten years had COM
manded the Belle Of the finest craft that ever
hoated. | was an old sea-dog. who had dwelt so
long on salt water that had almost hatred Of dry
land
On the 3Oh Of October, 1923. I received or
ders 90 put myself IN readiness 90 sail for Cayenne.
! was to transport seventy-fye soldiers and a COM
vict / had orders 20 treat this individual well,
and the letter received from the Directory en-
closed another, with huge red seal, which ! was
not 20 open until between ~ and q deg. west
longitude that is, Just before we were about 20
cross the line
The letter was a long packet well closed
upon every side that it was mpossihleto catch the
slightest glimpse Of its contents. ] am not natur-
ally superstit,ous but there was something in the
look of the letter that did not altogether like
though could give no reason why. However. !
carried il into the cabin, aud stuck it under the
glass of a little shabby English clock which was
fastened above my head.
was busy fixing the letter under the clock,
when who should come into the cabin but the COM
Wet and his wife This was the first time had
seen either of them and may say that amore pre-
possessing couple never met. The woman was
scarcely more than fifteen, aud as handsome as
picture; while the husband was au intelligent
magniicently formed man. ON whose features ma
tnre bad never written villain!
ais crime, to be plain was the misfortune OF be-
ing hundred wears ahead of his age He aud
others had attempted something which our gov
ernment called treason, aud which 10 punished
with death. It, therefore. occasoned me consld-
cradle wonder that he should be placed under my
2 charge But more of this afterwards
Iic had as said his wife hanging upon his
arm She was as merry As a bird she looked,
indeed, like a turtle dove, cooing and nesting
beneath bis great wing.
Before a month had passel over our heads
looked upon them my own children. Every
AL I'N.
Young fellow would sit writing at my table, that
is 10 saw at my chest, which was my bed. lie
would often help me at reckoning, and soon
learned to Io better than ] could. | was amazed
at his ability. His young wife would st upon
one of the round stools i'm my cabin, working at
her needle
One day we were all three sitting in this way
when / said
Do YOU know, my young ones, as it seems To
me, We make a very pretty family picture! Mind,
D don't mean 90 ask questious but may be you
have not much money Co spare. and you are, both
, OF YOU, as ! think, 100 handsome to dig IN the
burning sun OF Cayenne, like many poor wretch
4 Of a convict before YOU It's bad country
bad country take my word for d.. ]. who have
roughed 10 through tempest, wind and sunshine,
till I've the skin OF rhinoceros, might get along
b there but you-lm afraid for you. So IT you
! should chance TO have a bit of foolish friendship
for your poor old captain, why, III tell you what
I'll do IN get rid Of the old brig; she's no.
much better than an old tub, after ail so I'll set
70 tie m} self down there with YOU II you like. ou
n see have not living soul in the world TO care
for or that cares for me. want relations, want
home, | want family should like to make
my home with you, my pretty young ones what
say ye?n
They said nothing at all, hut kept looking, first
at each other and then at me, as II they doubted
= whether they understood what | said.
l. At last, the little bird threw her arms around
l. my neck and cried ike a baby.
Ia " But. said she, suddenly pausing, you haven
. looked at the letter with the big red seal
felt queer creeping come over my flesh, as
g she said this.
e Hang ite I exclaimed 1t had slipped my
e head entirely
% With a cold. dreadful sensation. went to my
=, chest 60 See where we were. found that we had
several days remaining before should reach the
proper longitude for opening the letter.
Well, there we stood, all three OF US looking
mp at the letter as if it could have spoken TO us
IL As it happened. the shining full upon the
'- glass OF the cock-case, and fell upon the great
y staring red seal of the letter. ! could not helI
fancying it looked something like a great big
., monster an ogres face, grinning from the middle
' Of the fire IL looked horid
e "Could not one fancy said |, TO make then
laugh, its great big eyes were staring out OF 1T
headf
"Ah, my love" said the wife, ''it looks like
2 pooh, poohl" said her husband, taking hei
arm under his il looks like letter Of invitation
90 q wedding Come come, leave the letter alone
e If it troubles you SO. Let's 60 to our room anc
20 prepare for bed
And OFF they went They went upon deck and
left me with this beast Of letter. | remember
1t that kept looking at it as smoked my pipe; II
seemed 10 fix its red eye upon mine, fascinating
/. like the eye of a serpent 1t was red wide, raw
r staring like the NAV OF fierce wolf. took m,
great coat and hung it over both clock and letter
and went upon deck to finish my pipe
g. We were now in the latitude Of the Cape d,
q Verde lslands-lhe Belle was running before q
n fair wind at the rate of ten knots an hour. ltwa'
"A spleudM tropical night-the stars large anC
shining; the moon rising above the horizon, a.
- large a sun of silver, the line of ocean parting
it, and long stream Of pale, simmering light
L. falling upon the waves, which, as they broke
Sc sparkled like Jewels. | sat upon the deck smok
,e ing my pipe, and looking at them.
80 All was quite STILL except the football OF th'
officer of the watch, as he paced the deck-gazing
as did, upon the shadow OF the vessel stealing
l over the waters.
s, | love silence and order-I hate noise and con
te fusion. The lights should have been extingushe'
10 by this time but when | looked upon the deck
- thought | saw a little red hue OF light just beneatl
> my feet. AT another time and place this woul,
have made me angry but knowing the light cam
is from the cabin of my little dp0rtes, determined
| had only TO look down. could see into th
cabin through the sky-light
g The young girl was upon her knees she wa
saying her prayers. A lamp swinging from tn
ceiling lighted her room. She had on a lonl
ID white night dress, and her fair golden, shining
hair hoated over her shoulders, and almost touches
G. two little bare feet, which were peeping from nm
der her white dress, so pretty. | was turning
away but pshaw said |, am AN old soldier
Dr. What matters IL? So | stayed.
y The husband was sitting upon little trunk, hi
A. head resting between his hands, looking at her a
w she prayed She raised her face to heaven, AM
e. then | saw her large blue eyes were filled witt
ry tears She looked like Magdalene. As sh
i arose, he said
Or "Ah, my sweet Laurette, as we approach
e. America cannot help being anxious-l do no
m know why--hut feel that this voyage has bee
the happiest part OF our lives
ID 80 it seems to me- she answered, 81 onl
O. wish it could last forever
Suddenly casping his hands in a transport q
nd love and affection, he said
he "And yet, my little angel, see you always cr
when you say your prayers, and that | capnc
stand for | know what causes il, and then | fea
lg you must repent what you have done
en- Repent she replied in a sad, rebuking tone
O. "repent Of having come with you. Do you thin