Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-11-09

At this Lizzie curled her lip.
at was not Toms affair." she sur
missed.
'Tom loves you better than his life,
said the captain. give as much as
given him to understand that I'll make
no objections. Why, if l was girl,
I'd have Tom Hadaway before any 9TH
er fellow upon earth. I'D trust daugh-
ter in that mans hands as l would a
ship. AS for this fellow, the only use
you could make of him in the time of a
storm would be to throw him overheard
to tighten the ship; and, by the Lord
Harry, his weight wouldn't make much
difference Poor Tom Think it over
now, Lizzie"
But Lizzie was firm, and she was the
captains pet; and, though the old man
gave his consent very reluctantly, still
he gave it at last. And poor Tom Had
away heard the news with sad heart,
and sailed away to sea again with the
captain.
This time the captains voyage was
but a short one. He returned quite
unexpectedly one day, with something
unpleasant evidently upon his mind.
He made no explanation at first to
his daughter, but sat with his hat on in
very disconsolate mood
ale was we'll enough" he said when
Lizzie asked him.
And, after this statement he groaned
and said: "Poor lass p
Perhaps thought Lizzie, st was all
about her engagement. Tom was such
favorite"
She was so sure of this that she felt
nervous about mentioning the fact that
Melton Melton was anxious that she
should "name the day" but she did
at last, and was surprised to hear for
her answer
"The sooner the better, lass-the
sooner the better Yes, yes. I'll talk
to the young man when he comes"
And so the "youug fellow" arriving
almost on the moment, the captain
shook hands with him warmly enough,
and they sat down together very ami
cably.
The weather was discussed, also other
ordinary topics which are spoken Of as
matter of course when people meet
each other in morning calls, and then
young Melton, who was Of that order Of
exquisites who cannot speak without as
many gasps as are emitted by a dying
dolphin, began to hint at the grand
subject under consideration.
Had Miss -ah-ah-men
tioned-ah-the object of, of, in fact
of this call-ah %
"Ive heerd that you are anxious to
be spliced as soon as possible, my lad"
said the captain "and I've just told
Lizzie that, as things stand today, l
don't care how soon the affair is settled.
Sail into the harbor of matrimony in a
week, if you like. I've got to leave
home again, and Id rather leave her
under some ones care"
And the captain groaned.
"Ah your health-ah life is very
-ah-uncertain !! said Melton Mel
ton. ESQ.,, with a thought of the reports
of the captains will at his heart. GA
seafaring life-ah, rather-ah danger
ous."
"My health is perfect,'' said the cap
tain, "and your Jack is as safe at sea
as Oh land, for that matter. But you
see something has happened. I've beeu
precious fool, and gone and heaved
anchor just when l had no business to
do it. I've sprung aleak in a gale and
wreck has come of it. To tell the
truth plain enough for marine to un-
derstand it, I've been specializing with
out knowing what | was about, and I've
lost every penny possessed. I'm as
poor to-day as Jobs turkey, and natur-
ally am glad to see Lizzie settled
For shan't have a cent to give her,
and I'm not young enough to make an
other fortune"
Here the captain arose.
"Settle the day between ye," he
said, "Ill leave you together" and he
rushed out of the room.
Lizzie sunk upon a sofa and burst in
to tears. Melton Melton, Esq stood
near her with peculiar expression up
on his face.
"It's very distressing" he said,
"Pon my word, sympathize with you.
I-ah-I couldn't trouble you to talk
about that little matter at so distressing
A moment. | AMI believe delicacy
requires me to au-depart-au revoir ~
And Melton Melton, Esq. vanished.
The captain heard of this with a
slight chuckle, and Lizzie waited his
return, quite in vain.
In a week the captain and his
daughter had gone back to the old
second floor in the riverward street, and
there, with the painted furniture, the
plaster parrots, the bunch of white
coral, and other belongings which had
been the pride of the late Mrs. Hacket's
heart, began a new life. And thither,
despite Lizzie's hopes, Melton Melton,
Esq did not come to offer his fortune
to the impoverished heiress.
Lizzie waited for long, long while,
and then plucked up pride enough to
enclose Melton's ring in very con-
temptuous note, and send it back to
him, and after that, instead of pining
away, she took heart of grace, and re-
solved to despise those butterflies of
e. eb;on 1rbo had oourted her society in