Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-24
MARRYING A CONVICT.

had served twenty-five years on board
an East lndiaman, and for the last ten
wears had commanded the Bellies one oaf
the finest crafts that ever hoated. I was
an old ca,dog, who had dwe!t so long on
salt water that had almost 4 hatred OF
dry land: ,a,o
ceived orders to put myself in readiness
to saa for Cayenne. was to transport
IS soldiers and a convict. had orders
TO treat this individual we'll, and the letter
received from, the Directory enclosed
another. with !. huge, red seal, which.
was Hot to open until between - aud Is
west lougitudes that is, just before We
cross the line. :,
The letter was long packet, so well
closed upon every side that it was i'm,
possible to catch the slightest glimpse of
its contents. am not naturally super
stitioas, but there was something in the
look Of the letter that did not altogether
like, though could give no reason why
However, carried it into the cabin, and
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 nay
cabin but the convict and his wife This
was the first time had seen either OF
them, and | may say that more pre-
possessing couple never met. The wo,
:nan was scarcely more than fifteen, and
as handsome as picture; while the hus;
band was an intelligent, magnificentiy-
formed man, on whose features nature
had never written civilian u
His crime, to be plain, was the misfor-
tune of being hundred years ahead Of
his age. He and others had attempted
something which our government called
treason, and which it punished with death
1t, therefore, occasioned me considerable
wonder that he should be placed under
nv charge. But more of this afterwards
He had, as said, his wife hanging upon
his arm. She was.as merry as bird !;
she looked indeed like turtle dove, COO
ing. and nesting beneath his great wing.
Before month had passed over our
heads, looked upon them as my own
children. Every morning l used to cali
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. J.
was amazed at his ability. His young
wife would sit upon one of1the round
stools in 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 very pretty
family picture. Mind, | don't mean to
ask questions, bus may be you have ne'
much money to spare, and you are; both
of you, as think, too handsome to dig
in the burning sun of Cayenne, likemany
poor wretch of convict before you.
It's bad country, take my word for it.
!, who have roughed through the. tempest
wind and sunshine, till have the skin of
o rhiuoceros, might get along there; but
you-rm afraid for you. So, if you
should chance to have bit of foolish
friendship for yoar old captain, why, I'll
tell you what III do. pll get rid of this
old brig; she's not much better than an
old tub after all so III settle myself
down there with ,yeu, if You like. You
see have uot living soul in the world
to care for, or that cares for me. wait
relations, want home, want family
| should like to make my home with you
my pretty ones! What say ye?"
They said nothing at all, but keptlooking
at each other, and then at me, IS if they
doubted whether they understood what ]
said.
At last the little bird threw her arms
around my neck and cried like q baby.
But" said she, suddenly pausing,
8" YOU have not looked at the letter with
that big red seal.'
felt q queer creeping come over my
flesh as she said this.
"Hang it" exclaimed, "it had slipp-
ed my head entirely
With cold, dreaded sensation; Invent
to my chest to see where we were. |
found that we had several days remaining
before we should reach the proper longi.
tude for opening the letter.
Well, there we stood, all three of MS.
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
fancying it looked ike o great big mon--
ster, an ogre's face, grinning from the
middle of the FIRE; it,looked I!
"Could not one fancy" said |, to make
them laugh. sits great big eyes were star
ing out Of its head"
.Ah, my love-" said the wife, sit looks
like blood!'
"Pooh, pooh," said l:er husband, taking
her arm under his, sit looks like letter
or invitation to wedding. Come, leave
the letter alone if it troubles you SO.
Let's to our room and prepare for bed"