The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-03-06
An Actors Holiday.
TCONCLUDED.1

marked character. He always wore
soUe articles of naval attire incon-
gruously combined with portions of
rustic clothing. His pigtajl was held
in great admiration by the children
of the village, as were mis- broad sill
yer shoe-buckles by the population
generally. His large japanned to-
bacco-bOx had the portrait of ship
In full SAT- tossing. on billowy sea,
and the Well-worn motto, Such is
life, was inscribed beneath it. The
whole depth Of his forehead was
scanned with a deep scar which IN
| spired respect, though it by no means
| improved the beauty of his, counte--
nance He was known to have saved
money before he went to sea-. and was
thought to have received a bagful OF
prize money in addition to pension.
He disappeared from his cottage at
times for days together, and even
| Mary Welder-for whom he showed
| the greatest affection-could never
worm out of him where he
had been or the business which
had taken him away. He was an in
dependent old fellow, always paying
for his own liquor, which he took
sparingly; and it required much Of
John Welder's eloquence before he
Pcould persuade him to accept ROssi-
ter's invitation to share the mild fes-
tivity in the best parlor. When he
| did so, Rossiter's tact soon put the
old man at ease, and after a time led
him to a continuation of the narra-
tive begun by John Welder.
1t was terrible day-that fight off
Copenhagen" said the old man.
I'D seen plenty of hot work before,
short time as I'd been in the service.
Master Sharpe and | worked the same
gun-we generally contrived to get
| together-and so we did on that
! bloody day. No man engaged
can see much that goes on
around him, and It's as we'll he
can't; but there's enough that he re-
members to his dying day-at night
and when he's alone. Well, sir, a
heavy shot came crushing in at our
port, striking our gun and carrying it
from its Misunderstanding about
splinters as thick as hail. One struck
poor Master in the breast, driving
him half across the deck, and
thought he was killed right out. 1
was untouched, strange to say, though
| stood close to him. Philip" he
said, the blood almost choking him
my child shall never see her
more"
Il couldn't speak, couldn't, a
word for l knew he spoke true.
If you live to go home my love
to her -" he couldn't say what he
had on his mind. He made great
effort to get paper from his pocket
tied round and sealed it was-and
then he gasped out: Give this only
to -" old Phillip paused we'll,
that's my secret, strand then [ was
struck by something-shell or splin-
tern the head here and saw no
more of HIM The old man paused
again, but no one spoke until he re-
sumed. When | came to | was in
hospital ashore-I forget where-and
then it was months, | believe, before
the doctors said [ was cured-but
disabled from service. I've never
been right in the head since.
And the packet Master Sharpe
gave yOu-what was In it 2" asked
Rossiter, after a pause.
&" [ don't knowl [ don't know But
[ can guess. We shall know when
I can find the-when l can find him
into whose hands it is to be given.P
The old man rose up andsp put on
his hat as though about to go. I've
tried hard to find bim-traveled many
miles. Some one said he was dead,
but it's not likely that he could die.
IN find him yet-afoat or ashore I'll
find him 81 it.r f. .esg - ...ss
sl 1t was evident the old man was not
to be detained He had often become
thus excited, and from the same
cause, and therefore he was allowed to
go, muttering still as he went, "I'll
find him! l must find him before l
die"
The actor and his friend sat silent
for some time after the departure of
old Phillip, their thoughts, perhaps,
taking the same direction.
What do you think was in that
packet, John?' asked Rossiter, alb
ruptly.
Why, something to do with Thorn
as Sharpe's money, [ fancy, and so
does the rector" replied John in
stantly.
And so do I. Have you notion
whom Phillip means when he says he
must find him.?
Mo- wish I did"
Il fancy | have" said Rossiter,
thoughtfully. :" He'll find him
ashore or afoat, SO he must be
sailor-aud newell, I'll go to bed
and think of it-perhaps dream of It.
| It's the season for wonderful dreams.
| III 60 to bed at once, as [ shall be
bad company now I've got this riddle
of the CommodOre's to solve.
SO the actor, having hidden his