Middletown transcript., 1868-04-11
turned away, but I felt shure she was

turned away, but l felt shure she was
weeping.
did not pause, but walking up to the
man, who had turned to look at me with q
cold and rather ropulsivc expression,
turned the dead reptile out at his feet, and
said:
"Ifyou are Mr. Bond, your daughter de-
sired that should exhibit to you the snake
which came very near striking her with its
deadly fangs"
My name is Bo nd. and have to thanl;
you for saving the life of my child" he
said very coldly both in tone and manner
"I am poor-only a miserable diver, and
unable to reward you substantially"
" The happiness of saving your pure
and beautiful child is all the reward any
man could DESIRE" exclaimed.
did you tell her she was beautiful ?''
he asked sharply almost angrily.
8" No sir; have exchanged but few
words with her. But her mirror would
tell her that she is handsome.
She never looked in one," he NUT
tered. "Once again I thank you sir y
and he turned away.
4" Stop moment, Mr.. Bond" said I,
determined to have an understanding with
him, which would enable me to see more
of the sweet girl whose image was now
fairly burning into my heart; 81 am
Lieutenant j, commanding the Uni
ted States schooner Sybil, gentleman,
hope, by birth, education and principle.
l desire to become better acquainted with
your daughter. My motives are honor
able. request you ur permission to visit
her."
A divers hut is no place for gentle
man to visit" he replied in n stern tone.
MY child is all the comfort have on
earth. No one shall have chance to win
her from me; and without another word
he walked off rapidly in the same direction
which she had taken.
was chilled by his words and manner,
but not disheartened. She had looked on
me kindly-yes, with eyes that reflected
the light of love.
made up my mind that, with or with
out his consent, | would see her, for |
knew that, suddenly as it come upon me,
l loved her.
therefore returned to the schooner ;
but when an hour later breeze sprang
up, l did not get under way for 1 intcn-
ded to go ashore again on the next NOR
ming.
That night, all I thought of or dreamed
of was Alice Bond and her beauty
The next morning opened wild and stor-
my-so stormy that we were glad to get
under way, and find better ancorage in
among the islands near the settlement.
Just after we came to an anchor I no.
ticed a small sloop-rig gged boat standing
out from the islands, and wondering at the
temerity of any person venturing out in
such weather, especia) ly in SO small a
craft.
After breakfast l had my boat manned,
and went on shore to the settlement.
| saw group of wrer rkcrs and divers,
near the landing, and approaching them
asked for the residence of Mr.. Bond.
There it is, sir, said one of the men,
pointing to neat vine- -dmbowered cottage.
But he seems to have gone clean crazy
lie is out yondcr in the storm in that lit
tie smack with his daughter, and says he
is going over to the Bahamas with her.
took but one look at the speck of a
boat IN the distance, struggling in storm
which was growing worse each moment.
ihe noEt moment was in my boat,
urging the rowcrs to pull their hardest to
get me on board
In less than fifteen minutes, with her
cable slipped, no time to raise an anchor
then, the Sybil, under all the canvass she
could carry, was standing out towards the
Gulf stream, in chase of the little boat.
We saw it when we crossed the white
toaming surf on the reef, saw it safely on
the great rolling waves beyond, and then,
all at once. it disappeared.
v, how wretched was as we sped on in
the direction where we had last seen it.
Finding channel, we crossed the reef,
and soon, all too soon, We came in sight of
boat, bottom up, with its mast and sail
floating alongside. But the diver and his
daughter had disappeared forever.
l towed the boat in, and it was recop
niscd at the settlement, and many an hon
est face looked sad as they spoke of poor
Alice Bond.
l loved her then l 10 I've her memory
yet.