The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-09-17

Tho arm Of Lester q Nichols, Of Norfolk, yir-
GINA, sailed a. q passenger NOM Charleston
.Iiecia.' A cyclone struck us in mld-ceean,
the ship founaered, aud We took 10 the boats,
which all hlled, with tho exception Of the
one was In. Amer drifting several days,
during which my companions persisted.
reached this island. The idolatrous inhab-
itants made me slave In their temple, and
for more than four years have been doing
mental Offices and carving images. have
been chained every night, and watched CON
tinuAlly by day, but have nevertheless made
make another-doubtiess my last, as I am
resolved 10 succeed cr die, preferring death
TO . longer captivity. 4 therefore write
who ssI m m sec tSsm 70 rspSi! my aie, poe:
sble, To my family at Norfolk. Va. Finished
this inscription this Tth day Of July, 1857"
For several minutes the prisoner con-
templated these lines In silence, and then
aroused himself, looking warily around.
"Three times have tried 10 escape in
n canoe" he muttered. "and every time l
was caught. and visited with fortunes. 10
DO caught again in such an attempt will
be certain death. Yet will risk all. the
first opportunity that offers. This long
ing for freedom and my family is becom.
ing u positive madness. oh, my God!
what Is that?n
He gazed in perfect stupefaction to the
eastward. far out upon the ocean.
There, miles and leagues away, was n
ship. her white sails cleaning rs she lay
bccalmed upon the waters!
"a ship, u ship. cried Lestsr, sobbing-
". "At last, oh Heaven! At last my
prayer is answercdr'
THE PRISONERS HOME.
On the east bank Of the Elizabeth river,
Just out OF Norfolk, and overlooking llamp-
ton Roads. stood beautiful cottage, the
home of the wife and daughter Of David
Lester. the prisoner of the lone island in
the far Paciiic.
Near the close of lovely afternoon In
Nav, Mrs. Lester and her daughter sat to-
pether upon their front yerandah.
The mother was lovely sweet-flced,
sad-eyed woman of two and thirty years.
The daughter, Amy Lester, not yet tif-
teen, was stronge compound OF child
and woman.
"You are thinking of father, dear moth
err" murmured the maiden, rs she mark
cd the lady's longing gaze.
"Yes. child; your father, my husband;
where Is he? Somewhere under the sea
waves, wrecked on desert island. or
languishing on hostile shore? 1t is five
years since he left us on that fatal voyage
to China. My reason assures me that he
is dead; yet, Amy, / can only think of
him rs living"
at is so with me, mother" said Amy.
with trcmulous culver Of her lips. 81
dream often that he is living-that he is
coming homer
1--WE need him in hundred ways, said
Mrs. Lester. signing. "lf anything were
TO happen to me, Amy. shudder to think
what would become of YOU. You have
been brought up in luxury. and would
feel kcenly any change to poverty"
"Are we not rich, then, mother" asked
Amy, in surprise.
81 supposed so, dear. until three years
ago. replied the mother sadly. "Your
father was u merchant and ship-owner, a
mariner of Colonel Nichols. But two
wears ago Colonel Nichols informed me
that the outstanding debts of the firm more
than balanced the assets; in short, Amy,
that he was on the verge of bankruptcy,
his fortune and ours alike wrcckcd!'
81 don't like Colonel Nichols, said Amy
money with ours, how does he live in such
grand style? To whom do his ships and
great house belong"
ITO his nephew, Ally Bell. Colonel
Nichols is Ally's guardian. The Colonel
has nothing of his own, except farm or
two up country, which were not risked in
the business.
AMY contracted her little brows reflect
lively, and was about to reply, when the
garden gate hung on its hinges, and a
boyish figure came lightly up the walk.
ATS Ally. mother-it's Ally Bell!' cx.
claimed Amy. all smiles and bushes. "Tll
bring him to you."
The young girl ran lightly down the
verandah steps and met the new conner,
linking her arm in his, and drawing him
gently towards the house.
He was lad Of seventeen, an orphan,
the nephew and ward OF Colonel Nichols.
Bright and gay and handsome, Allen Bell
was also impetuous. ardent and intelligent
one Of those noble, manly boys who
mature carly into grand and noble men.
Boy rs he was. he loved Amy Lester with
n pure and chivalrous love, which bade
fair to deepen in time into the great love
Of his life.
He was the bearer Of letter from his
uncle TO Mrs. Lester. and having deliver
cd, he strolled with Amy down the wide
garden walks into the cool shadows OF n
grove nj the foot of the garden.
..I'ye been expecting You this long
while. Ally" said Amy, with charming
fiankness. IL thought you would be
down here to try those scientific expert
ments to-dayr' :.
"Wc1l try them tonight, Amy. replied
Ally. The blue lights show better Mt
night. I'm getting along finely in my
chemistry. Amy. Hike il best of all my
studies"
81 am sure YOU do" said Amy earnest
". .You are the incest boy ever sawV'
Ally Bell laughed aloud. Amys child
like simplicity and outspoken thruthini-
ness were her greatest charm IN ms eyes:
.The sight of that brig yonder,. said
Ally, reminds me that / promised TO
meet Col. Nichols on board of il directly
after delivered that letter 10 your moth
or. Imust 60 now. but you may expect
me rs soon rs it's dark"
He clasped her in his arms and kissed
her.
For q minute the youthful lovers stood
Mt the garden gate, towards which they
had slowly walked, and here they parted
sobcrly-Ally to go down to the brig
whore he had engaged TO meet his uncle,
and Amy to return to her mother.
She found Mrs. Lester. the open letter
in her lap, silent and motionlcss rs stat
ue. her attitude that Of profound despair.
"Nyhat Is Il, mother?" cried Amy. In
wild alarm. springing TO her side.
Mrs. Lester looked Mt her daughter with
n woe-stricken face.