Ellsworth American., 1869-06-24

sWeseu 'Out am not sure Of IL.
you've never asked herl"
"Never. How could I without get
ting permission
"Quite right, lad: young peopl,
ought to have some regard TO the opin
ion Of ths old folks. Though. for tha
matter, when Lucy's mother, pool
dear, and had our first talk. l doub,
whether her father-but that's no mat
ter; YOU have acted like the homes,
young friend have always known yor
for. When will you speak to hsr?-
It's ~ we'll TO sail with IN easy mind
dye see. ="
Tonight, replied. maufhlly
But though there was no uncertainty
in my tone, WAS not altogether easy
as to the result. There was . neigh.
boring family named Strong. Jacob.
the eldest son, Was, like ourselves, q
whaler. and fine, handsome. open.
hearted fellow as any one could wish
to zee. He was very frequent visi.
tor. not only At the Captains house,
but At my mothers and knew that be
admired Lucy. to say the least. lie
and ! were friends, and be had told me
as much. There might be . possibili-
ty that he was more favored than l
and certainly she seemed TO b. as well
disposed toward one A. the other,
though Was sure Of her father. Very
likely he might fancy that the coast
WAS clear. for, A. | have said. I had
not made my hopes very apparent even
to Lucy, and not At all TO him. What
is it, stupidity. or shyness. or blind
ness. that keeps many men silent when
. word would secure their happiness
How 10 girl to Judge between . si.
lent lover and one that compliments
aud pays court TO herr
At all events, not another sun should
rise before l knew my fate-not the
best frame Of mind in which 10 seek
1t, you will say.
II was not . very propitio0s circum-
stance that when the Captain and I
reached his house jacob was there /:
and il looked rather squallv for Lucy
to run out at one door Of the parlor
when we walked in at another. ia
cob's face. too. Was not 20 calm a.
usual. He was flushed, nervous. and
showed in fact, that something had
happened. There passed round US
three, like lightning, sort Of Ques-
tions and answers, like what in these
later years l should call an electric
telegraph Of our inmost thoughts.
The Captain seemed struck all Of q
heap.
well, Jacob, he said at last, II
didn't think TO see YOU tonight but
you are welcome, "A you always are.
What's gone with Lucy, Have you
frightened her away, or have we'
Neither, I hope, replied Jacob.
but l came over. Captain. 70 make an
inquiry. She couldn't furnish the in
formation. and 30 I'm glad you have
come. You may bc able TO tell me
what want TO know.
'.Captain-Jacob," I interrupted.
suddenly ''don't let me be in the way.
| wasn't going to stay. I'll just step
over to mothers, and be back in an
hour or So" And, stupid like. l was
gone before the last word was well out
Of my mouth.
or course knew what was the
matter. Jacob had been beforehand
with me. had lost my stake before
had staked il. There was no more use
in striving further than in fishing for
rope and harpoons carried off by lost
whales. And yet ''tbe information +"
was not given to him either What
he had confessed to her l could guess,
but it didn't look as il she had respond
ed with any confidence Of her own
1t might be-yes. it might be. that l
had . chance
Two hours passed; they seemed like
two years. Then went back to the
Captains. found him and Lucy and
Jacob in the parlor together. "Ab-
ner, said the Captain, the moment
entered. ''here's = worse coil than
looked for. 1t seems that Jacob here
has been pretty much like yourself in
regard to Lucy. Now 1 waAt fair play
in this. l love you both, for good lads,
and you don't need to be told how
dear Lucy is to me.
OF course we knew it, and could on
" murmur our belief. "Now," he
continued, "Jacob has spoken to Lucy,
and she's given him no answer. I've
told her what you have said TO me, and
eau get no answer either. She likes
you both, and that's the exteat Of it.
Now what am to do!"
What was be to do. Neither Jacob
nor I could tell. The Captain was
clearly vexed, and as for Lucy, she
looked even in my love-dimmed eyes
rather foolish. We were all silent.
"Well, then, let's put the matter into
shipshape at once, said her father.
snow you both love her, and can't
both have her. That's number one.
She don't want to lose yos both. and
would have taken either, II t'other
hadn't come along. That's number
two. Neither Of You wants to give her
up. That's number three. And when
I add that she don't know her own
mind, and ought to find out, that's
number four and all told.
NAY, father, interposed Lucy,
tearfhlly, ~ only v ished for time to
question my own heart. am foolish
and 70 blame, l know, bat al this has
come upon me suddenly, and l was
not prepared for il. I am sure and
here her voice faltered-''they must
both think me tickle, vain and trifling.
But I do not mean TO Be %. hope
they will forgive me and-snd-think
o( ne 10 more. And she hurst into
. passion Of tears, greatly 70 her f.
thers and our distress and embarass-
ment. Jacob smoke first.