The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-12-01
The MATE OF THE ARETHUSA

HE MATE OF THE ARE THuSA
a more gallant ship than the Arethusa
never sailed over the waters of the ocean.
Swift, steady and quick to obey her helm, she
was the pride of her sailors and the envy OF
other seamen
As She sailed out of her port on her last
voyage to Hongkong, there was little knot
OF people on her quarterback, who stood
looking back in silence to the slowly-fadine
shores. One was an elderly man of mild and
benevolent face, who seemed much more fit
ted to be a city missionary than anything
else. He was the captain. Near him was
another Of about the same age, short, thick
set, with an irascible face and abrupt man
ner; young girl Of extreme beauty leaned
upon his arm. Her name was Helen Travers,
and this was her father, rich China mer-
chant, who was taking her from boarding.
school to his own far-distant home. AS love
ly as the dawn, amable and accomplished,
her charms would have made her u prize for
any man, but they were heightened by her
being the sole and declared heiress to the
vast wealth of Mr.. Travers. Such seemed
to be the impression Of a man of important
air who stood at her elbow This parsonage
gave himself out as the Hon. Eugene Beres-
ford, a traveller to China for the benefit of
his health. He was the only one who spoke
and his conversation was addressed solely to
the lovely Helen Travers.
The last who composed the group was Tai
bot, the mate of the ship. He was a man Of
small size, but muscular frame His face
was dark, and his eyes intensely black and
piercing. His age did not seem to be over
twenty-one, and his energy and skill marked
him out as the real ruler of the vessel.
The shore faded out from view, and the
first day OF the voyage was succeeded by
others They passed beyond the Bay of Bis
cay and the Azores, They sailed within
sight OF St Helena, whose stern cliffs tower
Oh high like the walls of Il huge fortress
ard at length rounding the Cape Of Good
Hope they passed into the Indian Ocean.
Long before this the character of all on
board had been plainly exhibited.
The Hon. Eugene Berestord devoted HIM
self unremittingly to the fair young heiress
In fine weather no vas her constant attend
ant, and sought in every possible way to ere
ate a favorable impression. This he sought
to do by telling her of the marvellous eX-
ploits OF which he had been an actor, by land
and sea, in different parts OF the world. lie
had been in the wilds of America, through
the pampas of South America, over the
steppes of Asia, and in almost every cline
and zone he had performed deeds OF valol
and herosm. Tales like these, narrated
with the impressive air and deep voice of
Berestord, exalted him greatly in the mind
of the inexperienced young girl.
Yet Beresford had u rival. In his naughty
self-complacency, he at first ignored the
rivalry altogether, but at length he could not
help noticing it. The young mate in his own
his attentions. lie it was whose hand was
ever ready to assist her over the treachcrous
decks and, worse than all, he it was who
monopolized the fair lady in stormy days
when the Hon. Eugene Beresford was forced
to lock himself up and groan in his state
room.
The young mate had handsome face and
a musical voice. He could tell Miss TraverS
all the secrets OF the sea- of perllS on the
deep, and dangers on the rocky shore lie
could sing of love, and rowing adventure
and death. and victory. Songs can often ex
press what the tongue would not dare to ut
ter in words, and so it needed but little pen
etraton for Miss Travers to see that Talbo
was overcome by Il passionate love for hel
that bordered on idolatry. In spite of thcil
difference in rank, she was not shocked at
the discovery. The young mate had intelli
gence beyond his station, and gentle man
ners that would have graced the highest il
the land. She was battered by her conquest
and gratiticd by the devotion of 50 pure anC
simple 4 nature as his.
Such was the state of affairs before thf
voyage was half over, and as they entered
the Indian Ocean, Talbot was manifestly
feeding his heart with mad ambitious hopes
and Beresford was fast giving way to un-
governable jealousy.
AT first, Beresford tried to cut off his rival
by mentioning the subject to Mr.. Travers
The old gentleman was so feartully indignant
not at the mate, but at his informant-tha
the latter did not allude to the subject again
"Zounds, sir" cried he because a bold
sailor is polite to a pretty girl, do YOU pre-
tend to think that he dares to hope to marry
her wish my daughter to receive atten-
ton, SIR and allow me to say, sir, that you
show very little courtesy to interfere in this
way Mr.. Talbot knows his duty to his pas
sengers and his place on board this vessel. ,
Mr.. Beresford being thus baked resolved
on another course. lie began systematic
persecution of the mate, and carried it out tc
!. degree that was maddening. The mate
endured it all patiently, contenting himself
with reminding him that, as it was an officers
duty to make the ship pleasant for passen-
gers, he was unable to resent his conduct
Emboldened by this forbearance, which he
mistook for cowardice, Beresford grew worse
and worse, and at length set no bounds to
his insults. Impertinences of every kind
coarse jests at his expense, sneers, ridicule,
and taunts Of the most cruel and cutting ma
ture, not only in public but in private, were
showered upon the head of Mr.. Talbot. The
latter in spite of his patience, showed how
deeply he was stung; but his regard for the
rules Of the ship and the comfort of the pas
sengers etfectually kept him from any exhibi-
ton of anger.
Miss Travers looked with surprise at such
scenes as these. She despised Beresford for
his treatment Of the unoffending man, but
she despised no less what seemed to be the
craven spirit of Talbot She herself would
have turned in fury to resist one 1.-THE of the
wrongs which he endured so meekly. Nor
did she understand how any one who called
himself man could bear such treatment.
Her dclicacy prevented her from making any