Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-08-04

which the sombre wings of night were al
ready lowering, -, 49,
What were his thoughts?
ENobody knows. But ne gazed with an
eagern ess OF interest, as though conscious
that he was taking last view of those riot
Gus pillows upon whose bosom he had so
long made his home. At length, as dark
ness shut in the view, he quilted his posi-
ton with evident reluctance, and went shi
vering to his berth.
The wind increased to a gale, and from
a gale to tempest and for ten days and
nights the noble ship which had ploughed
the seas of every latitude from Spitzbergen
to New Zealand, underwent s1ch conflict
with the elements as she had never before
encountered. During all this time the
stranger had been confined below with an
apparently rapid consumption, which the
sea air and the rough weather had swiftly
developed and matured.
During the long and perilous storm the
duties OF the captain were so urgent that
he could make only snatched and hasty Wis.,
its to the sick man; and even il thsy could
have been spared from their post, the in
valid could have hoped for little aid or SYM
patty from any Of the crew, who. with the
easy tendency to superstition peculiar to
their class, had associated hi. presence
with the perils Of the ship. 1t would have
required but slight encouragement from
their officers to induce them to pay him
the same compliment the sailors of Joppa
paid to their passenger on similar occa-
sion, when "the sea wrought and was tenn
pestuous."
But on the tenth night, just as the cap
tain was preparing to answer summons
to the sick mans cabin, the storm ceased
with suddenness that was startling. The
wind was entirely lulled, and no evidence
of its fury remained except the long swell
ling pillows of the sea-those deep after
signs OF its mighty passion.
The sudden sitting of the tempest, and
the mournful creaking of the spars, now
audible for the first time for many days,
forced a shade of melancholy over my
erandfather's spirits as he fastened down
the gangway at the strangers call.
As he seated himself beside the berth,
the sick man fixed his brilliant eye upon
him and said calmly;
Captain, am dying"
81 hope not, my dear sir This dread
full gale has weakened you; it is over now,
and YOU will soon be better"
"No, captain" he repeated, 81 am dy-
ing. The tempest | know is over; and
SO is that other tempest, in my breast!-
This ship has long been tossed and beaten
about by the fury of the waves, but it has
been sunshine and calm compared with
that tempest, captain! But it is all over
now-tor l have forgiven him! He has
been long in the grave--but have forgiven
himi"
Ny grandfather thought he was delir-
ious but second look at the deep intel
lgence of his eye and the smiling calm
ness of his features, forbade the conclu-
sion. He gazed at him moment with
mingled compassion and curiosity, anxious
to learn his history, the closing scene of
which was so dark and mysterious, but up-
wiling to ask. His look was interpreted,
and the stranger continued:
II told you / was sailor. OF thirty
five years have not spent one upon the
land. But this was not my choice. Like
a vessel, captain, my supports were knock
cd from under mel was launched upon
the ocean. My father was an English mer-
chant in Cadiz, and was extensively en-
gagged in navigation. He took pride in me
and lavishly provided for my education in
England. Having traversed the halls OF
science left Oxford and returned to Spain
at.the age of twenty. The first year OF my
freedom from school Ispent in rambling
over the mountains OF that enchanted
In deep inland dell, shut out
from the world, where the earth was al
ways blue, met one day beautiful young
loved her.
II will not describe her charms, cap
tain, for You have been young: and heart
that has ever loved need not be told that
10 the eye of true affection its object has no
defects.
"My father learned my secret-how, |
know not. With an unyielding will be de-
to destroy NY hopes tie thought
10 frame my condition in life as be framed
ais ships-with live-cak and iron; and
green pastures and bleating focks and gen.
lie shepherdesses were not in his plan. he
earned my secret; but had secret att,r-
ward that he never learned! He came 10
ne one morning and with unusual bland
less said:
"'My son, would you Ike to 90 to Cuba!
81 eagerly answered n the affirmative;
or it had been cherished but hitherto
'orbidden passion with ne to travel.
Zone of my vessels sails tomorrow,
said he, and you may 60
This short interval allowed me no time
10 bid farewell to my shepherdesses, who
was fifty miles of, or even to inform her
Of my departure, But | said aloud to my
SELF 4 will will soon be back and many
other consultations Whispered to my heart,
rs the next day, while bounding over the
blue Atlantic
"'At each remove
dragged lengthenins chain bchind.'
"The ship arrived in good time at Hava-
no, discharged her cargo, reloaded and sail
ed for Gacutta I,oas prisoner on board
my fathers ship and for tive long years |
was kept from home as If all the waters
of all the oceans could wash out my leve.
II escaped at last from the prison ship
while lying at Rio Janeiro, and took pas
sage in a French brig straight for the
No circumnavigation OF