The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-08-16

dlferent to the various objects. tina
surrounded him, yet he had already
without exciting comment or observa
ton, examined the four carronade
with which the ship was armed, oh
served their calibre and position, coun
ted the crew when they were mustere,
upon deck, noted their physique an,
nationality, and, cautiously enterin.
the cabin, seemed apparently absorbed
by the gyrations of the dancers ant
the dazzling scene that was presented
to his vision; and then, ''like til,
Arabs" silently stole away.
If Chang Lay had contented himsel
with his obervations upon the deck o
the vessel, and had avoided the cabin
this story would mover have been writ
ten; for the fate of the good ship Mari
on and her gallant crew would hay,
been enshrouded in veil of mystey,
that no human eye could penetrate
and another vessel would have been
added to the already voluminous list
of the unknown lost. But, like mar
who is welded to his cup, and will
whom q free indulgence but begets ,
stronger appetite, Chang Lay, although
he already possessed information sufii.
cient to carry out his object, whatever
it might be, was still dissatisfied, and
hence his visit to the afterpart of The
ship. M =.
His movements there were artistic
but one eye had followed his in theil
silent wanderings; one eye had watch
ed his as they rested on the musket
rack which surrounded the mizzer
mast, and where, like the shining sill.
yer, was arrayed the armory of the
ship; and that eye was Captain Cranes
Cautiously stealing from the cabin
as he thought, unobserved, Chang Lay
with cat-like agility, climbed up under
the bulwarks, and descended into a
a boat close by in waiting, noislessly
and quickly disappeared in the dark.
ness. In another moment second
boat shot out from the shadow of the
ship, and cautiously followed in his
wake. 1t was the gig of Captain
Crane.
Tt was now nearly morning. The
last leave taking had been made, the
last farewell had been uttered, and the
last visitor had left the ships side
when Lettie Fay hurried to her room
and throwing herself on her couch sh,
burst into tears.
"He's gone! he's gone!" she exclaim-
ed, with tile deepest emotion; "and
without whispering one goodbye Oh
Richard Crane, if you could but see
the wound you have inflicted upon my
hearth
And above her half-suppressed signs
the bell of the ship struck eight. II
seemed like the death knell of hel
young life's fondest hopes.
'a*
With the rising of tho Gun all was
hustle and excitement on board the
ship. The anchor was weighed, the
sails were set, and with light breeze
and a smooth sea, the Marion was
headed for home.
For several days all passed pleasant
ly and nothing could be desired except a
shaper breeze; and it's continued alb
sence seemed to somewhat affect the
Captains's nerves. The sailors lolled
about the decks, or gathered together
to listen to some interesting yarn that
one of their number was spinning out
to an interminable length.
From a gentle breeze came a dead
calm and the Marion floated like help
less thing; upon the face of the waters.
For two long days this continued, when
a light breeze sprang up; the ship felt
it, and gently careening again, obeyed
her rudder, and cleft in twain the ST.
lent waters.
To high spirited girl like Lettie
Fay this delay seemed insufferable. A
prolonged absence from her native
land, whose bills and dales and silver
streams she loved with all the feryor
of an effectionate heart, had developed
within her a desire to return once
again to the scenes of her youth.
There was intermingled with this feel
ing desire to leave forever behind the
land that had crushed her young heart,
which had severed the hopes which she
had cherished fondly for two years,
and made her life miserable.
Lettie Fay loved Richard Crane. Oh!
what would she have given for mo-
mentary insight into his thoughts
Though never Indifferent, he was never
familiar; though ever kind and consid-
crate, he maintained a modest reserve
and demeanor which her anxious eye
could not penetrate. His unassuming
retiring disposition sufficient
" explained to her his conduct in hold
ing himself aloof during the ball; but
when the last visitor had wished her a
good voyage, and taken his departure,
and he did not appear to tender his
and To offer a wish for