American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-07-13
VOL. NH.

officer of the watch, rs he paced the deck
gazing, as ! was, upon the shadow of TIA,
vessel, stealing over the silent water.
| love silence and order; hate nois,
and confusion. The lights should al
have been eXtinguished by this time: bu
when looked upon the deck | thought
saw little red hue of light beneath my
feet. At another time and place thi,
would have made me angry: but know
ing that the light came from the cabin ol
my little 6ePortcS, | determined to see what
they We're about
/ had only to look down. could sec
into the cabin from the skylight
The young girl was upon her knees, she
was saying her prayers. y lamp swing
ing from the ceiling lighted her room.
She had on Il long white night-dresS, and
her fair, golden hair flOatcd over her
shoulders, and almost touched two little
bare feet which were peeping from under
her white dress, so pretty. | turned
away; but pshawl said I, I am an old
sailor, What matter it? So / stayed.
The husband was sitting upon little
trunk, his head resting upon his hands,
looking nj her as she PRAYED. She raised
her face to Heaven, and then | saw that
her eyes were filled with tears. She
looked like a Magdalene. As she rose, he
said:
''Ah, my sweet Laurette, as we ap-
/ proach America, 1 cannot help being anX-
ious-I do not know why-but feel that
this voyage has been the happiest part of
| our lives"
$50 it seems to me-" she answered. 81
only wish it might last forever
Suddenly clasping his hands, in trans
| port of love and affection, he said:
"And yet, my little angel, l see you cry
when you say your prayers, and that can
u f,r / hat
| then l fear you must repent what you
have done"
"Repent," she said, in sad rebuking
tone. Repent of having come with
you? Do You think because l have been
yours only such a very, very short time,
that should not love you? Was 1 not
your wife? How can you be sorry that
should be with You, to live with you if
you live, and to die with you if you are
to die?"
The young man began to sigh, striking
the floor impatiently with his feet, while
he kissed repeatedly the little hand and
arm which she was holding out
"Ah, Laurette, Laurette, When /
think if our marriage had been delayed
only five days, only five days, that then
l should have been arrested and trans
ported alone, 1 cannot forgive myself"
At this the little one stretched out her
IouHu, NHltc .TnS, cidSDeu his mead,
pressed his forehead, his hair, his eyes,
smiling like a cherub, and murmuring
all sorts of woman's fond things. l was
quite affected, and considered it one of
the prettiest scenes had ever witnessed
"And besides, we are so very rich, too"
said she, bursting out laughing. ''Look
at my purse, one gold louis d'or-all my
worldly wealth"
He began to laugh too.
stNnS door baro y,,xy 1,ef hale
crown gave it to the fellow who car
ried our trunks on board"
"Ah, poor,' she cried, ''what matters
1t? Nobody so merry as those that have
nothing at all; besides l have my two dia-
mond rings that my mother gave me; they
are good for something all the world over;
we can sell them when you like; and be-
sides, | am sure that the captain meant
kindly by us, and | suspect he knows
very well what is in the letter. 1t is IA
recommendation to the Governor of Cay
enne"
perhaps so; who knowss"
''To he sure it is. " continued the charm |
ing little wife. ''You are so good, am
sure the Government has banished you |
only for short time. | know they have |
no feeling against you"
1t was high time that the light should |
be stricken ont, and now l raped on the |
deck and called to them to do so.
They instantly obeyed, and / heard |
them laughing and chattcring like two in |
nocent schoolfellows.
One morning when / awoke | was sur
prised not to feel the slightest motion of
the vessel. 'Hurrying on deck, l found |
that we were becalmed. Latitude, one
degree north; longitude, between twenty
seven and twenty-eight degrees west.
l waited until night, when descended
to my cabin and opened the letter. with a
dull. awful feeling. l held my breath
while l broke the big red seal, and read:
Captain Fontainbleau: The convict
Antoine Hindsclear stands convicted of
high treason against the Republic. The
Directory order that he be shot in Md
ocean, and you are hereby instructed to
see that these orders are carried into eff
feet"
1 read the letter backward and forward
went upon deck. There they were,
she looking upon the ocean, and he
gazing upon her with an expression of
unutterable fondness. Catching his eve,
signed for him to come into the cabin,
and. bidding her goodbye, he came down,
his face ali smiles
l was bathed in a cold sweat; felt as
if deadly sick l handed him the letter,
and he read it, together with the death
which was drawn up in due form
and attached. / gathered voice as he
nnlSheu-
He colored slightly and bowed
- ask nothing, captain he said, in
he same gentle voice that always charac-
eriZed his speech "n no man can be ex-
pected to swerve from his duty. l only
wish to speak Il few words to Laurette,
md to entreat you to take care of her if
she survives-f hardly think she will"
"All that is fair, my good fellow" l
;ricd. eff you request it, | will carry her
back TO France, to her family. i will
never leave her till she wishes to be rid of
ne, but do not think she will survive it."
He took my hand and pressed it.
" Most kind captain, | see you suffer
more in this business than debut there
IS no help for it. l trust you will pre-
serve what little property of mine is left
Tor her sake, and that you will take care
she gets what her poor old mother may
cave her. | put her life, her honor in
your hands. She is" land how fondly
low his voice hecame), ga delicate little
chest is often affected she
must keep it warm and if she could
keep the two diamond rings her mother
gave ner, / should be glad but, of course,
money is needed, they must 60. My poor
pretty she looks"
1t was getting too much for me, and
began to knit my brows.
Zone word is as good rs a thousand"
said We understand each other.
60 to her"
| squeezed his hand; he looked wist-
'ully at me, and I added ''Stay mo-
nent let me give you a word of advice
Don't say a word to her; be easy; that is
nv hfT-iupsg II shall he MANAGED in the