The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-12-26
go. My poor Laurette, how pretty sh

go. My poor Laurette, how pretty she
looks"
1t was getting too much fer me, ana l
began to knit my brows.
| zone word is as good as thousand"
| said. 1--WE understand each other. Go
to her."
1 squeezed his hand. he looked wist-
fully at me, and added "Stay a mo-
inant, let me give you q word of advice.
Don't say word to her; be easy that
is my business. 1t shall be managed in
the best manner"
"Ah p said he, IL did not understand !;
yes, much better. Besides this leave-
taking this leave-taking
| EYES," said 1, don't behave like a
child-much better. No leave-taking if
you can help it, or you are lost"
kept my seat 1 saw them walking
arm in arm upon the deck for about half
an hour.
| l called the mate to me, and when he
had read the letter, said:
! "Garley. that is bad business--bad
business. put it in your hands. I obey
the orders, but remain in the cabin until
it is over"
he asked in a nonchalant manner.
"Take him in bost-out Of sight /;
do it as quick as pos ;ible don't say any
thing of this till the time comes"
Garley sat five minutes looking at me
without saying word. He was a very
strange fellow. 1 didn't know what to
make of him. He then went out of the
cabin without saying word.
Night came at last. "Mana boat; go
quarter of mile; be quick"
10 obey slip of paper, for it was but
a slip of paper after all. Something in
the very air must have urged me on. /
saw the young man kneel down before
his Laurette, kiss her knees her feet !
her gown! 1 cried out like mad
man:
"Part them Part them this instant |
Part them-curse the republic-curse
the directory-the directors quit the
service-curse the lawyers-you may tell
them if you will"
She was dragged into her berth, and
the boat rowed slowly away in the dark
ness.
Some time afterward dull volley
came over the sea to the vessel. 1t was
all over,
Fool, madman how paced the deck
and cursed myself. All night long 1
paced back and forth, and all night long
| heard the moaning of the poor stricken
bird.
Often I halted and was tempted to
| throw myself into the sea and so end this
| horrible torture of brain and heart. Days
passed; saw nothing OF Laurette. /
would not see her. She avoided me, and
l was glad of it. I could not bear the
sight of the woe stricken face.
The mate, Garley, how hated him.
He was as cool and unconcerned as
though he had no remembrance of shoot
ing the poor wretch.
At Cayenne 1 resigned my ship. On
going to the city / made all my arrange
ments, and took the steamer for New
York. placed ample funds in the hands
of q trusty friend and told him to send
Laurette to me at the end of six months.
could not see her until her grief had
lost its edge.
Weary, sick and careless of my life, l
wandered off into New York State, and
finally bought little place where l
hoped / should lie down and die. sent
for Laurette. Poor bird, I must see her.
could wait no longer.
One summer night sat on the porch
of my house smoking my pipe, and gaz-
ing down the road. Soon the rumble of
wheels was heard, and the stage halted
at the gate.
The next moment pair of soft arms
was round my neck, and the head of my
sobblng Laurette was on my bosom.
"Oh, you dear excellent captain"
Heavens who is that person behind
you:"
There stood the manly form of Antoine
Hindsclear, the convict.
"What does this mean," l demanded,
hardly knowing whether was dreaming
or not.
"Are you glad to see me y
"Thank God, thank God," was all l
could calculate.
understood it all. The mate Garley
had read my heart better than 1 did my
self. After leaving the brig in the boat
he arranged the whole affair. The vol
ley was fred but no bullet touched An
toine Hindsclear he was smuggled into
his berth again and took care to avoid
my sight The whole crew were in the
plot, and, thank God, was duped.
] sent Garley thousand dollars as a
reward.
am now an old man, but am hap
py. Ny children and my grandchildren
II call them nothing else) seem to think
old Captain Fountainbleau is not such a
wretch after all.