The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-03-31
THE JACK OF HEARTS.

AhL thSh OE ItLAhl6s
Tho Jack Of Hcartsl Whenever I hear
these words my thoughts wander back
to one sunny May.day, whcn Clara Bell
came on board tho bark Of that name,
OF which craft was the proud com.
maRder.
1t was my first voyage MS captain, and
We were bound for Santa Cruz via Porto
Rico. The Clara Bell was not pas.
senger ship, but regular West Indian
sugar drogher, and | was much surpris-
cd when the owners informed inc that l
would have to tako charge OF two Indies,
who were to bo landed Mt Porto Rico,
AS may bo imagined, I did my best to
mako the cabin MS pleasant.looking as
possible-bought a canary, q melodeon,
and n dozen or two Of Towering plants,
and prepared my officers for tho occa.
sion. Mr.. Winke, my chief mate, had
n weakness for extreme undrcss, and
preferred dining without tho incum.
brances OF cont and vest, while Bill
Hoffman, tho second mate, had pen
chant for eating his meals standing in
the stewards pantry, or on tho break OF
the poop, exposed al .frcsco to tho hun
CRY gaze of the crow. With ladies on
board, these eccentricities had to be
abandoned; and when tho time arrived
Tor our passengers to embark, Mr..
Winke and Mr.. William Hoffman, mr..
rayed in the tightest and most uncom.
Portable suits Of navy blue, we're at the
gangway to receive them. Unfortunate.
ly but one lady made her appearance.
Isay this because had our charming
passenger been accompanied by her
aunt, rs was first intended, l should not
have been so long deluded, blind, con.
ceited son Of the sea.
Tho lady was introduced by one OF
the owners, Mr. John Shocks, Of tho
firm of Bell, Shocks, & Alcwife. Hc
was q thin, nervous New Englander, and
after landing her upon the deck, said,
Captain, low me to introduce you to
Miss CLARA Belll" and then left the ship
MS though it were infected.
Now my father, who is m old sea-
captain, had come NIL the way from New
Bedford TO see me off, and was sitting
in the cabin when Miss Bell tripped aft.
1 noticed that he seemed somewhat dis
concerted, and when I had introduced
my passenger to him, and sent for the
colored stewardess whom l had shipped
for the voyage, he motioned me to go on
deck.
The lady begged that I would not
trouble about her, but attend to my
father, adding, "You and I will have
plenty OF time to talk during the voy-
age"
Upon reaching the poop my father
seated himself by the pinnacle, and
thus addressed mo: "Ned, you are
about to make your first voyageas mas-
ter, and to take charge Of a1ady passen-
ger. Now mark my words: she will set
her cap at you. I don't mean to say
that she isn't about rs pretty as they
make 'em, but, my son, keep your wealth.
or eye open, or she'll fool you'll God
bless you, lad-good-by"
Then, with last warning shake Of
the head and tender grasp, my worthy
father quilted the ship.
In another hour we were running be-
fore q fresh breeze, and my passenger
was-invisible.
Two days passed, and on the third
the stewardess addressed me, Dc
lady passenger wants to sec you, cap
tain
Itold the gorgeous female, who was
dressed in bright pink muslin gown
trimmed with blue, that l would be at
tho lady's service in q few moments,
and thon prepared myself for the On.
counter. Ny passenger was sitting upon
the sofa, and at the first glance all my
resolutions vanished. I felt inclined to
throw myself at her feet, and make n
complete idiot Of myself in action as
well as thought, but / didn't do 1t.
"Good.morning, Miss Boil |"
"Good-morning, captain" reaching
out her pretty hand, and cxhibiting-
oh such o perfect arm
am afraid that I seemed yerysheep-
ish. I know / felt SO, and began TO
look out of the stern port The lady
was quite cool, and went on with her
embroidery in n most persevering man.
ner. At last j stammered out,
care you quite we'll now, Miss Bell?"
"oh, dear me, yes, captain but 1
have one favor To beg Of you-please
don't call me Miss Bell: oil my friends
call me Clara, and as you arc TO be my
guardian until we reach Porto Rico, we
may as well be friends, from the first.
You will kindly not call me missl"
All, thought, you are setting your
cap az me, just as my father predicted !;
but then she did II 80 naively, and I
felt 30 hattered, that / threw paternal
advice to the winds, and, figtiratively
speaking, stepped past "the point Of
caution" and was aoundering among
the "rapids ere l knew where i was.
Before dinner-time l was-gone,
"For whom are you making That or.
rament, Miss-pardon meGClara Ph 1
respectfully inquired, glancing toward
sort Of band which she was embroid.
oring.
IFor nv Jack, captain"
"How old Is he9" / insinuated.
"oh, dear, Jack says that he's quite
q puppy yet" she replied. "He's a
Porto Rico poodle"
"ohl" ! gasped, beginning TO conjure
up o rival" a dogW