South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-10-24

SUN unSatiSneu, ne sioou IL up on one euds
thumpei it heavily, aud threw 1t bottom up. a
false bottom was dislodged and fell out, follow
cd by the various missing articles
y general cry Of ndisnatioa was raised, and
aud strong disposition was manifested to lynch
California Tom.
Mr.. Baldwin remarked, Il felt it in my bones
that John Merritt was innocent said he TO Cap
tain Soule; and when it came TO stripping his
shirt, somehow badn't any heart to do it,
I'm glad you didu't succeed in doing it, was
the reply. Il couldn't have logged him if he'd
been guilty-nor could you, either
How So sir 2
80 you think you could lay the cat on the
back Of IA woman?
That comical look of the captain was refiec.
ted, nay N ultiplied tenfold in the rough face of
the old mate
"A woman : he gRsped out John Merrill p
'Ay woman, Mr. Baldwin. Annie Carroll
is her name. now
But what are you going to do with him, sit ??
Do with him? With her, you mean--put
him, or put her, or it, ashore, of course, "a soon
room in the cabin and have her wear such a
dress MS belongs to her SEX
We'll, well, said Mr.. Baldwin, reHectively
q never had anything bring me up with a round
turn like that Then bright idea seemed TO
have struck him, and he demanded triumphantly,
Where's your clothe to dress her in p
She's got all her dry goods in her chest, rea-
dy TO wear
what 10 John Merrilrs chest, do you mean 2
'Of course. Whose else should mean That 3
why he-she, meau-always kept it locked,
aud she was so secret about it,
shall not spend the time to tell how we talk
ed the matter over in the forecaslle that night,
and compared notes, and went back to every
little incident of the outward passage that nigh,
be supposed TO have any bearing upon this as.
tonishing discovery. OF couI Sc there were those
ready to say that they had guessed the truth
months ago hut venture to say that no man
on board the Amphion had the slightest uspi-
cion of the truth, until it revealed to Captain
Soule, as have related. And how much longer
we might have been in the dark, but for the at
tempt to fog her, it is difficult to say.
John errill stood no more watches on board
the Amphon, nor went TO the masthead. But
Annie Carroll, beautiful young lady, save that
she wore her hair rather too much au garcon
sometimes steered a trick at the wheel when she
felt in the humor, until our arrival at Calloa
where she became when her story was known,
the heroine, the ioness of the hour. a passage
home secured for her; and she took leay'
Of us ALL with no desire es she confessed, TO fol
low any further the profession of sailor.
TWAS the old, old story. An orphan, harsh
guardian, and an attempt to force her into q
marriage with one she disiked. madcaT
scheme. in which she had embarked from her
hayward impulse, and persisted in because she
hardly knew how or where to retreat. A nd we
were constrained to admit, when we review ed
all the circumstances, that she had nobly sus
tanned the double character, and had preser we'd
all the finer attributes Of her sex, while she laid
aside the apparel.
And will il be wondered that she lost her hear
while on board the Amphion Not to me for
Of course was but boy 10 her eyes Bu
when last saw John Merrill he was Mrs Cap
tain Wightman, and still claimed TO be, if no
the boldest seaman, the best helmsman, at least
Of the family circle