The Van Buren press., 1873-05-27

| sort of band which she was emotoider-
ing.
|" For my Jack. captain. "
"How old is he ?" | insinuated.
"Oh, dear Jack says that he's quite a
puppy yet, h" she replied. Hes Porto
Rico poodle"
"Ohr' gasped, beginning to conjure
up rival a dog 7"
"Yss, captain; but why did you IN
quire in so grave manner
The words were on my lips, " Clara
but fancying detected a slight tinge OF
sarcasm in her voice, merely replied,
oh. didn't mean anything.
I'm glad of that, answered the la
dy, +" because want you to thoroughly
understand nc.
Size fixed he. glorious eyes upon me
as she spoke, and-I felt worse than ev'
er saw it all at glance; sent to New
York in order to finish her education ;
been oooped up in a genteel seminary ;
no congenial society; vacations spent
with old Bell, who was probably her un-
Gle; now I--freedom-galant sailor,
etc., etc,
i soon got through the rapids, and
on the fourteenth day went "elean over
the falls"
She told me all about her family--her
father and mother, brother Jack, cousin
Jack, dear Jack, and my jack and /
quite understood why she had namad her
poodle Jack but in our delicious game
Of whist firtation, | cared little about her
playing four knaves, as l thought that
! held the rest of the honors, including the
queen of hearts did not play eucher
in those days.
Jack did this-drove her here wrote
her all the news--was perfectly frantic
because she could not return sooner
had the distemper--was in favor OF eman-
cipation--dnn smoke--had been run
over by dear Jack--twiee bitten brother
Jack, rnd once saved from punishment
by cousin Jack
What cared | which knave was being
played, SO long as could be near this
lovely creature and listen to the merry
rattle of her musical voice / never
troubled myself about which Jack she
was referring to; for aught | know she
might have told me Jack and the Bean.
stalk. Jack the Giant. killer, or any other
equally absurd nonsense All saw was
her glorious beauty and beamng smile,
and felt that was--well, felt convinc
ed that | had made a deep impression
1t WAS upon moonlight night that ]
" went over the falls, I" after this fashion.
With all her frapkncss Of manner,
Clara was not in the most remote degree
unladylkc or forward She was what
al women should be with our sex--wLilo
sftrcsJung eur fespecltul services wisiiy,ss
restraint, perfectly equal. but, withal,ntv
er overstepping y certain line, even when
admitting us TO what men call good
fellowship.
OF course, in my youthful egotism, !
blinded myself TO all this; worshlped
her. shut my eyes, and--over ] went.
She was looking at the moon, and toll.
ing me quaint conceit alo IT it's inhabi
tants while was gazing upon her sweet
face, and burning for tho moment to ar
rive when | could tell her how devotcdly
loved her She had pictured lunar
Arcadia, and had mentally taken me by
the hand and wandered through its bliss
ful scencs-an angel introducing the
spirit of lunatic to his proper world.
Now, upon my honor, beyond the free
dom Of trust with which she had from the
first treated me, can most truly say that
Clara Bell had never given me any reason
to believe that sho was in love with me
was young impetuous sailor; she was
n woman accustomed TO being honored
and peited by large circle of friends |
and who, remembering my profession, |
had treated me as y brother.
am not fond OF conressng my sins
and weaknesses, but do this as a warning
to other nautical idiots.
"Clara" tremblingly began She
turned from me, and endeavored to with
draw her hand which had imprisoned
rs uttered her name "Claran'
No reply-and upon my life, although |
had uttered it in whisper, the name
seemed to meckingly echo back from the
gloom. However, felt her .romble.
"Clara--my dear Miss Bell" l was
on tie brink Of the fall, ~ am not used
to describing my ordinary feelings, and
these are tot deep for utterance-but
from the core Of my heart ] love you"
was over the brink
Captain" :" she exclaimed. This was
q queneher.
Miss Bell. ] faltered
"Will you do me a fayorY" she said |
Now or nevor, thought ]. "Ill die TO
to "
"You stupid man. she laughed,
havsI given you any reason why you
should thus address me ?"
Miss Bell, humbly replied. "most
sincerely do beg pardon f)r my pro
sumption.
Turning her laughing face full upon
me, she said. Captain, am not angry
with you, but beg that you will never re-
wort to this again until we arrive at Por.
to Rico, and then you must tell dear Jack
all about it. l am not angry, for you
have shown yourself in every other way
true friend and gentleman, | com
pletely tergivc this weakness on your
part, and only beg that you will promise
me that when we meet dear Jack you will
ask him if he will agree to what you
wish?'
| was Houndcring about in tho "bol f"
at the foot of the mental Niagara, and
she had by her womsnly tact, as it were,
lshed me cut and landed me.
But to which Jack am TO confess p
7 ,.;oJ I,o;nn;n, t, VI