National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-03-28
"Yes, captain but why did you in

1 -
The words were on mylips, "Clara-"
but fancying that l detected slight
tinge of sarcasm in her voice, I merely
replied, ooh, didn't mean any thing"
I'm glad of that" answered the
lady, "because want you to thoroughly
understand me-"
She fixed her glorious eyes upon me
rs she spoke, and-I felt worse than
ever. l saw it all at glance: sent to
New York in order to finish her educa-
ton been eooped up in genteel SEM
mary no congenial society vacations
spent with old Bell, who was probably
her uncle now I-freedom-gallant
sailor, ETC., etc.
soon got through the "rapids," and
on the fourteenth day went a." clean 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 named
her poodle Jack but in our delicious
about her playing four knaves, as l
thought that ! held the rest of the
honors, including the queen of hearts.
did not play euchre i'll 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
mancipation-didn't smoke-had been
run over by dear Jack-twlco bitten
brother Jack, and once saved from pun
ishment 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 l knew she
might have told me lack and the Bean
stalk, lack the Giant-kilier, or any other
equally absurd nonsense. All saw was
her glorious beauty and beaming smile,
and felt that | was-well, l felt con-
vinced that I had made n deep i'm
preston.
1t was upon moonlight night that l
event over the falls" after this fashion
With all her frankness of manner,
Clara was not in the most remote de-
gree unladylike or forward. She was
what all women should be with our sex
while accepting our respectful ser
vices without restraint, perfectly equal,
but, withal, never overstepping GER
tain line, even when admitting us to
what men call good-fellowship
OF course, in my youthful egotism,
blinded myself to all this worshiped
her, shut my eyes, and-over | went.
telling me quaint conceit about its in
habitants, while l was gazing upon her
sweet face, and burning for the moment
to arrive when / could tell her how de-
votedly l loved her. She pictured
lamar Arcadia, and had mentally taken
me by the hand and wandered through
its blissful scenes-an angel introducing
the spirit of lunatic to his proper
world.
Now, upon my honor, beyond the
freedom of trust with which she had
from the first moment treated me, can
most truly say that Clara Bell had never
given me any reason to believe that she
was in love with me. was a young,
impetuous sailor; she a woman accus-
toned to being honored and petted by
large circle of friends, and who, re-
membering my profession, had treated
me as a brother.
am not fond of confessing my sins
and weaknesses, but do this a, warn
ing to other nautical idiots.
"Clara p tremblingly began. She
turned from me, and endeavored to
withdraw her hand, which 1 had i'm
prisoned as I uttered her name.
"Clara p
No reply-and upon my life, although
I had uttered it in whisper, the name
seemed to mockingly echo back from
the gloom. However, l felt her trem-
BILE.
"Clara-my dear Miss Bell" Il was
on the edge Of the falD, II am not used
to describing my ordinary feelings, and
these are too deep for utterance- but
from the core of my heart I love You y
l was over the brink.
Captain |" she exclaimed. This was
quencher.
miss Bell !" faltered.
"Will you do me favor?" she said.
Now or never, thought l. "I'd die
Toto"
"You stupid man !" she laughed,
"have l given you any reason why you
should thus address me ?"
"Miss Bell, humbly replied, "most
sincerely do | beg pardon for my pre-
sumption"
Turning her laughing face full upon
me, she said /: Captain, / am not
angry with you, but beg that you will
never revert to this agai until we ar
rive at Porto Rico, and then you must
tell dear Jack all about it. 1 am not
ON fnr hoxya uhnuy,, vrA,,rua1f -,
every other way true friend and gen
tleman. l completely forgive this
weakness on your part, and only beg
you will promise me that when we meet
dear Jack you will ask him if he will
agree to what you wish !"
was 1oundering about in the ''boil'
Mt the foot of the mental Niagara, and
she had, by her womanly tact, as
it were, fished me out and landed me.
"But to which Jack am to confess ?"
[ cried, beginning to treat the matter as
a joke-serious enough to me, for feel
the wound to this day. "Not to the
poodle, surely p
"To the first Jack who comes on
board upon our arrival off Porto Rico"
replied the lady, holding out her hand.
- Goodnight, Captain c."
escorted her to the companion-way,
and then returned to my seat.
l did not feel any great amount of
self-conceit just then in fact, had
wave washed me off the poop at that
l should not have tried to re-
turn to the ship. 1 had no doubt but
that she was engaged to some fellow-a
mere mass of-well, not anything like
myself (Self-conceit rapidly returning.)
In fact, when l thought the matter over,
came to the conclusion that this charm