The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-10-19
Of distress, or run up the black flag

VI ulhuoo1t VI Euu uP tne pLhuk uAH
whenever l approach ?"
"Because / am forbidden to walk
with you, speak to you, hold any COM
munication with you unnecessarily for
q season. Now will you let me go?"
There was something in his eye that
told me he comprehended the situation
perfectly. He heayed q deep sigh, fold.
ed his arms, and gazed at me long and
steadily.
at is not your own voluntary act,
then| he asked, gently, and passing
from maritime to ordinary parlance.
"No, no." ! whispered, dropping my
eyes, because 1 could no longer oppose
them to his.
He opened his arms wide. A mad
impulse seized me, and I drew closer
and closer to him.
"Ayast therel Stern all |"
The command issued from some one
who had come upon us unperceiyed.
I uttered o half shrek and darted
back.
There stood Willie, come home from
the sea, risen from the dead
OF oil the terrific shocks I have ever
received, think this deserved the first
rank. Ihad barely time to realize its
force before Jacks ejaculation smote
my ear:
"Shiyer my timbers !"
"With tha greatest pleasure in life, .
responded Willie, coolly removing his
outer garments and rolling up his shirt
sleeves.
I saw there was no time to be lost,
and hastened to throw myself between
- Soh, Oh Willie, williew 1 pleaded,
edo not strike him. He is guiltless.
II Is / who am to blame from first to
last"
"I'll attendto 10 your case, presently,
sis" said my brother, unmoved by my
entreaty. dBut the urgent business
OF the moment is with Mr.. Watson
here. We have rather q long.standing
account TO SETTLE"
"AIr. Watson 2" echoed ; "there Is
no Mr.. Watson here. This Is m old
comrade Of yours, Willie-Mr. Jack
oaronby, first mate Of the frigate
Growler."
HFrigate flddle.stickl I'llwager ten
TO ono ho never was aboard q vessel in
his life, though ! can testify to his skill
in managing decks"
"NIiss Addison" interposed Jack,
"thiA individual is the victim OF q hal
lucination. II he were aboard the
Growler should condemn Kim TO IN
application Of the ropes end, or swing
him at the yard.arm while by the
thumbs. Let us go away and leave him
TO his unhappy lunacy."
"Stop |" I cried, eagerly. "This
must not be. He is my only brother,
long lost to us, and now come back from
the grave. You and he must be recon-
ciled at once. Here, Willie, confess
that you have done wrong, and shake
hands with Mr.. Caronby."
"Are you an idiot, Maggie ?" de-
manded my brother, now growing
rapidly angry. "Come home with me
instantly, or 7 shall think you as bad
as he"
He resumed his coat and vest,
clutched my wrist fercely, and hurried
me on with him toward the village.
We left Jack standing in the old place,
petrifed with astonishment
and dismay.
My own sentiments were two.iold {:
Joyous excitement OF my brothers un-
expected return, and sorrow for an in.
nocent being whom he had griey.
ously, though I trust unintentionally,
wronged. ~.
When We were out Of the woods VII.
Lie proceeded TO explain his behavior
on this occasion. II seems that Jack
bears the strongest kind Of 0 resem.
blance TO one Watson, a notorious San
Francisco gambler, who once lured
Willie into playing, and won away from
him all his money, clothes, luggage
everything ho possessed. 1t was di-
rectly after this encounter that the poor
boy, filed with remorse and chagrin,
with himself, and tired OF
existence, caused the report that he
had been drowned during a recent
to be universally circulated,
and repaired TO one OF the docks with
the intention Of committing suicide.
Fortunately he was met by an officer Of
o whaler which lay hard by, deferred
from his rash design, and induced to
commence life anew as q common sailor.
His first cruise was wonderfully sue.
cessful, and he returned TO California
to recover his old goods, II possible,
from the gambler. The latter had
departed for tho East.
Willie's first thought was that Watson
had found some letters or other sou.
yenirs in q trunk Of his, whence he had
gained the knowledge OF fathers being
o retired merchant in prosperous cir.
eumstances, and had travelled Eastward
with the idea Of playing on the SYM
pathies OF the family and swindling us
with some cleverly concocted story.
Among other papers Willie missed
was one little note / had written him,
deploring the fate that had doomed me
to perpetual girlhood, and robbed me
Of the privilege OF becoming brave
sailor lad like himself.
How sorry I am for Jack when I
think Of the wound this blunder must
have inflicted on his sensitive heart
II Ia bad enough to be identified with
scoundrel through resemblance which
was natures fault, and not ones own,
but 10 be loaded with insult besides
must be moro than q proud spirit can
brook. Ihope and pray that no evil
may come'of 1t.
/ am mortified beyond description
every time my mind reyerts TO that
scene in the woods, and Willie's intem.
perate language and demeanor. I
wonder II Jack will forgive him for old
acquaintance sakep II strikes me that
as q friend OF 80 many years standing,