Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-08-08
|. "GOOd night, Captain

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l 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 q wave washed me off the poop
at that moment, l should not have
tried to return to the ship. l had
no doubt but that she was engaged
to some fell0w-a mere mass Of
we'll, not anything like myself
(Self.conceit rapidly returning.) In
fact, when l thought the matter
over, came to the conclusion that
this charming, lovely, divine, su-
perb, elegant, bewitching young Ia
dy had been making fun of me, and
that she really was in love with
some narrow-chested, vapid, weak
constituted Porto Rican. (Selfcon.
ceit quite recovered.
! really began to pity her, and
thought that my dear, bluff old fa-
ther was a second Solomon. But
why had she set her cap at met 1
supposed it was-weil, I know bet
ter now.
We arrived off Porto Rico about
daybreak the next morning,and as l
gave the word, "Let 60 the anchor !"
Clara came up and saluted me as
cheerfully as though had never
confessed to her the real state of
my affections.
l couldn't help worshiping her
still-quietly, Of course-and her
dress finished the matter. lent
her my binocular, and she rested it
on my shoulder as though had
never "gone over the falls"
"There he is J" she cried, almost
dropping my telescope in her excite
ment. "Oh, they have shaved half
of his body! and dear Jack, he is
looking at mew Here she kissed
her hand to something in the boat,
then grasped mine, and said, ''Don't
you forget, Captain G-w
Six-foot brother! l thought, as
the boat swept alongside; but cou.
sin Jack and brother Jack were,
one after the other, recognized and
kissed to in pantomine; and 1 be.
gan to wonder which of the knaves
would be her trump card. They
were all tall, handsome, and any.
thing but the puny creatures Of my
imagination.
Jack number one, with the poodle,
climbed up the side, and, running
att, caught Clara in his arms, while
she laughed and cried by turns, pat.
ting his brown face and saying,
"Dear Jack! oh, dear Jack ~
The poodle shifted round me as
though half afraid that I was weak,
self-conceited young skipper, who,
ought not to be noticed but soon
brother Jack and cousin Jack came
tearing aft, and then the brave lit
tie woman-Miss Clara Bcll-told
them all how good I had been to
her, and
"To which Jack am I to confess 7"
l ruefully inquired, knowing that
either manly fellow would be leni-
enJ judge.
"To dear Jack !" she laughed; !;
''but wait q moment. When Mr..
Shocks introduced you, what did
you think he said 7"
"Miss Clara Bell !" I answered be.
coming wiser every moment
"Dear old Shocks he always
pronounces the word Mrs. as Miss,
and that was how you became con.
fused but now you see I am Mrs.
Clara Bell, and admit to having
kept up the joke but before dear
Jack l ask you to forgive me, my
very good friend G-w
All the Jacks had smothered her
with caresses, and tiny Jack" was
in her arms.
"My friends !" I said, noticing
that they understood the joke twill
one of you be kind enough to point
out dear Jack to me ~
Mrs. Bell advanced, and placing
the hand she had most tenderly ca
ressed in mine, merrily looked me
in the face, and said,
"Captain G., allow me to intro
duce to you dear Jack-the Jack of
hearts-my husband
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