Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-14
NO. l15.
From the Cornhill Magazine
CHARLIA.
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY. ]

CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY.
"Oh! this ism t fit work for her," said the
poor mother. "Only now l really don't
know whether it wouldn't have been best
if we'd had her here at home with US but
her aunt and uncle--he's rich shipowner
and they've no children, and they're so
fond OF Charlia; and always wanting to
have her with them, and her singing and
all; and she's good girl, that she is. poor
child-for all. :" And she launched
end of which there was call for her by
the washerwoman, and evidently l had
not yet got at the trouble.
The next day Charlia arrived | had
felt a great prejudice against her for thus
leaving all the burden of life upon her
poor mother, while she amused herself
with aunts and uncles, and beadwork, and
music and "globes. "She must be sell
fish young puss. had decided in my own
mind. But there was no trace of this in
She was grave and gentle, and very oblig-
ing and had run up and down stairs a
dozen times for me before she had been
| aAhhJ houto ia tuC hOuSC
She Yves tall and slight, with pale COM
plexion and dark hair, and a dreamy look
in her very dark brown eyes, which SEEM
ed to be looking at something far away
beyond you. She took a great fancy for
me, and She looked SO unhappy that it
went to my heart-eighteen ought to look
thoroughly dispirited. Her education had
nj ri GftoA hor fnr har
poor child.
fallen in love with the captain of q mer-
chant vessel. belonging TO her uncle the
shipowner, which had been coming and
small port where she had been staying.
Hes wild young chap, I'm afraid, !"
her mother told me next day; I'VE hear
no good of him, though ! can't quite say
it's very bad, she added, poor woman.
wistfully; evidently torn in pieces by her
desire to be just to both father and child.
Fathers been making no end of inquir-
les. > she sighed, land doesn't like what
out OF Capt. Roberts way; and he's settled
she shan't have anything more 10 do with
him. And he told a bit of his mind, he
says, to his sister, for letting things 60 SO
far for Charlia, with one who hasn't the
fear of the Lord before his eyes"
The old man was a strong Calvinistic
Methodist. like SO many Of the Welsh, and
an earnestly religious man, to whom all
ightness was an abOmination.
Evans as good a man and as loving q
father as can be, but he wont see her soul
lost by consorting with goddess men,"
sighed the poor woman; "but, as | tell
Charlia, surely if the man cares for her, as
he says he does, he'll take up; and then
her father would see. perhaps. There's
not much harm in him, / daresay.' She
wandered from side to side in her .judg-
ment as her mind reverted to the contra
dictory arguments OF her two beloved ones.
They say he's loose hand, and he's such
a way with him he can wind folks round
his finger, and that's not safe one to deal
with if he hasn't got much of "a conscience
along with it,
Have you ever seen him yourself?"
said |, anxiously. wishing to get, il possi-
bic, some direct evidence. tlreg
Yes he came in one evening when |
was with the Pritchards, and we were
having tea. He's a personal young fel-
low and he stood about a bit and ioked;
and wouldn't Charlia sing for fair wind
for him, he said; she that could vile the
birds off the boughs. They told father he
couldn't take his ears of OF her when she
sung, he thought so much of her--it's per-
haps a year back it began. believe! But
her father says she mustn't think any more
about it," the mother ended, braciDg her.
self up. ,lT
With his strict ideas of naval discipline.
where to command is TO receive silent and
implicit obedience at whatever cost, it
seemed to me that he expected poor Charlia
to cut OIL her past life at his word like the
branch of tree, and to feel nothing more
in the matter-not in the least calculating
how much she would suffer-and that her
previous training had not in the least pre-
pared her for this. 'oor Charlia Any
how, the affair had taken sad hold of her
dreamy imagination. d. s.sf
When l came into the little sitting-roum
next morning, where she was by way of
dusting, she was standing with the cloth
in her hand, quite lost. She started when
she saw me, and went on with her work,
half wailing sad old Welsh lament upon
the Massacre at Rhyddian."
A day or two after, at busting time be-
fore breakfast, ! found her in my little
bow window, which commanded the best
view of the sea in the house. She was
looking out at brigantine, trim and
smart, which swung slowly past with the
tide, not far from the shore, while man
on board waved his cap once or twice. As
she turned, her face and eyes shone with
Il light which almost startled me-
$50 that's Captain Roberts ship Char
liza, is it p' said 1 gently, putting my hand
on her shoulder. sf ina
She turned away with blush. ..Shall
ever see her dressed for me with a gar
land, like that one we saw yesterday 9n
she whispered almost to herself. .oa
There had been ship in the little port
the day before, adorned with flags and
streamers, and garland at the mast
head in honor of the captains marriage.
81 believe If he really cares for you.
and is steady. your father might come to
think differently; but if he isn't what he
ought to be, you ought not to think of
him, Charla," said l. with infinite sense
and propriety. tt.~ ana A-m
4 n ~