The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-04-07

close of the next year saw her
united in marriage to him at the
wish of her diving father, whose last
conscious act was to invoke a bless
ing upon the union.
! :
No young mans heart ever beat
higher with found anticipation ol
happiness than did that Of our sec.
ond mate on the morning when the
Ajax, laden scuppers-to with oily
treasure, backed her maintop-sail to
speak pilot boat of the English
coast. But the joy of the bronzed
mariners swarming on her deck was
equaled by the astonishment of the
pilots at hearing the answer TO their
inquiry, "What bark is it?n
"You must be joking" said voice,
recognized as that of the veteran
pilot who took her out when she
sailed "The Ajax went to the bot
toE off Good Hope, and the insur-
ance money has been paid upon her
long ago"
What could this mean? mentally
inquired every man on board save
one. 1t was true they had cruised
on unfrequented whaling grounds,
and bad neither sent nor received let
ters since speaking a ship when three
weeks out from England. But how
should they know at home how and
where she was lost If, indeed, she
had not been heard from at ala
case which was not without prece-
dent thirty years ago, though hard
ly + ssible at the present day. Reu-
ben Winslow alone held the key to
the mystery, and bis heart beat yet
more wildly with a new fear as con-
science sent the blood tingling to his
cheeks. What might have been the
effect of the news upon the girl be
loved was his next thought.
A few words from the pilot, who
boarded the ship, explained the whole
misunderstanding. But in most cases
no harm had heen done but such as
could be soon repaired Though
/ friends had mourned them as dead,
the JOY would be the greater at the
news of their resurrection, and the
novel circumstance would serve as
a good joke to be laughed at in years
to come. But WiDslow, on making
inquiries of the old pilot, learned
that which hurled him at once from
happy anticipation to hopeless de-
spair Jane Athearn had been mar
ried bat a week before, had closed
the eyes of her father, and had gone
away with her husband an orphaned
bride
Mechanically be attended to his
duties in working the ship up the
channel but there was none.of bis
usLal spirit in the orders which be
gave to the crew, no hearty response
on his part to the joyous greetings
which saluted the return of men
risen, as it seemed, from an ocean
grave. An outward bound ship, all
ready for sea, lay moored in the
stream as they passed in.
"She was ready to sail three days
age" remarked the pilot, "but her
mate was taken i'll at the eleventh
hour, and had to give up the voyage
She is only waiting now to ship q
mate"
an 90 in her, , said Winslow, des-
perately, IF they'll make me a good
offer"
DO you mean ihats" asked the
pilot"
Mean it? Yes" was the dogged
reply. I'D sooner go to sea than go
ashore now"
Within an hour it was known at
the Office of Messrs. Wing x Co,
that the second mate of the Ajar
was up for a berth at the shortest no
tiee. With the highest recommends
tions from his captain, be was just
the man wanted; the offer was a
liberal one, for time was pressing
few hours suficed to make all his ar
rangements, and the next mornings
sun saw Reuben Wihslow at bis post
between the knight-heads of the
Mogul, taking her anchor.
A change came over the whole
man frsm that day-a change for the
better, however. With q keen sense
of bis own wrong doing, be lived for
atonemeDt the reckless, impulsive
boy was lost 10 the sedate thoughtful
man.
In devotion to the active duties OF
his profession, be had no superior.
Throughout the whaling feet, wbeth-
er ION Japan" or "off shore" it was
we'll known that no more nervous
arm or truer lance was 10 be found
than that of the Mogul's mate. And
when, By accident, he was raised to
the supreme command, no young Off
Ger could have been better fitted for
the position. Under his charge the
voyage was prosecuted to a success
ful end 10 three years, and his en-
ployers were ready TO start him again,
with his choice either with the same
ship or a new one.
But new feeling Of tumult was
stirred within him by q few words
spoken by an old acquaintance whom
be met in Bristol. Jane Morrison
bad returned, q widow, to her old
home ia the neigbboring village. He
could gise no definite reply TO the
asttering proposals OF his owners
until she had answered one question
for him. With the entire earnings
of two good voyages standing due
to him, with health, strength, reputa-
tion as an officer and the high road
to wealth open before bim-was the
one great void in his heart to be filed
or DOtI
Sorrow and toll had written their !
marks upon the pleasing features Of
the young widow, who sat bending
over her work, with q brigh little
girl of two years playing by ber side
When left, as she was, in destitute
she had naturally
again turned again to the home OF
her girlbood, and had since lsbored
early and late for the support Of her
self and little Sophia
She laid as ide her work TO answer
. knock at the door; and tall man