Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-18

overhauled and refitted. She had GER
tainly been cobbled up in way and had
received third-class rating; she had
likewise been heavily insured with an
extrahazardous premium; and when
seven and eight months had elapsed and
no tidings were heard of her BlI6nch
did not seem to see the matter in that
light.
That Polly should grow pale and care
worn, refuse sustenance, and NOPE her
self almost to death generally was no
matter of surprise to those who observed
the phenomenon; but that Blifinch, who
was supposed to have no more heart
than one of his own firkins of lard,
should turn detected and nervous, haunt
the Exchange for tidings Of his ship,
sleep restlessly at night, and toss and
mutter with bad dreams, as Polly
averred he did-that this condition
should Cypress the hard-headed man of
business was curious indeed.
Perhaps had those who interested
themselves in Blifnch's condition of
mind seen him one afternoon about
year from the date of the POlIy's depart
ure from New York, and after the in
surance had been duly paid over, and
Capt. Sam Collier mourned as dead by
his many friends, and by the one good
girl who loved him and was dying for
him-had Blifnch been seen on this
occasion, new light would have been
thrown upon his untoward behavior.
For, sitting at his desk, with his head
bowed upon HE hands, which ciutched
his tangled gray hair miserably, the old
man moaned such phrases as these:
did it! / killed himl-killed both of them,
God forgive mel I'm ruined now and
damned for hereafter! Poor Pollyw-
and here Blifinch broke down and Vept
There was tap at his door, and clerk
announced visitor-a seafaring man,
he said, and Blifinch cursed HIM and told
him to show the gentleman up, which he
did.
That evening Blifinch came to Polly,
as she sat by dim fire in the sitting
room, brooding over her sorrow, and
called her:
"Polly."
"Yes, father" she said, quietly.
Il want you to come to my wedding
tomorrow"
"Your wedding, fatherr'
II said SO; why should not have a
wedding? Is there to be no more mar
lying or giving in marriage because an
nfernal, rotten old bark goes to the bot
tom?"
"But this is SO sudden, father" said
Polly, gently.
"How do you know it is suddens"
said Blifinch, savagely. "You just do
as tell you and don't make remarks!
/ want you to 60 to my wedding at ten
o'clock tomorrow. Dress up in your
best and l will take you. 1t is to be
at the chapel on the dock; do you
hearp"
Eyes, father" said poor Polly. II
hear, and / will be ready"
Blifinch went to bed, and Polly to weep
ing, AS was her nightly custom. But at
half-past nine the next morning she was
ready to accompany her father, and the
two walked arm-in-arm to the little
Mission Chapel on the dock, not far from
the house. AS they entered the door Of
the chapel Polly was met by q man
who stood just inside and who suddenly
clasped her in his arms, revealing Capt.
Sam Collier in person. There was dis
played weeping, congratulations, smiles
and other evidences of feeling of various
kinds.
There were introductions to respect
able and amiable- looking clergyman, and
there was wedding.
And when Polly, after being duly mar
ried to Capt. Sam Collier aforesaid,
asked her father about chs wedding"
Blifinch replied: Isn't this my we'd
dingY Isn't it my daughter and my SON.
in-law, and aren't they going to have my
money? My wedding!-I should say so,
rather
And so it never came out that Blifinch
had privately hired man to scuttle the
bark Polly, and that he had failed to do
it because she sprung leak off Cape
Horn and sunk without his assistance.
Sam Collier was taken off with the rest
by an English ship bound to Liverpool;
got wrecked again; was carried half
round the world, while his communica
tions failed to connect--and all that time
Polly was dying of love and disappoint-
ment, and her father of remorse.
Blifnch became changed man ever
thereafter, and as charitable and lenient
as he had before been hard hearted and
MISREPRESENTATION which the neighbors
always attributed facetiously to that ex-
traordinary subterfuge known as Bill
finch's Wedding"