Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-10-19

eNsr nearui In the ueVllisn intensity OF hiS
innumerable oaths. He was totally
illiterale man, aud his want of knowledge
of navigation made it impossible for him
to rise above subordinate station in
his profession. His conversation had a
certain spice of shrewdness and homely
good sense, but was perpetual defiance
OF Lindley Murray and all his works.
His code OF morality was Summarily COM
pretended in the two rules--never TO be
drunk at sea, aud always TO obey orders.
This was certainly pretty sort of fellow
10 take fancy TO refined and delicate
girl. TO do him justice, he was brave
and manly in his station but what right
had he to look, except from al infinite
distance. at sweet Mary Ellis.
Ii would have been amusing, had it not
made me indignant, to note how the man
watched for her appearance At every
step that sounded from the companion
way he would turn with q look OF ex
peclation in his face, that the dullest
witness could not fail TO understand.
When she did appear he would soon con.
triye to carelessly approach her, and
would never be absent from her side, ex-
cept for lew moments at q time, while
the two were on deck. lie was perpet-
ually bringing mattresses for her TO rest
upon. and shawls to wrap around her. |
have known him to keep a sailor in the
mizzen chains for hours at time, catch
ing floating bits of sea- weed and stray
ielly-fsh. for her amusement. What was
more creditable TO him, he never abused
the men 10 her presence, and rarely swore
while sho was within hearing. More
than once. at the warning touch OF her
hand upon his arm, he dropped his raised
hand aud suppressed the halfmuItered
oath to be launched at some unhappy
fellow who had committed au unusually
irritating onense against the laws OF good
Jeamanship.
This moth. and.candIe business went on
for several weeks. Mary Ellis. was. or
affected to be, totally unconscious of the
conquest she had made. Neither Dick
nor myself felt at liberty to demonstrate
with her in behalf oil the peace of mind
of the second mate. | had. however,
ventured one day to warn Mr.. Jones Of
the attention his conduct had attracted.
We had grown quite friendly by this
time, and | lancied that the kindly inter
est | took in his welfare would rather
flatter him than otherwise. He listened
to what | had 10 say, with his hands
thrust into his pockets. and his gaze
directed miles away toward the distant
horizon. And 50, Mr. Jones'" con
cluded, "you must see that this sort OF
thing won't DO. The lady is quite out OF
your sphere, and either don't suspect that
you care particularly for her, or else is
amusing herself at your expense.
lie turned and looked at me silently.
Mister" said he at last, slowly and re
flectivelS. "liks enough you mean all
right. so won't ge, mad about it. But
you're maxim the mightiest fool of your
seli Talkin' to mo about yer sphere
Way, Im a man, amt |? and white
man, too? And she's woman. amt she ?
What's yer spheres got to do with my
bein' perlite to the youag woman? ex-
pect she gets tired OF your Internal jaw
sometimes-I know | do, anyhow-and
she don't mind hstenin' TO me bit, for !
healthy change. What | think Of her
amt your business, nor yet anybody
ese's; but ain't goin' to let any man say
that she's playin it on me. Now you've
got your Course, and thIt's enough, |
don't allow no interferin' from passengers
nor nobody" Aud be walked away.
After this failure, l tried him with no
more advice. Gradually | became con-
yinced that Miss Ellis was in reality u
hear,less coquelte, who was amusing her
sell with conquest SO out of the ordinary
way rs to interest her from its very oddity.
The conviction that she was actually ca.
pable of this petty cruelty made me
necessarily revise my original opinion
of her; and ceased to regard her with
the warm admiration with which she had
at first inspired me.
The voyage grew dull and tiresome.
As it drew toward close | began to
chafe at any lull OF the fair wind that had
followed US nearly across the Atlantic,
and 10 lose all patience at the first breath
OF an adverse breeze. l have not yet
mentioned our captain, for the simple
reason that he had hardly been seen by
any of US since we had lett Gibraltar
He was an ill.temperei. ill-mannered
fellow. who disappeared into his cabin as
soon as we were clear OF the straits, and
entered upon quiet course of quiet
drunkenness, in which he persevered
throughout the voyage. The mate navi.
gated the ship, and was in every way an
intelligent and competent officer. i
never dreamed that we were not pro-
ceeding on our course as rapidly and
safely as the ship could be sailed, until l
one day saw the mate chalk certain fg
ures on board and hold them up to the
sight of a passing vessel. Her people