The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-09-11

high and low," said the good-ratured
midshipman; "and 90, for that matter,
have Gibson and Miidmay. IT'S not al.
ways that fortune stands SO well by q
fellow who SO thoroughly deserves ft.n
stared in dumb surprise at the speaker,
whose words seemed, under the actual
circumstances OF my position, to be
lraught with the most cruel irony.
|"We set up rafting cheer when we
heard it," continued young Egerton,
tanning his heated forehead with his
straw hat, "and old Sir Henry looked
mast-headngs and close arrests at US,
until some one whispered that you had
been shipmate of ours, and the admiral
was mollified. The oldest thing is that
you were not present; though, per-
haps-"
"But why, in the name of common
sense, should have been theref Or how,
do you suppose, could all this have had
any interest for Iher'interrupted l, star
/ ing at my blithe young friend.
"Weli," rejoined Egerton, looking, in
his turn, surprised, "you do take your
good luck cooily, Harry. IL isn't often,
old man, that such windfall comes in
any fellows way, and Pm AFRAID that T
should not prove 80 philosophically in
different, in your place, to the good
things in store for me. AS it is@
L lOUk6u db buG luu WILL u bUEG Vi
puzzled wonder. He and his shipmates
were, felt assured, by far too generous
hearted to make a jest of my misfortune
in losing my appointment. And yet,
what satire on my baffled hopes was
this pretense OF treating me as one of
iortune's especial favoritesl Then it oo-
CURED to me that the whole conversa-
tion must be based on some error or
false assumption, perhaps owing to q
similarity Of name. s.Some mistakel"
l taltered out, with sickly smile. d.
"Not bit Of it~ said the midshipman,
decidedly. "The American commodore
on the station quite concurred in the
award, and the agents of the owners Of
The Henry Clay admitted it without
|grumbIing. Why Hariand,. any one
would say that you were utterly una
ware of your own claim for salvage
mbney, on the ship you saved, and the
cargo of which was of enormous value.
Seven thousand pounds, own, make up
a tidy sum, but not a dollar too much,,
considering how near freight and ship
were to Davy's locker, but for"
l think he said more, but his voice
sounded in my ears but indis stinctly, and
my eyes grew dim, as l reeled on my
leet, and should have fallen, but for
Egerton's supporting arm. When Ire-
covered from tAis momentary weakness.
rallied my wits, ana was able to learn
the truth. 1t was fact, that in bring
ing the American vessel sale into port,
l had never contemplated the idea OF any
pecuniary advantage to myself. NY
nrst care, on landing, had been to seek
out Messrs. Parker q Mills, and to their
counting house my 1irst visit had been
paid. 1t was indeed news to me that the
Court OF Admiralty, or rather the local
tribunal OF the naval station, had allot-
ted to me the large sum quoted, as my
just share OF the salvage OF the Henry
Clay, smaller rewards being assigned TO
their preservation from peril had led
Them to subscribe sum Of no less than
fifteen hundred pounds as a testimonial
To myself tor the service rendered; and
this, though with some scruples, l was
persuaded to accept.
That l returned home at once may
well be conjecLured, but having, in the
bustle of the moment, omitted to write or
telegraph the tidings OF my safety, I
burst into DR.. Dayenporps quiet dwell
ing at Clevestead with somewhat of the
startling effect Of melo-dramatlc ghost,
aud poor little Dora tainted outright at
the sight OF me. My darling-she was
looking tnln and pale, but happiness
soon brought back the rose to her cheeks,
and the brightness to her eyes-forgave
me the tnoughtlessness which had
caused her some weeks of carking care;
and Two months latter, we were married
with the consent OF all concerned. The
money, wnich was in due course made
over to me by the owners OF the Henry
Clay, enabled me to set up in business
as thriving ship-owner; and since that
time have commanded a fine vessel Vt
my own, and lave made prosperous voy-
ages, but none which has etfaced the
memory of my desperate struggle for lite
ON board the Amer loan snip, Henry
Clay.