Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-09-30


! from her side. except for "A few moment
at "A time. while the two were on deck. II
was pcrpetually bringing mattresses for he
To rest upon. and shawls to wrap aroun
her. / have known him to keep "A sailor Il
The miZLen chains tor hours at time
catching floating bits of sea-weed aud stra
lelly-ti>h. for her amusement. What wa
more credltable to him, he never abuse,
the men Ia her presence, and rarely swor
while she was within nearing. More thar
once, ut the warning touch of her han,
upon his arm, he dropped his raised hanC
and suppressed the haif-nuttered oath [,
be launched al some unhappy fellow VIII,
had committed an unusually irritating of
tense against the laws OF good scamanship
This moth-and-candle business went OF
for several weeks. Mary Ellis, was, or af
fected 10 be, totally unconscious OF the con
quest she had made. Neither Dick nor my
self felt at liberty TO demonstrate with hei
IN behalf OF the peace Ui mind of the sec
ond mate. | had however. yenturud on,
day To warn Mr.. Jones of the attention that
his conduct had attracted. We had grown
quite friendly by this time. aud | faucied
that the kindly interest took in his wei.
fare would rather fiatter him than other.
wise. He listened To what | had to say.
with his hands thrust into his pockets, and
his gaze directed miles away toward the
distant horizon. And SO. Mr.. Jones' !
concluded. 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 tor her. or else is
amusing herself at your expense"
He turned and looked at me silently.
"sll>ter, said he at last. slowly aud reilcc-
lively, like enongh you mean all right,
80 won [ get mad about IL. But YOU re
maxim the mi2htiest tool OF Yourself
IalAln' To me about yer sphere? Why.
IN man. amt | +: aud "A white man, too
And she's a woman. amt she! What's yer
spheres got Ia do with my bcin' perlits to
tue young woman expect she gets tired
oi your Internal Jaw someiimcs-I know
do, any how-aDa she don't mind liStenin'
10 me a bit, for "A healthy change. What
think oi her amt your business, nor vet
any body else's; bat amt goiu' to let any
inan say that shes a PLAY in it on me. Now
You've got your course, and that's enough.
don't allow no nterieriu' from pa.scn.
gers. nor nobody" And he walked away.
After this failure. tried him with no
more advice. Gradually | become con-
vinced that Mis-, Ellis was in reality a
hcartless cOqIcttc. who wa, amusing her
u
way a, tn interest her from it, very odliiv.
The conviction that .hc MAS actually cai,a-
bic OF this petty cruelty made me uccc,.
sarIly revise nay ori2iua, opinion OF her
aud I ceased Ia regard her with the warm
admiration with which She had first inspir-
ed me.
The voyage grew dun and tirr>omc. A.
IL drew toward Il close began to chafe Al
any iull of the fair wind that had followed
u nearly Acro>, the Atlantic and 10 lose
all patience al the first breath OF an adj
verse breeze. | have not vet mentioned
our captain. for the simple reason that he
had hardly been seen by any Of Us since We
had lett Gibraltar. lie WAS an ill-teinpereL
fellow, who disappeared into
his cabin as soon as We were clear OF the
straits. and entered upon quiet course uf
quiet drunkenness. in which he preserved
throughout the voyage. The mate uavi-
gated the ship, and was in every way An
inteisen, .t AID eompe!eRJ IT, olPs5sGrc lPs5sGrcedn% T on
our course as rapidly aud safely "a the ship
could be sailed. until | one day saw the
mate chalk certain figures "a board aud
hold them up 10 the sight of passing ves-
sci. Her people immediately answered by
displaying "A series oi totally dlficrcul tig-
ureS, the sight oi which elected 4 hearty
oath from the mate. who said to Mr..
Jones: Il knew our chronomcter was
wrong. but when the old man is sober
enough 10 talk. he swear> blue-streak if
| say anything about It,"
Ny newly awakened suspicious that We
were not in the most cnyiable situation
were Unexpectedly verified that same night
! had not felt well during the day. and soon
after dark went 10 my state-room. which
was in the house on deck. aud lay down in
my berth. Presently | heard voices from
the deck, close 10 my room. OF course |
ought not to nave permitted myself to hear
for listening is not the proper term To
apply TO any involuntary share in the con-
fdeuce which the second mate WAS besiow-
ing upon Miss Ellis-but could not easily
hep myself
They had evidently been talking some
where else, and had sheltered themselves
beneath the lee OF the house in order to
continue their conversation unmolcSted.
Mr. Jones was speaking vixen first be-
came aware of their close proximity TO
me.
I'm goiu' to tell you this, ,'' he said. be
cause you're not like other women that'Il
holler and raise Ned the minute they think
there's any danger. You're brave. it
know what's brave in gal-aud ought
10 by this time. want YOU not 10 say "A
word about this 10 your father, or any ybOdy
for II amt my business TO tell passengers
any thing; but the fact Is we may 90 a a-hure
any time Tonight, and want you to be
ready.
Go ashore tonight" She cried joyful
ly.
20. that is too good, Why | thought
We Were a hundred miles from land"
You don't get my meaning" he replied.
what | mean to say is this the macs
chronometer is all wrong lie aud have
su,picioned il for week back. aud tot day
We got the longitude from the bark YOU
was lookin' at. aud If they was right
were close on the coast"
And what of that: Shan't we ret home
all the quicker:' she asked, galy.
Don't You undeIstand?" he answered.
"Thc Old man-the captain. | mean-is
getting sober, and he's told the mate not
IL change his course or To take a rag off
her. First We know we'll run slap ON to
Hatteras beach; aud If it comes on to blow
AS it's goin' to sure-we'll 20 To- so
quick that the Old man won't get chance
to get drunk again
DO you mean that we are in danger -
she asked, iD Il lower tone.
tH- w piib uOu y Oh O..
Mebbe we'll 20 through the night all right.
but If We don't and anything does happen.
come straight TO me. III be on deck, and
I'll lay down my lite for you, Miss Mary.
God knows"
She asked him quickly: ''Why do ysu
mind what the captain says. if he is not So
ber! Why don't you and Mr.. Caswell the
mattel do what you think best!''
He laughed grimly. I've been to sea.
Miss-man and boy-for twenty years. and
| never yet went agin' my superior Off
GERS orders. The old man saws to drive
her, and that's the end OF it. II he drives
her ashore, it's his own look out and if il
was not for you | wish he would When
be loses ship or two. mebbe his owner.
will git sober men TO navigate for en-
Il AIN not afraid, Mr. JONES'" answered
the girl. III you are wrecked, | will do
just as you tell me. You can't think how
thank you for telling me the truth"
Mr.. Jones was quiet for a moment. and
| heard her dress rustic, as though she
turned to Ga. "Wait a bit, if you please
Miss" said the second mate; Il want &c
say one word 10 you"
After a pause. he began: Miss Mary,
you've no need to tell me what | am; as