The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-01-30

Aud then with happy sigh, like that of a
mother to her child, she looked ON him and
she knew him.
We will close Mrs. Durnford's shop-door
for the night, and serve no more customers.
It was known among the neighbors next
morning that gentleman had gone into her
house Immediately before her closing, and
had not come out again. 1t was known late
in the morning that M. Escriot had gone
there the first thing, and that Mrs. Durn-
ford's husband had come back from "the
Indies" with vast fortune.
That was by no means true he had only
come home with an old ship, and had been
apsointed to new one by great firm whose
confidence he had gained. He came to fetch
loving adieux from the Escriots: and Upper
East Smlthfeld knew Mrs. Durnford no
more.
The Escriots did, however. By every pos
sible mail came letters from the Durnfords
about Meerschaum. The plan about him
was that he was to quit the navy at once,
and come as mate under his father. He
might enter the r. N, but he must sail un-
der his father TO learn navigation and take
his proper place. He would certainly come
to M. Escriot, and NJ. Escrot was earnestly
prayed to help him in the matter. They
would only be away year, and they wanted
to end their lives all three together.
M. Escriot used to go out for walks on fine
DAYS with Ninette, far beyond the East End,
far beyond the city, out into the pleasant
parks and squares of the West. He was in d
quiet part of Kensington Gardens one day,
when his Ninette left him and wandered
away along the Serpentine, 1t was the time
when the rhododendrons were in bloom, and
as she stood looking at them she found her.
self face to face with young gentleman in
civilians clothes, bnt somehow looking like
sailor.
"Mademoiselle Escriot,. l believer" he said.
eyes, surely"
81 am afraid you do not know me.
should have known you anywhere"
Sand should have known you nowhere,
monsieur" ....t ..,-.... ,....r. ilsi e..
''Lo dare to say; yet know you so well
that I have followed you about for the whole
afternoon, afraid to speak to you.' alf
''Yet am not difficult of address, mon
sieur; have strange confidants." n7 -afnr
'May be one of them? Do you remem-
Der boy called Meerschaum?"q 4.s1 81. ..,.y
"Perfectly. Do you bring me news OF
him ?" 5r......r .4f-
81 do.' ...s..f Boil. .54.-..L.t-i .4l
IL hope that it is good, because, sir, be-
tween us, l loved him when we were children
together so very deeply. 1 think that if he
were to come before me now, the brave. pa
tient little fellow grown into man, l could
love him again. You try by your dress to
conceal froln the world that you are sailor.
But sailors eyes are too frank for wom-
ar's scrutiny. You have seen Meersch aum.
Where did you see him last T' emil i-l'i 3dJ 1"i
'sDo you not see him now ?''said the young
man. l.t..- ri 4t..l .I''U 5aill tils3 lT..
1t was Meerschaum, and in trying to re-
member what she had said to him before the
recognition she pretended to herself that she
had forgotten it all. They joined M. Escriot,
and went home with him. Ope thing only
was certain to the old man, and that was that
his granddaughter and the son of the convict
woman were in love with one another. and
that nothing which he could ever do would
separate them. -n4ii.af .t.l. asf.dt. lH
The simple fact was that he had no word
to say against the arrangement. He was get
ting very old. Michael Durnford was every
thing he could desire. His father and mother
we're accommodating money and doing well.
Under the English law his granddaughter
money could be tied up on herself. He had
asked about the young mans character, and
it was good. Why, then, should they not
marry? H, determined to ask his grand
daughter if she had any objection. .'Al -I54
She answered that she had none at all, and
continued, like a true daughter of France
with money in her purse, that, if he could
not keep her, they, grandfather and grand
daughter, would be most certainly able to
keep him. 1t was not an English way of put
ting the case, but it was most certainly prac-
tical. .i-a. A-.-- H4I F. .fE y-A n"7
So golden days came for poor Meerschaum.
M. Escrot sent him to college at Southsea
to learn navigation, The science, in its rudi-
iments, is not difficult. We have learned it
three or four times ourselves, and can say,
with safe conscience, that we know nothing
about it now, Meerschaum, however, assimi-
lated navigation, and Lieutenant Maury, of
the United States navy, having appeared on
the scene shortly before, Meerschaum fol-
lowed his theories, hanging on his words.
/ His examinations were passed splendidly.
There was slight difficulty about his obliga-
ltions 10 the Royal Navy, but they were east
'ly got over. He went into the Reserve. Min,
,ette and he were to be married when his par
.ents came home. They were expected every
day.
The weather got dim and wild early that
year. 1t stood at north, then at northeast,
backing steadily against the sun. Meers@,
chaum, full of Reid, Maury and Fitzroy, told
them that great storm was coming. Ninette
and he walked across the sands to Broad
stairs; the boatmen were ready for any thing
there. . .- ...l. .
The great southwesterly storm of those
days came on them more suddenly than they
barometer. From the CHASTITY position of 49,.
10 the baron meter went up to 2S.0. AT three
O'Clock the disaster was upon them. There
came flying, almost green-colored, cloud
from the direction of Calais, and after that
no one knew how much more until it was
over. The wind drove the sea in masses of
foam toward the land. AS darkness came on
it was evident that all the lights in the chau-
mel were useless on such a night as this.
the lights, even in their own castle, were dim
spots.
In this horrible roar and confusion one
young man kept his head. Toward midnight
Michael Durnford went out and tried to rally
the boatmen. They were at first disinclined
to 60 with him, for it was useless. -ilt'
! 81 tell you," he said, "that there is a ship
close to us. I have heard the voices Of the
people on board of herr ~ .1l4.i...i.. .,,
I A man came staggering through the surf,
holding tight to a woman. Then woman
came, holding baby; and then Others reel
ing in the wash, which was now beginning
to slop up with the ebb. .L d. ii. r. d..tI4'i'
All Kingsgate were out at Cnce, and up to
their waists in water. Michael Durnford
pulled a man on shore and asked him what
ship it was which has been wrecked. lad
"The Aurora" the man said. Captain
Durnford. She is on her side of the reef
there. He is going to stop to the last, and
his wife was with him." "i"Ho' -''i-
M. Escriot and Ninette knew nothing .of
what was happening. In the awful roar OF
the storm, they once or twice held The door
partly open, and peered out into the wild
night. He faced it bareheaded, but she
wrapped UP her head because Michael always
kissed her hair before they separated. She
raised her hands and said, a"Let us thank
God that our boy is not at sea. "h1l''i"t = ~
And M. Escriot said, 81 will copy Lear.
I'll pray, and then I'll sleep.' ' .,.,...s,a
When Michael heard the name of the ship,
he knew what had happened. He was per-
fectly quiet. He said to two young men who
"My father is captain of that ship, and my
mother is with him. Unjust get of to them"
The two young fishermen to whom Michael
spoke showed BIN that if the ship: were
where she was reported to be, be could get
to her along that reef which lies to the west
of Kingsgate. So he went out along it into
the spin-drift, and was seen no.more until the
next morning. .fi .9.f iA % l5I1'f iA
Blinded and bruised among the rocks. he
made out the slip at last. She was lyipG.-at
the edge of the reef, breaking her back. As
he approached her he heard her cracking and
ripping herself to pieces. She was on her
side, and ruin of masts and rigging was
between himself and her. He saw his IA