, 1875-03-13

upon poor JACK
Time passed on and the young
widow recovered entirely from the
shock her nerves had received.
Things went on as before, save
that she oftener sought the side of
Jack Walton when he was aft.
And little Lizzie, for so the wild
ow's child was called, used to hang
upon Jacks arms with a fondness
seldom shown save by a child to
its parent.
Sometimes Jacks shipmates
would joke him upon the subject
of his growing intimacy with the
beautiful widow, but he never re-
Piled to them. Once Bill Hughes
spoke more plainly:
Jack, said he, if that woman
knew you as well as 1 do, she
wouldn't be long in making life
splice of it.
What, returned Jack, she mate
with such a poor stick as I amH If
you have any regard for me, Bill,
don't say anything like it again.
Poor Jack turned away as he said
this for there was a tear in his eye
and he would hide it.
At length the ship arrived at
New York, and Mrs. Johnson's
first movement was to senda let
ter to a mercantile firm in the city.
On the next day q boat came
alongside, for the vessel had not
yet been hauled up to the wharf,
and brought a note for the widow.
She was seated upon the poop
when she received it, and by her
side stood Jack Walton, who had
been pointing out some Of the
Iooalities in the hay There wal
a tear in her eye, but she soon
wiped it away, and then looked up
Alas, said she, death has been
busy in the great city. Ihave not
a friend left. No one now that
knows me, no relative no acquaint-
ance,n
It's hard, ventured Jack, but a
brave heart can live. It's been
now twenty long years since I
knew the love of a relative.
Mr.. Walton, said the tremulous
widow, l am going to be very
plain with you. / have returned
to the home of my birth rich in
money, far more than ] can ever
spend, but / have none to care for
me, none to protect me from the.
snares that will be sure to be laid
about the young and wealthy wild
ow. Ny child loves you andso do
/. 1 know that you are honest
and true, brave and generous, and
Of a firm and incorporating prin-
ciple in what you think is right.
And now l make you an offer. If
you reject it, l shall trust in your.
honor not to reveal it. There is
my hand, it is yours if you will
take it My heart you already
have.
For a moment Jack stood like
one bewildered, but when he met
the soft, warm light that shone
upon him from out those eyes Of
blue, he opened his arms, and when
he closed them again the noble
hearted widow was folded within
their embrace.
Before the Norwood sailed on
her next voyage, her crew were
invited to attend a wedding. They
came and saw poor Jack, now
transformed into asplendid gentle
man, married to the handsome
widow who had shared the dangers
of their last homeward bound voy-
age; and not one of them envied
him in the least, for they ali knew
how richly he deserved the noble
prize he had won, and how much
better suited he was TO make a
good husband than any other of
the crew.
On the eastern bank Of the Hud-
son, not far from the great city,
still lives Jack Walton, fondly
proud of bis prize, and it is easy
to tell by the happy smiles that
bloom upon the wifs's face that she
has never had occasion to regret
the moment she first offered her
hand to the true-hearted son Of the
ocean, 4