The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-04-14

daughter, then and there, and in the
most seaman-like language, proceeded to
demand Polly's hand as an accompani-
ment for her heart, of which he claimed
present possession.
Blifnch heard him through quietly,
and then, turning to his daughter,
said:
"Polly, is oil this true that this
young man has been saying"
eyes, father"
And you want to marry him, do
you?"
eff you please, father
Blifnch meditated for about two min
utes; then, turning to Collier, he said:
"You are mate of ship, you tell me,
young man 2"
Yes, sir, replied Collier, patterning
his replies after Polly's laconic style.
Chow would you like to be captain of
q ship2" said Blifnch.
every much," replied the sailor.
every well," continued Blifnch, re-
turning as he spoke to some papers he
had been examining when he was inter
rupted, "Come to my store tomorrow
at noon. I will get you the appointment
of captain of ship in which am inter
ested; she sails next week for Callao.
IL you make good voyage on her, you
can marry my daughter-when you come
back. Goodnight"
Polly turned pale and staggered visi-
bly,; Sam Golfers face frightened, and
seizing Blifinch by the hand he thanked
him efusively and the two left the room
together.
Sailorlike, Sam thought nothing of an
extra voyage, and was fairly choked up
with delight at his new dignity. Polly,
on the contrary, foreboded all sorts of
evil and when q week later Sam sailed
as captain of the bark Polly (newly
christened), she surrendered herself to
the gloomiest anticipations. These would
probably not have been lessened had she
heard remark made by Blifnch as the
bark left her moorings. He was stand
ing on the dock beside Polly, and as he
waved his hand for the last time to Capt.
Collier he aaid-underh his breath: e" Yes,
you can marry my daughter, when you
come back -
-Four months psssed-fve, si1-and
the Polly put in no appearance nor was
there word of her nor of Capt. Sam
uel Collier, her commander. The bark
was an old vessel which had barely es-
capped condemnation after her previous
voyage by a promise on the part of her
owners that she should be thoroughly
overhauled and reftted. She had GER
tainly been cobbled up in a way and had
received u tnird-class rating; she had
likewise been heavily insured with an
seven and eight months had elapsed and
no tidings were heard of her, Blifnch
did not seem to see the matter in that
light.
That Polly should grow pale and care
worn, refuse sustenance, and nope her
self almost to death generally was no
matter of surprise to those who observed
the phenomenon I; but that Blifinch, who
was supposed to have no more heart
than one of his own frkins Of lard,
should turn detected and nervous, haunt
the exchange for tidings of his ship,
sleep restlessly at night, and toss and
mutter with bad dreams, as Polly
averred he did-that this condition
should oppress the hard headed man of
business was curious indeed.
Perhaps had those who interested
themselves in Bifinch's condition of
mind seen him one afternoon about
year from the date of the Polly's depart
ure from New York, and after the in
surance had been duly paid over, and
Capt Sam Collier mourned as dead by
his many friends, and by the one good
girl who loved him and was dying for
him-had Blifinch been seen on this
thrown upon his untoward behavior.
For, sitting at his desk, with his head
bowed upon his hands, which clutched
his tangled gray hair miserably, the old
man moaned such phrases as these: "I
did it 1 killed him killed both of
them, God forgive me I'm ruined now
and damned for hereafter Poor Polly I"
and here Blifinch broke down and wept.
There was tap at his door, and clerk
announced vlsitor-a seafaring man,
he said, and Blifnch cursed him and told
him to show the gentleman up, which he
did.
That evening Blifnch came to Polly,
as she sat by dim fire in the sitting
room, brooding over her sorrow, and
called her:
"Polly."
"Yes, father" she said, quietly.
II want you to come to my wedding
"Your wedding, father 70
"I said so; why should not have n
wedding2 Is there to be no more mar
rying or giving in marriage because an
internal, rotten oil bark goes to the
bottom 2"
"But this is so sudden, father" said
Polly, gently.
Chow do you know it is sudden 2"
said Blifnch, savagely. "You must do
as L tell you and don't make remarks
want you to go to my wedding at ten
o'clock to o-morrow. Dress up in your
best and will take you. It is to be
at the chapel on the dock; do you
hearY"
"Yes, father" said poor Polly. "I