Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-08-03
Maisfellanfons. g
Sailor Tom.

Sailor Tom was my nephew. lie had
taken to the sea from choice. and rising
rapidly. at the age of twenty-five was first
mate. OF. as we more, grandloquently
called him, First Lieutenant.
We! Yes. there was annothcr beside
myself to whom Sailor Tom was every
thing. That was Katie Woodville. the
only child of Lawyer Woodville, Of our
county town. Lawyer Woodville was ex-
ceedingly rich. and as far as money went,
might have looked higher for Katie than
Tom but he was ambitious for the res
pect Of his townsfolk. and knew Ii would
be good thing to be connected with the
| Mostvns-oue OF the oldest of Sidcombe
families, though no longer, owing to un-
toward circumstances. the most wealthy.
The little church still possessed the
Mostyn pew. though the Mostyns never
sat there, for it was let with the "big
white house on the hill-rom's sole prop
erty. bat which, for pecuniary reasons. he
let 10 cotton merchant from Msnches
ter.
The townsfolks, however, still retained
their aspect for the ..old Mostyns.' and
hence Lawer woodville gave his consent
readily TO Toms engagement to his pret-
ty daughter. making the proviso that the
union should no, take place until he could
sign himself Captain.
No great proyiso To hopeful Tom. who
had been the favorite OF every Captain he
had sailed under. SO his heart was light
when he pressed a farewell kiss upon
katie's red lips aud bore away round his
! neck n locket bearing her miniature
and lock of her soft brown hair.
I'm tell YOU what I'll do, aunt he said
To me. before he started, aud shall never
I forget how bright. how handsome he look
/ ei. when return from this voyage: I'll
ask Captain Marklcham down here. lie
/ has no home OF his own to call 4 home.
and he will like IT,.
Why. rom. should he GOMEZ asked.
" Because fellows promotion uatur
ally rests a good deal upon his super iors !;
and the skipper. though n Jolly chap In the
main, is queer at times, and awful sharp
10 the crew, can tell you
We'll Tom. you know best replied.
| The blue spare room Is ever at the ser
/ vice OF any ofyour friends
| 80 it was arranged thst Shipper Mark
4 lehzm should come to Sidcombe with Tom
/ and Toms first letter told me that the
/ invitation had been made and gladly ac-
I cepied. don't know why. but that let
I ter gave me less pleasure than Toms did
/ generally. | was sorry the invitation had
/ not been rejected.
The months passed. Sailor Toms ship
had been signalled in the channel, and We
knew would soon be with us. Consequent
| ly we-that Is. Katie and I-were busy In
| preparations to receive him and his friend.
As twilight fell, Katie would have sped
| home, but | would not have IL. | made
her stop, for Tom declared he never en-
| joyed any tea like that Katie brewed
The clock had just struck six when We
| heard the sound OF wheels. few See
/ nnds later, Tom was In the room, embrace
/ ing US both in his hearty, impetuous way.
The dear boy. should not for worlds
| have checked him, had not abruptly
grown aware that Katie was drawing
back, blushing like :ose. and shyly
smoothing her lace collar.
Glancing round for the cause. bchcld
| standing vi thin the room a gentleman of
scarcely thirty, handsom of feature, with
bronzed complexion that lent greater in
tensity to his dark moustaehe, and pair
OF almost black eyes. OF deep, piercing
expression, that, As | met. produced upon
me a feeling something like repulsion. SO
struck was | by those eyes that | stood
motonless regarding them. uutil Tom
seizng the strangers arm, brought him
| forward in his hearty way, and introduce
| ed him rs Captain Markleham. Recover
! ing myself | welcomed the latter warmly
| for my uephew's sake, after which we all
| sat down 10 tea.
As the meal progressed. my feelings
respecting Toms shipper altered. He
talked well. was full OF anecdote, and
was the animation and mirth of US all.
! II was a merry pdti cdrre. and never had
hattie been m.rrer nor looked pretter, es-
pecially when hooded for her return home.
| Captain Msrkieham made much fun ia
| obtaining Toms permission TO help him IN
| escorting her.
He went. and saw them no more for
two hours, Lawyer woodville having in-
sisted upon their staying 10 supper
And said Tom. in a wisper. you
can't tell how Mr.. Woodville and the skip
per got on together. They seemed a. II
they had known each other for wears.
II don't wonder smiled. Your ship
per. a. you term him, Tom. i formed to
! please everyone.
All! Is he not: Though added my
nephew, more seriously ,l'hr's precious
queer card sometimes | can tell you
No one Is Always amiabie" | laughed,
| IA left him at his chamber-door, little
dreaming that that night | had shaken
| hands with the man who was To huri me
and mine into the bittere.t depths Of suf-
ferins.
| did not quite expect that. Neverthe-
less. my ideas had again changed toward
| Captain Markletam when the month he
and Tom were 10 spend at Sidcombe had
expired.
Farewell, aunt exclaimed Sailor Tom,
| AS he waited for his friend TO Join him when
about 10 start for Liverpool.
i think this is my last voyage as First
Lieutenant. Don't be quite broken-heartcd
at the loss of Horace Markleham. Shall
bring him back to be best man at my we'd
dngy
No | said. quickly.
No! Whyi
Because l rejoined. forcing a laugh,
and glad to hear Captain Marklehrm's step,
'one can have too much Of good thing
| dared not tell Tom what | knew; that
Horace Marklebam loved Katie; and that
Lawyer Woodville had taken such fancy
to him; that, secretly he would have had
no objection to him for sOn.in-law, for.
according to Horace Markleham himself,
| Horace Markleham was rich and well con-
| nected.
Hence, was glad to see the back Of
| Toms skipper. and prayed he would never
get foot in SidcOmbe again.
! was seated, one afternoon, at work. ra-
ther over month after Sailor Toms de-
parture-oi course. thinking Of him-w hen
the garden gate clicked. and l saw Katie
flying up the path To the house.
She WAS destbly pale, and teld news.
paper In her hand.
A second after. she was in the room.
Good gracious! Katie love. what is the
mstteri' cried, starting up. us it's
it anything about TOmT
She bHrst into hysterical weeping. and
could only hand me the paper.
The large letters heading the paragraph
which first met my gaze explained all.
Wreck In the straits of Beb. el-Mandeb.
Great Loss of Life
had no need to look for the name Of the
ship.
Uttering loud cry, dropped back on
10 my chair, and tainted.
Yes; it was all too true. The notice 10
the paper was brief; but it was cruelty suf.
ficient. The "GOshawk" had, during the
nigh., through the negligence CT the Officer
on watch, run on . dangerous rock. and
become, = total wreck. The crew haG
taken to the boats but many lives had beef
lost.
need not say how arxi Ously we waitet
i H