Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-06-15

from her? She never doubted him
and she kept his memory bright il
her heart. She did not hope ever t.
meet him on earth again, for she wa:
sure that if he lived he would return
to her, but no other love should evel
obliterate his from her heart.
A whole year wore away, and Hal
had urged his suit vehemently in the
proceeding days, and Margaret real
lied with a sad heart, that her steady
refusal OF his suit was alternating her
uncle's affections. He could not un-
derstand this constancy. Why
should Margaret live alone because
one man was false or unfOrtunatef
So he urged, as they sat in the par
lor of the little cottage, and Margaret
listened with dropping head, and
hands folded wearily.
81 cannot marry, uncle" she said,
gently, but firmly; 81 cannot forget
the only man l ever loved"
The garden gate Changed, a step
crunched the gravel. and, withoat
knocking man in q rough sailors
dress, bearded and bronzeJ, stood in
the doorway. One look, and with a
cry Margaret sped to the opca arms
of Harry Craige. IEs
John Himmersley only stared, till
a CHEEKY voice said:
"You see I am a sailor-a man af-
ter your own heart"
''Bless my eyes! where did you
come from?"
''Off the Sea Gull"
"Whaling?"
"Yes."
''But what possessed you to go of
in that way?'
81 will tell you. Sit beside me,
Margaret. | was shaughaied. Do
you know what that means, my
pearl? Your uncle does. l was
drugged, carried aboard the Sea
Gull, and recovered my senses when
we were out of sight of land,
bound for a years whaling cruise.
"But who" began John Ham
mersley.
"William Hail." was the stern an
swer. "He told me, Margaret, a
week before our wedding-day, of a
friend of his, a captain of an East
Indian vessel, who haG some cnriosi-
ties that would please you, and rare
shawls and fabrics to show me also.
l never thought of treachery, and
when he sent me note to meet his
friend in the village, drove over.
Halfway on my trip l met Hall, and
took him up. We drove to 4 small
tavern, and while we waited drank
q glass of wine with Hall. A numb
ness soon seized me, my head grew
dizzy, and | knew no more until |
awoke on board n whaling vessel in
the dress of common sailor"
"The scoundrelw muttered John
Hammersley.
Il raised a pretty fuss at first"
Harry continued, "but it was useless.
Nobody believed / could pay the sum
/ offered if they would carry me to
Brashaw, and 1 concluded l must
make the best Of the situation. So,
Mr.. Hammersley, l applied my en-
ergies to seamanship, and they tell
me aboard the Sea Gull that | make
q very tidy sailor
"You are a brave lad," was the
warm reply, "and Pm heartily glad
you're back; and I'm heartily glad
of another thing-and that is, that
Margaret's true love has baflled
Halls little game. Old as l am, he
had better keep out of reach of my
ARM"
Apparently the baffied schemer
thought so himself, for he was never
more seen in Brashaw. Two there
were who little cared. The two
were married q few weeks later, and
Uncle John threatened to find wife
himself; but at the last accounts he
had failed to do so, preferring to
wait till Margaret's eldest daughter
is old enough to take her mothers
place as housekeeper in the cottage.