Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-13
naiit 4runfber gournal.
A DAYS BETROTUiL.

''Well. Jenny, II VIII pe naru u part vi
the morrow" ;,
Jenny answered not word, but turned
away her head, looking out to sea with
wistfnl, sorrowful glance. The next mo-
ment my arm was about her waist. She
did not repulse me. Jenny" cried.
why should we part at all If you will
take me for skipper, we'll sail through
life together"
We are on board the barque Petrol. of
Grennneck, bound, eventually fors London,
with q miscellaneous cargo from the Medi-
terranean and we are now anchored in the
roadstead of Havre, a little to the north
and west of the pier-head. Jenny is the
shippers daughter, and / am only pas
senger.
How it was that came to be passen-
ger on board the Petrol, and making love
to our Jenny, may here briefly explain.
An official reorganization had set me at
liberty with moderate pension; in the
prime of life, with all the world before
me, and ere making fresh start | had de-
termined to have my "wanderyear. SO,
after having wandered over half of Eu-
rope, l found myself standing on the quay
at Nables one tranquil evening. watching
the movements of the shipping, jingling
the few sovereigns had left in my pocket,
and wondering if they would hold out till
Quarter day, when l was suddenly accost-
ed BY name with friendly accents in my
native tongue. 1t was some time before
l recognized my interlocutor, or could
bring to mind under what circumstances
I had previously met with Captain Mac
farlane, Of the Petrol, for such he gave
himself out to he. All of sudden got
the cue.
. Up to the last eighteen months. had
been employed in the Transport and Vic
tualling Office in Whitehall. The Petrol
had been chartered as transport; and to
Macfarland, much bothered with official
forrns and circumlocutions, had been of
some little service, putting him in the way
Of getting his accounts passed. and so on.
He had said at the time, that II he ever had
it in his power to do me a good turn, he
would. And now, here he had an oppor.
tunity.
..And why not take passage with me to
Old England ?" urged the hosptable Scot,
as we sat smoking and discussing bottle
of wine at a neighhoring cafe. Come!
it shant cost you a bawbee. Come the
bluepeter's flying. We weigh anchor to-
night. Go and fetch your traps, and yen
come on board with me-.
The offer was too tempting to be re-
fused. Time was no object with me.
whilst money was. Before knew what |
was about found myself and my port
manteau slowed away in the captains gig,
which was cleaving the tranquil waters Of
the bay. Next, was swinging myself
up the side of the Petrol, and then saw
pair of great soft brown eyes looking
down upon me. and almost lost my foot.
ing by the start they gave me.
'.Hoot! us just our Jennyr' cried Mac
farlane, In answer to my look of inquiry
directed towards our fair fellow passenger.
Jenny, this is Master Willie Thornley,, to
whom I'm under great obligations, and
hope we'll max him comfortable among
u.s."
well, it was too late to recede, and,
after all, it would not be for long
And if it hadn't been for those battling
winds, we should have been safe enough.
We did not get to be right down friends,
Jenny and !, for whole fortnight, by
which time we ought to have been in sight
OF the white cliffs OF Old England, and the
SOLDERING influences connected with them.
But we had three weeks more of it-a
happy halcyon time-that eliminated in
the scene with which ! began this narra-
tive.
We had called at Havre to dispose of
part of our cargo, and the captain and
mate having gone ashore to settle some
dispute with some Of his crew who had
unwarrantably deserted the ship. left Jen-
ny and me on board, in charge.
We were practically alone on board.
The steward was busy in his caboose, the
black was asleep somewhere forward-in
the sun-the ship was riding easily ut her
anchor with almost imperceptible motion.
The town was shimmering pleasantly in
the sunshine, and the white villas on the
wooded heights above shone like so many
caskets of ivory. 1t was low tide, and a
strip Of wet glistening sand was visible
along the shores of the bay bathers were
splashing about; amateur shrmpers were
pushing their nets before them in the shall |
lows. Beyond, the bold headland of the
Cape lie Heve, crowned by its two white |
lighthouses, assumed the appearance OF
some lazy pacific beast couchant on the
sands. Time and place were alike pro-
pitious. | turned to Jenny, and spoke to
her OF our approaching separation then
l made the final plunge Oh. those baf-
fling winds how much they had to an
swer for.
What Jenny's feelings might have been
after that decisive moment. cannot tell
Mine approached stupefaction. All the
difficulties and disadvantages attached 10
the step had taken, now showed them.
selves to my minds eye in the strongest
colors; and life of straitened means and
perpetual petty self-denial, tinctured with
the idea OF life OF miserable respectable.
ty, presented themselves in CHASTITY ar
ray.
There is an advantage, however, in see
ing the worst at once. Having suffered
my moment Of agony, l began to re-
cover Jenny, poor child, had not noticed
the sudden chill that came over me; she
was too much agitated and occupied with
her own feelings and as her head rested
upon my shoulder, and her eyes looked
into mine with trusting confidence, be-
gan to realize the truth, that | had sue
ceeded in wining for myself a charming.
affectionate companion that my life would
no longer be lonely and selicontained.
The tide had turned; the flood had be-
gun to make. The ship was swinging
slowly round presenting TO lis the onnn