The daily gazette., 1877-05-25
THE CAPTAINS CHASE

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, dispute between them touching the sew
eral merits of pair Of suitors Of tina
cold enough to be my father, 1 wa
going to say" resumed a. Clara, "bu
Igrdndfdtter would be nearer the truth
Al "Zounds girl, you're enough to pro
woke asaint, let alone crusty sea-doj
neers, I" broke out the uncle. "I tell yo,
man needs age and experience to TAX,
charge of d ssktttish craft like you. 0Sila
Sereleaf is han of soberness and sub
stance, / only wonder, with his pru
dence and experience, at his seeking
such e risk. When was captain of the
PetreI ne was my owner, and" ~ g'
1 That's good. reason, suppose, why
he should be mine" Interrupted Clara.
giving her pretty head toss I
a'fASast t6erep boiled over her uncle
I"An oldsalt with his wealth Fer eye open
isn't easily hoodwinked, and you and
Ithat, young lubber, Owen Forbes, NAV
as we'll as understand first as last, that
liany man but Silas Sereleaf takes you to
wife without a penny. If should die
without a will, as had fully intended to
do-when my times comes-all 1 have
Of course would go to you as my next OF
kin. But mark me, you cross my wishes
here, I'll call in a lawyer, though I de-
test the whole tribe like SO many pirates,
and leave my entire fortune TOTO Davy
Jones himself sooner than you and that
milksop shall finger penny ofit!'
| Clara, rising Indignantly, flung out
of the room, banging the door behind
her.
Leaving Clara and her uncle to cool,
let us introduce them to the reader.
The latter. Capt. Mainyard, after pass
ing many years in the merchant service
rafss 60 al II. lARk 90
and his brother Oliver Tor the survivor
of them, if either died before the testator)
by wealthy distant relative. Oliver
Mainyard, was one of the officers of q
ship, which, after sailing for foreign
port, was never heard of more, her fate
remaining one of the secrets of the sea to
be revealed when the time comes for
giving up its dead. So when the rich re-
lation died, the captain alone was left to
take the handsome fortune bequeathed
in the manner we have stated.
The orphaned Clara, who, while yet an
infant, had lost her mother, found well
come home in the house of her gruff old
uncle, who, being bachelor and adopted
child and prospective heiress. And
right happily the two dwelt together till
such time as the captain insisted on
Clara's bestowal Of her hand on his old
employer, Silas Sereleaf, and her rejec.
LlOu Vi -b00 bulU Vi OW6n COTUtSy Wu0u
she mutinied outright.
! They had argued the point over and
over again with heat and temper. But
when the captain in fit Of passion,
threatened to make al will and cut her
off-a thing he never would have the
heart to do-that settled it; and when
Clara flung out of the room, as we have
seen, 1t was with her mindi made up to
InarryO OwenForbes inspite Of fate and all
the uncles in the world.
"The jade, 1 see, has the family spirit
in her." growled the captain to himself.
glove! L must keep sharp lookout, or
she'll cut away with that fellsw the first
time my backs turned"
For several days he struck to the house
like sentinel on post, keeping close
watch on all comers and goers. But the
duty grew irksome and the captains
caution to relax; so one afternoon he
stepped over to spend half an hour with
an old friend with whom he was accusr |
toned now and then to talk over by-gonq
days. vi
As IS their wont on such occasions,
the moments sped swiftly, and before
the captain knew it,. the half hour had |
doubled itself.
Catching up his hat he fastened home
1t was growing dark when he reached |
the door, where the housemaid met |
him.
"Ts tea ready?" inquired the captain.
at is, an waitin', sir" |
"Bid my niece come down."
"Miss Clarry's gone out, sir"
"Gone out?" cried the captain in alarm
-"when?"
"Nigh onto an hour ago." replied Bid
iy. "a young gintlcman come with a
an tuck tuck her away"
sWhNwhat direction did they take?"
yasped the astounded captain.
"Sthraight down the sthreet, sir" was
the answer.
The captain waited to hear no more.
Having little experience in horses, he
kept none of his own. He called Dick
the man-servant, but getting no answer
he ran to the nearest livery stable him
self, and ordering the best turnout to be
had, set off in the direction painted out
by Biddly, offering . rich inducement to
the driver to spread every stitch of sail
the craft could carry.
Much precious time was lost before
getting fairly on the track of the fugtiyes. |
who, by this time, had good hour and
a half the start.
1t was bright moonlight, and the driver
kept a keen lookout for the craft ahead.
Of which he had obtained full descrip.
ion.
"Hullop at last he shouted; 'tthe games
surs! The other coach stands before the
loor of the next house"
"Run in and anchor along side." re-
Dlied the captain, and set me ashore with
,ut delay!"
A moment more and he was hurrying-
ID the steps of sober-looking mansions.
whose open door he entered unannoun-l
,ed, and rushing into a lighted parlor
opening on the hallway, he caugh sight
II group evidently in the act of going
through the marriage service. The uni.
ing pair had their backs towards him,
nut he recognized his niece's dress, and
he guilty man no doubt was Owen
Forbes.
"--let not man put asunder!' were
he words the captain was just in time to
atch.
"But DM put them asunder 2" roared
he irate captain planting himself between
he minister and the newly welded pair,
nd turning fercely to confront the latter. !
He started with astonished look. 1t was
Us man Dick, and Susan, his niece's maid. &
"Confound you both p he cried. $50 ]
We been fooled into this wild goose chase
0 clear the coast for my precious niece and 6
er trumpery lover but I'll be in time to ]
affle them yet !"
And Fastening back to the coach he I
nmped in and ordered the driver to "bout