The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-06-16
HIS LUCK,
BY F. Ii. CON VERSE.

They were to have been married
Thanksgiving evening. Why couldn't
he have had even common luck, and
made fair passage7 Joe Thorpe or Sam
Andrews, who were not half as careful as
himself, were probably off Montauk
Point by this time, and here he was,
south of Hatteras, half his crew down
with fever and sgue, whole suit of sails
blown away, his cargo of fruit probably
rotten, and the wind hauling to the
north'ard all the time. with strong pros
pect of another gale.
1t was too bad. too laundering badl"
he added, with IA emphasis almost allow
able under the circumstances, as he
glanced at the compass.
" As unlucky as Arad Thorpel" had
passed into a proverb in his native town
of Coyerly, and yet he was prudent, en-
ergetic and smart. He always made
money for his owners, but however much
he might lay by for himself, was sure to
be, in some unforeseen manner, lost.
The Hammerton Bank, wherein he had
deposited thousand, had suspended pay
ment. The cashier of the Home Saw
ings Institute had Dedicated" leaving
him loser of an equal sum. His lit
tie house on Elm Street had burned dur
ing his absence, the insurance policy
having expired day or two before. He
had been knocked down and robbed of
Ills freight money in Panama All Of
which events, occurring at different
lines, had come nigh to make Arad a
fatalist.
But, thanks to Jessie Banks, his be-
trothed, he had kept up good heart,
and his courage had won from Banks,
pere, the promise that, if he brought
home three hundred dollars as his own
share OF the trading voyage in the Car
ibbean Sea, he should marry Jessie,
without further notice, on the coming
Thanksgiving evening.
This voyage he had made some sue
cessful ventures, which had Melted him
about three hundred and fifty dollars,
said sum being locked up in his desk be-
low.
CHOW do you head now, Jerry?" was
his query, for the twentieth time, and
the unsatisfactory answer East-north-
east" caused an ejaculation of impa-
thence to escape him.
"Brocky Joe much sick. He want
more med cine" was the salutation
which met his ear, as tall, power
fully built sailor, Spaniard, accosted
him.
He had shipped his crew of four men
and second mate in Jamaica, and ras-
cally looking set they we're, though up
to this time they had done well enough,
and now that two of them were sick, the
remaining two had done double duty j;
so that Arad had begun to think very
we'll of them.
Taking some quinine from the medi-
cine-chest, he went forward, and enter
ing thelittle forecastle, which was dimly
lighted by swinging lamps, he was about
to proceed to the bunk of the supposed
sick man, when he was suddenly seized
from behind, blanket thrown over his
head, and, almost before he could think,
was hurried to the rail, over which he
was thrown in an instant.
But Arad, like all Coverly boys, was
perfect water-dog, and after coming to
the surface, he blew the water from his
mouth, worked off his sea boots, got him
self out of his pea-jackst by dint of
much squirming, and wiping the spray
from his eyes as he rose on the crest of a
wave, he had the cheerful satisfaction of
seeing the binnacle-light of his vessel ap-
parently half mile distant and rapidly
growing fainter.
"My luck" was on his tongue, as he
struck out, with vague hope of keep
ing himself afoat tillmorning, and then
Jessie's last words came to his mind, " Be
sure, Arad, and do all you cam God will
do the rest"
With an inward prayer for help, he
resolved to make a struggle for life,
though he knew his chances were infin-
itesimalIy small. and by dint of hus-
banding his strength, the morning light,
as it dawned over the turbulent sea,
found him chilled to the bone, exhausted
and faint but still swimming.
Oh, how eagerly, as it grew lighter,
did he look for welcome sail And,
rising on the crest of wave, his heart
came almost into his mouth, for not a
stones throw distant was little her
maphrodite brig, under short sail, bear
ing down upon him.
Hillo-o-o-o" he shouted with all his
strength.
Surely they must hear him, but no