Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-11-20

| a perfect maze, watching her white fin
gers threading in and out among the
keys OF the piano-forte, and evoking
sweet music from the depths of the old
| instrument. He would have sat there
for hours watching and listening to the
music, but Captain Archer would not
have it. He liked to talk.
"Stop clawing that piano, Myra," he
said, laughing. "What do you mean
When my young friend Manly comes to
see me, do you think 1 do not want to
hear him talk? There, get a chair on
this side of the fire: Pm glad you got
in just as you did last night, George, for,
late in the fall as it is, the coast is dan
gerous. Did you hear of any wrecks ?"
GAY, indeed; the upper coast is lined
with them. Thunder Bay is full ofthem,
and saw bark ashore off Nine. mile
Point, but her crew had left her. The
Bermuda was in Port Dalhousie when /
| be down tomorrow, [ reckon.n
"It is terrible life you live," said
Myra, softly. She was sitting on low
stool, with her head upon her fathers
knee. II used to fall asleep nights, and
when the wind rose, I would be awake
in moment, thinking of dear papa"
"She's teDder-hearted, is my little
GIRL" said the captain, laying caress-
ing hand upon her head mighty ten
derhearted, to be sure. I'm going to
tell you a story about man that sails
these lakes; not an old man, yet in ex
perience he is as old as the grayest
among us. He used to sail little slOop
out of this port, and went matter of
forty miles up the coast for any load he
could get. 1t wasn't much of boat,
you understand He had two men be-
sides himself. and one of them was in
the cabin sick with the ague."
"Captain J" said George family.
"Well, what is it? Don't cross my
hawse in that manner, you young lub-
ber. Let me tell. the story"
II wish you wouldn't" said George
Nonsense. You can see how short
handed this young un was, with only
one man to manage a pretty heavy sheet,
for some one to steer; and there came
up one of the biggest blows we had that
year-a squall, I ought to have said.-
When it struck her she had everything
reefed snug. so it did no harm to the
sloop, but it washed the sailor before the
mast overheard. What do you think he
did, this young captain? Did he leave
that struggling man to his fate, and sail
on before the wind? Not bit of it. He
threw her up into the wind, fastened the
tiller, and ran down to bring the sick
man up in his arms, and brought him
on deck, propped him up against the
helm, and got out a little dingy the
sloop carried-not much bigger than a
Panama hat-and went after that man.
What do you think Of that young tarry-
jacket, Ell? What are you blushing at,
George Manly? You can't bear to hear
good spoken Of, can you?"
HE did it," said Myra, with glow
ing face. HE must not deny it, for
won't believe him."
He passed a pleasant evening, and af-
ter that he found it very convenient to
drop into the captains house during the
winter evenings to play game of chess
with him. And when the captain was
not at homeland it was astonishing
how often that happened-he would
stay to sing duets with Myra. George
had 9 magnificent voice, and they sang
we'll together. The winter wore away,
and George had fitted out the Flying
Arrow for her upward trip, when Cap
tain Archer came down to the boat.
"You don't go out tonight, George?"
he said.
II think so. The wind turns at mid
night, and 1 think I must take advan-
tage of it,"
"Then you will have plenty of time.
Where have you been the last two
weeks? Myra had something to tell
you. must do it myself. My little
girl is going to be married tonight"
George turned quickly away, and
looked steadily across the harbOr for a
moment before he could trust himself
to speak.
"Isn't it rather sudden?"
swell, yes. I'll tell you about it. You
does, and it was there my little girl met
him. They have been engaged over a
year. 1 wonder she never told you, for
she always said, if she could trust any
one on earth, it would be George Man
ly:"
"I'm glad she likes me-" said George,
in cold, dry tone. II wish her every
joy that can come to woman. She'll be
true wife to him, and she'll deserve all
the love any man could give her.
"Why, you've got to come yourself,
George. Do you think Myra would be
married and you not there? Why,
there isn't a man on earth she honors
more than you, and I believe if she
hadn't met Gale, and been promised to
him before she saw you, she would have
given Der learC TO you"
mo-" said George, sadly. "No such
luck. II don't think can come, cap
tain. Say 1 wish them happy, but I
can't get away. I would if could.
81 don't believe she will take no for
an answer, then," said the captain
"She'u send the carriage down for YOU,
sure"
And so she did. But George had dis
appeared, and none of the sailors SEEM
ed to know where he had gone. The
carriage came twice. but each time he
was away. Where was he? Crouched
down in secluded corner of the lumber
yard near at hand, fighting the battle
with his true, honest heart. II could
have loved her dearly" he said. Life
seems ended. Aud she asked me to
come and see her marriage, the innocent
child! She never knew I loved her,
never knew how my heart was crying
out to her night and day. Oh, Myra!
MyraW
He was so near the schooner that he
heard the carriage come and go twice,
and was glad it had not found him.
Then his mood changed, and he felt that
he must see her before she changed her
maiden name, or die. He went to the
schooner, threw off the blouse which he
wore over his clothing, and went up. A
servant met him in the hall.
"He's come! he's come!" she cried.-
"Oh. Mr.. George, this will so please
Miss Myra! She was almost CRYING be-
cause you would not come to see her
married, and the carriage had just gone
for you again."
II suppose could not see her before
before she is married ?" faltered
George.
"I'll ask" said the girl. "I know
she'll come. Go into the parlor and I'll
send her down.
Soon there was rustic of muslin, and
Myra floated into the room so full of
beauty and light that poor George stood,
like one transfixed, gazing at her.
Radiant! That was tame word to de-
scribe such beauty as hers in her bridal
dress. She gave him both hands in the
hearty manner which had always char
acterized her treatment of him, and he
took them in clasp which made her
start
"You dear, good George!" she said.-
$50 Won thOupht hetter of If and cane