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

There are heroic souls who snatch their
hard living from the perilous tolls of our
northern lake. Rough and rude, per-
haps, but not the less are they heroes
George Manly was such man. He had
begun life as the son of lake skipper,
working his way by manly indepen-
dence and straightforward honesty, un-
til, at twenty-seven, he was master of
his own schooner, and had placed his
old mother above want. His father died
a year before he was ranked among the
owners of lake craft, blessing the son
who had smoothed his way into the dark
valley. Laboring for the sake of his
parents, the young sailor had but little
time tc give to other matters or to think
of his pleasure. He had his dreams
what young man has not?) of home
of his own, and a loving woman to fill
and make it bright. But he had closed
his eyes to the thought until, at twenty
six, men called him cynic because he
avoided women. He was no cynic when
the cry of the needy was heard, no cynic
when those in distress called on him for
aid.
He was hurrying home one night tho
the darkened streets of the city, having
just entered port from Chicago with
cargo of grain. 1t was bitter night,
and the rain drove in his face and chilled
him to the bone. He wrapped his wa
ter-proof cloak about him and laughed
at the storm. Suddenly he heard cry,
and, turning, saw a woman sink faint
ing to the pavement. 1t was an old wo-
man, in the dress of the poorest class,
carrying bundle. He lifted and car
ried her into drug store, where she re-
vived, while he stood by waiting until
she could speak.
"Where do you live?" he asked kind
ly.
II was going to $50 Mount street." she
gasped, ito Captain Archer's. Let me
go, good people. The captain is sick
and needs me-"
"You cannot walk"
II WILL" replied the stout old crea.
ture. "He needs me, and I was his
nursen
"I'll get cab and take her up" said
Manly. "Make her wait"
So they retained her while he hurried
out to get cab, and when it came they
drove through the night and storm to
$50 Mount street, and Manly ran up the
steps, half carrying the. old lady, who
was still weak. His ring at the bell was
answered, not by servant, but by a
young lady, who held lamp aloft to
see who were at the door. AS she stood
there, with flood of yellow light fall
ing about her, the young man thought
he had never seen anything SO beautiful,
and, like Prince Geraint, when he saw
Enid at her. fathers ruined home, he
felt that this was
''The one maidfor him.
fnsy
great braids from her high forehead, and
her eyes shone with a happy light. A
plain wrapper of some dark material
clasped by a golden buckle, and he
caught glimpse of little foot peeping
out beneath. Seeing the startled look
on her face, he hastened to explain.
"You must not he frightened miss,n
he said. 'This old lady was taken i'll
IN the street, and happened to be near,
so I brought her here, as she said she
must come to $50 Mount street."
"You are very kind" replied the girl
in her sweet low voice. "My father was
unwell, and sent for his old nurse. but
he did not think she would come Out
upon such a night as this. Are you bet.
ter now, aunty?"
"She calls me aunty, the darlin',n
said the old lady, Though Pm no more
kin to her than you, blessin's on you1
handsome face! It's few young mer
would take the trouble for an old dame
like me-"
1.-The gentleman must be very wet, ,
said the girl. "Shall I not show you 6
room where you can have fire? It will
be pleasure to me-"
"Thank you, MISS" said the young
man, bashfully turning his wet cap in
his hands. "But I've an old mother al
home that will be anxious about me, as
I'm sailor, and she knows passed the
| Welland, and will expect me-"
but you must leave your name, sir
| My father is a sailor too, and will want
to thank you."
mo need of that, miss. 1 only die
as any one with the heart of mar
would have done. But he knows me-
well enough-Captain George Manly, O.
the schooner Flying Arrow"
"Indeed!" she said, with a bright
smile. "I have heard him speak of yor
often, and after what 1 have seen to
night, can well believe all his praise
of you"
Poor George blushed to the very root'
of his hair, and plunged into the cab
ordering the driver, in sailor fashion, t.
"heave ahead" and was driven rapidly
home. Next day, while he was on tn
schooner, boy came down with not
from Captain Archer, asking him t.
come up; and he was only too glad t.
avail himself of the invitation, though
he would not acknowledge that b.
wished to get another glimpse of Myr'
! Archer'S beautiful face. He went in tn
evening, and Captain Archer, some
what recovered from his indisposition
received him with the bluff welcom
which only sailors can give, and mad
hlm feel at home at once. Then Myr