Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-12-18

was stronger than ever since tina
night when Jim saved my life, swim
ming out to my sinking boat against tn,
current, and risking his life to help ar
unknown waif-unwitting that it was
his little nursling of old who was in
deadly peril-since that night WORLD
of new thoughts had come crowding in
upon me, sharing with me their strength
and making me ashamed of the idle
silken life.I was leading. 1 know not
what premonition of change, of Danish.
ment, was tugging at my heart this
morning, as I looked out over the
cleaning waters, and filled my eyes
with tears.
"You are. sorry to leave the seashore, u
said Mrs Belden.
II was thinking Of Jim," said hon.
estly. "How can leave Jim?"
Mrs. Belden's face flushed.
Jennie" said she severely, "of course
we all think good deal of your sailor
friend for saving your life; but you
must be aware that he is no fit compan-
ion for you, and that his constant at
tendance upon you since the accident
has been the cause of much annoyance
to myself and Louis"
At that moment Louis's tall figure ap-
peared at the door, queer smile was on
his pale, thin face, as holding out his
long white hands to me he said, "Jen-
ME, your sailors below"
II have just been telling Jennie"
said Mrs. Belden, 'that we must get her
away from the seashore to free her from
these low associates"
"Low associate! Jim, my prince of
men, my saviOur!n
40 / see but one course, padded Mrs. Bel
den, as Louis remained silent.
l. too, saw but one course; and yet
these two had been so kind to me all
these years, they, had made my life so
luxurious and pleasurable; should go
away from them into the obscurity and
poverty of my early life again?
At that moment Jim's sun-burned
face appeared at the door. He stood
with his cap in his hand, eager, yet
modest, his face alight, his eyes sleam-
ing, behind Louis's thin, calm counte-
nance. II sail the day after to- o-morrow,
Jennie, and couldn't risk the chance
of not seeing you"
Mrs. Belden made naughty gesture
with her hand, as if she would have
warned off the intruder.
"Wait, mother" said Louis, calmly.
"Of course Jennie's good sense will tell
her what is right, and she belongs to
me, you know"
l saw Jim give great start. The
blood flushed up hotly into his brown
cheeks. There was pause for mo-
ment; then Jim said, passing his hand
over his forehead, as if he were not quite
clear as to what he had heard:
"Is it so with thee, my little Jennie?
Will my little girl be always happy
away from her poor old Jim?
'Poor old JimW that was what used
to call him in my childish days, strok-
ing his hand and comforting him when
he was in trouble. Should desert him
now?
For answer I took from my finger
glittering ring, which Louis had made
me wear unclasped costly bracelet
he had given me, and drew a gold chain
from my neck. put the shining heap
in his hands.
Louis" said ], Il have loved you with
these. and perhaps for these; but loved
Jim without them, long ago, and 1 will
love him without them the rest of my
life Forgive me; am not fit, as you
see, for wealth and splendor. 1t is nat
ural forme to return to my kind. Come,
let US part in peace" s4a 81
Mrs. Belden rose; her eyes were like
the flaming sword that drove Adam and
Eve from Paradise. She would have
spurned US from her presence.
But Louis laid his hand calmly upon
her shoulder. Mother" said he, "Jen-
ME is right"
have often said to Iim since, as we
two were chatting in the cabin of Jim's
good ship:
Captain Jim, Louis was gentleman,
after all, though he wasn't man enough
to save my lile.n