The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-06-07

BY F. h. CONVERSE.

BYF.H. CONVERSE.
They were to have been married
Thanksgiving evening. Why couldn'
he have had even common luck, anC
made fair passagef Joe Thorpe or San
Andrews, who were not half as careful a
himself, were probably off Montaul
Point by this time, and here he was
south of Hatteras, half his crew dowr
with fever and ague, whole suit of sail
blown away, his cargo of fruit probabl,
rotten, and the wind hauling to tn,
north'ard all the time, with astrong pros
pect of another gale.
Itwas too bad" too laundering badp
he added, with an emphasis almost allow
able under the circumstances, as hs
glanced at the compass.
"As unlucky as Arad Tborpep ha6
passed into proyerb in his native towr
of Coverly, 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 tt
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 "defalcated," 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 oi
his freight money in Panama. All o.
which events, occurring at different
times, had come nigh to make 'Arad 6
fatalist.
But, thanks to Jessie Banks, his be-
trothed, he had kept up good heart
and his courage had won from Banks
pre, the promise that, if he brought
home three hundred dollars as his OWL
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 netted him
about three hundred and fifty dollars
said sum being locked up in his desk be-
low.
"How do you head now, Jerry" wa.
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 wan
more medicine" was the salutatior
which met his ear, as a tall, power
fully built sailor, Spaniard, accostec
him.
He had shipped his crew of four mel
and second mate in Jamaica, and ras
cally looking set they were, though VI
to this time they had done well enough
and now that two of them were sick, th,
remaining two had done double duty
so that Arad had begun to think yer,
well of them.
Taking some quinine from the medi
cine-chest, he went forward, and enter
ing thelittle forecastle, which was diml,
lighted by swinging lamps, he was abou
to proceed to the bunk of the suppose'
sick man, when he was suddenly seize
from behind, q blanket thrown over hi
head, and, almost before he could think
was hurried to the rail, over which h
was thrown in an instant.
But Arad, like all Coverly boys, wa
perfect water-dog, and after coming t
the surface, he blew the water from hi
mouth, worked off his sea-boots, gothin
self out of his pea-jackst by dint {
much squirming, and wiping the spra
from his eyes as he rose on the crest of
wave, he had the cheerful satisfaction {
seeing the binnacle-lght of his vessel al
parently half mile distant and rapid
growing fainter.
"My luck" was on his tongue, as
struck out, with vague hope of keel
ing himself afoat tillmorning, and the
Jessie's last words came to his mind, ="
sure, Arad, and do all you can; God wi
do the res"
With an inward prayer for help,
resolved to make struggle for lif
though he knew his chances were inf
itesimalIy small. and by dint of hu
banding his strength, the morning ligh
as it dawned over the turbulent Sc
found him chilled to the bone, exhaust,
and faint but still swimming.
Oh, how eagerly, as it grew lights
did he look for welcome sail An
rising on the crest of a wave, his hea
came almost into his mouth, for moi
stones throw distant was little h.
maphrodite brig, under short sail, be.
ing down upon him.
Hillo-o-o-oW he shouted with all
strength.
Surely they must hear him, but
answering hail came to his listening ca
and, in another moment, to his surpr
and horror, the briggs course was altert
and she headed in another directiC
though Arad could see that her yal
were untouched, being, in fact, brac
in an opposite direction.
Something wrong therep
thought: and as it was his last chal
for life, with a desperate energy
sought to intercept her course, wi
suddenly her sails were thrown aba
and, for moment, she drifted do
toward him, as though he had been 8
and maaannes taka,n for his ral;af