The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-10-16

certain ulu leel tnaC Ghere was q great deal
concealed behind my parents reticence IA
certain GOODNESS existed between ms and nv
step-mother In this cooless must, how
ever, confess that took the initiative ] dis
liked my fathers wife, why, scarcely knew.
MY father was happy, supremely happy in
her society, and his relations and friends con
what could be more admirable than the nm nm.
varying Kindness with which Mrs. Maynard
treated her huaband while, as regarded N.Y.
selt, although she of course felt that there
was difference between lie, she would scarcely
condescend to acknowledge it's existence, and
treated me with a generous affection which
maze me sometimes warm toward her in
spite Of myself
But then, that sudden parting with Arthur
Melford! What was the cause Of that dreary
farewell? Was 1t not probable that the daugh
ter Of young Melford's employer had found
out that her fathers usher was acquaintaned
with me, and had she not feltit her duty to
inform my father of the cladestine and pre-
sumptuous courtship ofthe poor and desptsed
young man?
Eighteen months passed away. My father
had retired from his share of the business in,
Which he had SO long and so prOftably en-
gagged, and we We're residing in pleasant lit
tie retreat in quiet watering place on the
kentish coast. It was Autumn. Seabridge
was getting dull; the myriads who annually
flock to the unpretending yet popular littl
town, were falling off with the yellow leaf In
another brief month they would all be gone.
We fingered to the last, for my father en-
joyed the rough weather that set in at the
beginning OF October, the Seabridge pier, with
Its tarpaulned sailors, formed his daily prom
enade. 1t was the season of the euuinoctial
gales, and the casualties at sea were becoming
frequentand serious. The autumnal VISITORS to
Seabrldge for the benefit of their health be-
gan to experience q difficulty III taking their
constitutional walks; trades people became
anxious about their plat,eglass, and like SO
long spell of bad weather. One evening we
were seated round a cosy fire, when word
or two spoken by my step -mOther to nv father
reused my curiosity to high degree. It was
iu reference to the bad weather that Mrs.
Maynard spoke. u
Terrible indeed at seal" she said. ellis
ship will be due soon. Heaven grant him q
safe voyage home"
could not catch my fathers reply, but I
wondered to whom Mrs. Maynard's remarks
bore reference. After our early supper nv
father suggested that we should take turn
of the pier.
There's fine sea running he said; ssand
as we return to London next week we must
make the most of the briny."
We readily acquiesced, and having wrapped
ourselves up IN our warmest garments, set
out: The night was very dark. and the scant-
lily hted and narrow streets of the town
looked desolate and deserted; but round the
custom house, which was opposite the pier
was assem- ed group of sailors who, from
their excited demeanor, were evidently dis
cussing some grave calamity. We pressed
on eagerly, being anxious to learn the cause
OF the excitement One of tho toughest, and
heartiest of the old salts informed us that the
life-boat was about to set out to the rescu, of
large clipper ship which had struck on the
Eddy Sands, the crew of the light-ship having
fired an alarm rocket.
In the course of a few moments the life beat
towed out by the steam tug, left the harbor,
AS they dashed out into the pltchy darkness
OF the night loud cheer rose from the crowd
assembled at the pier-head, and many silent
prayer was breathed for the safety of the gal.
liant mariners and the success of their endeav-
Ors. We determined to remain on the pier
until the return of the ife-boat, which,
it was said would probably be in
the course OF an hour and half. We whiled
away the time by taking brisk pedestrian ex
ercise and although the night was cold and
cheerless, we felt to much interested in the
fate of the good ship which had run aground
to think OF any Inconvenience we might ex-
perience.
Nerrly three hours elapsed before there
were any signs Of return of the ife-boat, but
at the end OF that time shout from the ex-
pectant multitude announced that she was at
hand A general rush was made toward the
head OF the pier, and in few minutes the yes
sci and the steam tug had glided into the
quiet waters of the harbor. The greatest excite
ment prevailed. 1t was soon ascertained that
the name Of the wrecked ship was the Alder
ton, from New York The captain and the
whole of the crew and passengers were saved.
and as they landed on the pier they were
scrutinized with curious eyes by the good
people of Seabrldge. M ..,
"Here comes the captain" exclaimed one
as tall, dauntless- looking man mounted the
wooden steps by the landing pl ace; ebut who
course"
But what was it that I saw My father and
his wife hastily rushed forward with a CRY of
surprise, and seemed to recognize the HAND
some young man who landed with the captain
and the young man himself greeted them
cordially: Then heard my father say:
''Thank God for this, nv Young friend!
You are saved!-saved!"
In another instant found myself face to
face with Arthur Melford!
Florence, dearest, I am at last able to
throw off the mask, and to explain to you all
that has seemed so mysterious, and has alloy
ed the love that should subsist between us.
Oh, Floy have long noticed your GOODNESS
toward me, and it has made me miserable;
but thank Heaven! there will sood be an end
to it." 559 ra.ifg4s. IN -. -
It was my stepmother who thus spoke to
me. We were alone together. It was but an
hour since we had SO unexpectedly met Ar
thur Melford -
II am so ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS by what
has happened to-night-that hardly know
what to say I replied. Our meeting with
-O -' 49, .Gs - ~ Es.FF}ttSf'
listen, my dear girl" interrupted Mrs.,
Maynard, "and will explain everything. You
must know that and Arthur Meltord are dis
family related to each other. Arthur's parents
were poor, and he was left an orphan at an
early age. When he was seventeen he be-
came junior teacher at my fathers school at
Hackney. My father treated him with I'm.
varying kindness, and in return for which he
gave him most Jealous AID energetic services,
Arthur always looked upon me in the light of
sister, and made me his confidant in many of
his private, affairs. But he had no secret
worth the telling until he accidentally met
certain Miss Florence Maynard; and when he
told me-mind Floy, was like sister that
ne had lost his heart to that young lady, and
asked for my advice, hardly knew what to
say. He was poor, REFLECTED, and your father
was rich. Twas still in doubt and perplexitv
on the subject, and had almost determined to
place the affair before Arthur in its true colors
when one of those strange chances which
sometimes occur, introduced me to YOUR
father. IF.@5s''s~H
Now, am not going to confess much. Flor
ence, but must little. When MI Nav.
nard proposed to me, I put into execution 3
very cunningly devised plan. I told him the
story OF the loves OF Arthur and Florence and