The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-03-30


Mistress Milton, although very kind to her
guests was little Jealous, but she felt
ashamed of distrustng the man to whom
she had given her heart, and a gentleman,
too, of old family Her father who was, per-
haps, the more particular because he might
wish to realize on the valuable property
which he had invested in when he bought a
son-in-law of gentle birth, was indignant, and
warmly expressed to her the opinion that he
wished he had little less gentility and more
honesty, but the kind-hearted daughter
hushed up his indignation and, having now
three little daughters to take up her time and
attention, she was fain to allow her handsome
husband 10 ''gang his ain gait"
But the gentle Lydia was jealous of the in
1uence Of gentleman Michael over her hand
some sister and sometimes ventured to re-
monstrate with her.
'Do you not think, Mary DEAR" she said one
afternoon as they sat beneath the oak tree,
watching some Indians padding their canoes
down the river, "that Captain Corbin will
grieve when he hears how much you are
alone with Master Mitton?,
"What do l care what Captain Robin Cor
bin may thinka" replied the light-hearted
girl, tossing her dark curls.
"But Robert Corbin loves you dearly and
confidently thinks to marry you when he re-
turns next year,, said Lydia.
"Captaln Corbin is good heart and merry,
my dear, but do think if he were more of a
gentleman should like him better, and per-
haps little sister, shall give him to you for a
Christmas present., and she looked smilingly
into the blue eyes till they dropped and the
blushing girl was silenced.
But as the summer wore on the girl and
the gentleman were still more together,
and when Master Cleeves saw them he
looked grave. and even said "Girl, if you
would spin more and CAD less your father
would have cause to be better pleased"
Even the Sycamore Scitterygusset, who oc-
casionally came across their path, gave word
of warning One day when Mary sat in the
light skif anchored close to Little Hog Island,
padding with her hand in the water while
Michael was stealing around the point to
get shot at heron, the Indian Chief,
coming swiftly up, checked his canoe and
said, "Why you no get other man? Michael
have squaw at home" But the girl only
laughed wiIfully and said "Michael want two
squaws," and the Sycamore with grunt,
rapidly padded away.
With the coming of Autumn she lost her
llght-heartedness, and when winter came, and
they were much indoors, even dame Eliza
beth noticed her melancholy and said "Your
father will feel badly, child, if he find you
moping and fading thus" while gentleman
Michael affected to be gay and careless, but
was apt to frequently snarl in most unwont-
ed way for him, who prided himself upon his
unyarying courtesy.
CHAPTER II,
How Gentleman Michael shook of q
responsibility.
That excellent and heightened man de.
/ cided that May Martin should go to Boston
l in the packet schooner Priscilla when it
/ should return thither in January. She was
very low spirited over the thought Of her de-
parture, and Lydia was quite wretched, and
r-Htested with many tears that she could moi
see why May snuuru ,oa,v l...--le.e.- The
elder sister tried to comfort her, and prom
ised to return in the spring and bring her
father and young Captain Corbin back with
her.
Dame Elizabeth looked grave and asked
her husband why he sent the girl off alone;
and that smooth and courteous gentleman
gave some specious reasons touching the ne.
cessity of completing her education with Ger.
tain accomplishments before she should set
tie down and marry.
so January came and on New Years day
the Priscilla weighed her anchor and set her
sails, and May Martin waved her handker-
chief to the little group on shore, and was
soon lost to sight around the Purpooduck
shore.
michael Mitton'', said the old man Cleeves
as they met that afternoon, 81 fear me thou
art a villain" But Master Milton only NUT.
tered to himself and turned sulenly away.
The spring came, and with it the good ship
Speedwell came CALAMITY sailing up Boston
harbor and anchored off the town. As
the owner came on board, the CHEEKY Cap
tain asked the news of the day.
Everybody is talking about the hanging
of that poor girl for the murder of her babe"
returned the merchant.
"What girl?" asked the Captain. "Mary
Martin, of Casco," was the reply.
A heavy fall startled the merchant. 1t
was the wretched father who was standing
beside him. He had fallen in swoon, and
the stout-hearted young Captain was hardly
less affected.
The agony of both father and lover can be
imagined, as we'll as the sadness of their
journey to Casco, where the dreadful news
had preceded them. Brief inquiry served to
fire the wrath of Captain Robert Corbin
against gentleman Michael, but that prudent
gentleman had gone off on trading expedi-
ton up to Sebago Pond among the Indians.
The Captain, however, was patient, and re-
NAMED, nursing his wrath, until one fine
morning, the gentleman returned, bringing
with him notable collection OF beaver skins.
He resumed his usual employment, or recrea.
ton, of cunning, and one pleasant spring
day, as he was walking briskly through the
woods along the shore over yonder, near
where the brook from the Mariners Spring
flowed into the harbor, Captain Robert Cor
bin stepped out from behind tree, seized
him by the throat with both his sinewy hands
and crushed him backward to the earth,
while his fowling-pIece fell from his nerveless
grasp. Placing his knee upon the breast of
the PROSTATE man to hold him firmly down,
the young captain asked him sternly, between
his set teeth, if be had any reason to give
why he should not strangle him upon the
spot. Master Milton was not a hero, and
piteously he begged for mercy.
"Captain Corbin," said a grave voice
The Captain raised his eyes and saw Mas
ter George Cleeves standing before him.
"Leaye his punishment to his Maker, and
stain not your clean hands with his unclean
b1ood