Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-08-07
Nettie Dare.

Nettie Dare sat on the gray rocks
beside the sea, watching the long
swell as it came in from the ocean,
and singing the old song:
'sHe broke the token. and half he gave me-
rolling
A the bottom of the sea-"
The maiden who sung that old
old song Of love and constancy was
beautiful; young and fresh, with
abundant hair, lustrous black eyes,
and lips which seemed to ask for
kisses.
So thought the young sailor, Ned
Walton, as he leaped down from
the rocks, and stood beside her.
"Will you take token from me,
Net,ie!' he said tenderly. 81, too,
am going across the sea-.
'Ned !" she cried, "where did
yon come from 2"
81 just dropped in," replied the
young sailor, passing his arm about
her waist. 81 have only a little
while to stay, my darling, but that
will be long enough to tell you that
| love you better than any creature
on the earth. I'm going out as
mate this trip, and | hope when l
come home, that the owners will
think [ have done we'll enough to
make me capt;i;l. And if they do,
your father will give you to me, for
the captain of a whaler is great
man in Dundee" "
But three years is long-long
time, Ned. I'd sooner see you
follow any other vocation than the
sea-"
"It's the best | can do, dear girl.
Pve been a sailor since l was big
enough to lift narline-spil,e, and
shall be sailor till | die.''
He took a small gold ring from
his finger, and cut it in two pieces,
with his knife and gave her one"
"Keep ii, Nettie," he said, "and
on the day when you get it back
You may know that the hand that
held the token is cold in the dust
or under the sea. Then you may
bid goodbye forever to your : Tor
lover, and look for another. [ don't
want to hamper ) on, my girl. If,
when l am gone, you find another
you care fog more than poor Ned
Walton"
Med -
81 won't say what l was going
to say, then. | believe that you
are true, dear Nettie, and, indeed,
| never doubted yon. But l must
say goodbye, for the "Dolphin"
has set the signal to recall the
boats, and it won't be long before
the anchor is off the bottom. One
kiss, my darling, and then long
goodbye"
He claspcd her in his arms, and
their lips met in a long and tender
kiss.
At this moment they heard a
Kissing laugh, and starting quickly,
Ned Walton saw mau in seanan's
garb standing upon the rocks above,
and looking down at them.
81 don't like to interfere, Ned,
old boy" said the man, "but we
must make the best of this wind.
Go down to the "Ship" and find
the second mate, and 90 to the boat.
III stroll along the shore, and get
there as soon as you
1t was Captain Saul Wilson of
the ship EDolphin''-a successful
captain, one who never went upon
the whaling grounds but that he
filled up before the rest Of the fleet
"a man who never lost a ship, and
made money for his owners.
'lll 90, captain" said the young
man. ''Nettie and | have made "a
bargain, and if | come back, after
doing good work, and the owners
give me command of the new ship
they are going to build, she is to be
my vito. Kiss me again, Nettie ;
Saul knows that we love each
other"
Again he pressed her to his heart,
and then tore himself away.
'Take her home, Captain Saul, y
he said "I-I can't stay"
He sprang over the rocks and
disappeared, and Captain Saul gave
; Nettie his arm. She took it, and