The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-09

CO."
Captain Storms imprinted sounding
smack on the wistful little tear-wet face,
and unwound the clasping arms and
walked off, and straightway was whist
ling cheerily along the deck of the Love-
ly Lass, and quite forgetful, l am afraid,
of his little Peace and her grief.
"Dear, good guardian" thought Peace;
"he's SO kind and so good-natured; and it
was nice playing on the deck of the Love
ly Lass; but, for all that, I'd rather be
here, and wear pretty dresses and play
with Mrs. Lees boarders, and never be
afraid of shipwreck any more"
Captain Storm sailed for New Zealand;
and on windy nights when the doors and
windows ratified, and great soughs came
down the chimneys, Peace lay awake,
and thought of him on the terrible ocean,
and said her simple child's prayers for his
safe-keeping.
Two years went by, and Peace, who
had just one letter from "guardy," (guar-
diam in all that time, and that one
meant to say he was coming back. She
was tall, rather awkward-looking school
girl of twelve now, with preternaturally
long limbs, that were always in her way;
high shoulders, and prominent cheek.
bones. And so Captain Storms found
her when, more bearded and sun-browned
than ever, he walked, with his sea-swag,
into Mrs. Lees prim parlor.
Peace, sat at the piano playing "My
Willie's on the dark blue sea" and with
a shrill cry of joy, she jumped up, and
flung herself headforemost into his blue
pilot-coat.
"Oh, guardy dear, darling guardy
Pm so glad to see you again! So glad
so glad!"
And so am I, little Peace. Don't choke
me with those long arms, my girl. Head'
up, and let us see you"
Peace lifted her flushed face, anc
kissed him ecstatically.
"Why how my little woman's grown
getting as tall as the mammast, by
George! and as thin as shadow. Don
they give you enough to eat, Peace?
Plenty, guardy; but growing girls arr
always thin-Mrs. Lee says SO. Ant
now, what have you brought me from
New Zealand? ...
Bushels of thing, Peace. They'll b
here by-and,by. How does the learn
ing progress? Let us hear you at the pi
ano." ....
Peace sat down and ratified off polka
and waltzes. ....
"And l can read French, guardy.'
whirling gayly round on the stool, "ant
draw pencll-drawing, you know, and dt
fancy work. l like everything! And
guardy, when | grow up and am youns
lady, and my education is finished,
want you to fit up the cabin of the Love
ly Lass with Brussels carpet, and a pi
ano, and heaps of new novels, and taxi
me to sea with you all the time until pn
an old woman, won't your
OF course, Captain Storms devoutl.
promised, ana rose up to take his leave
"Tm going to China this voyage, 'h,
said, pulling her long, brown braids. 81
| see papa, Pm to give him his little girl
love, | suppose" :,
"Ah! if you would only see him!'
Peace cried, clasping her hands, "Dar
ling papa! Guardy, he used to be in Hons
Kong, know. Try if you can find hin
for me when you 60 there"
Captain Storms promised this also an(
departed. Peace ciung to him sobbing a
the last.
you'll write to me often this time
won't you, dear, dear guardy? You only
sent me one little stingy letter last time
you know"
"All right, Peace" the captain said
"Tll try. was never much Of scribe
but this time I'll do my best"
So once again the captain of the Love
ly Lass left his little girl, to sail merrill.
over the world; and once more Peac
went back to her hornbook and fanc
work.
But the months strung themselves our
and the years rolled themselves back
ward, and Captain Storms, sailing to an
fro in golden eastern and southern clime'
never came to his little girl from schoo
His letters were few and far between, d(
spite his promise, only six in six lon
years, and in answers he had at leas
received sixty.
But the sixth and last announced hi
coming, and told her the wonderful new
that he had met her father in Hon
Kong, and that she must be ready to g
with him next voyage to China.
| Captain Storms, hale and brown, an
handsome despite his middle-age, ran
Mrs Lees door-bel, and strode, like
sun-burnt giant, into the boardin,
school parlor. ..-.
"But of course she couldn't know
was coming" he thought, as he sent u
his name; ''poor little girl, | hope she
be glad to see guardy.'
The door opened, and young lad
walked in. A tall and stately and grac
full young lady, with dark, handson
face and waves of sunny brown hai
Surely, surely, this was not "Littl
Peace" .4t..t...o
"My dear guardian, welcome bacl
Oh, how happy l am to see you one
morew
Yes Peace, beyond doubt but, oh,
unutterably changed. Captain Storm
Redeemed under his brown skin, and
actually stammered.
.