St. Landry democrat., 1879-02-01


Arthur walked home one evening to
the house of wealthy merchant, John
Melburne. 1t was a palatial dwelling,
and many a hopeful, happy hour had he
spent beneath its roof. He rung at the
bell, and was admitted to the parlor. In
a few minutes Grace Melburne entered.
She was only twenty. She had been
waiting until that age TO be Arthur's
wife.
Some words were spoken, many min
utes OF painful silenc ensued.
"Grace, you know all. am going
from my native land beggar. I can
not stay longer now. Grace, did | know
you less than I do many-or. knowing
you we'll, did know you as do many
I should give back your VOWS, and free
you from your bondage. But believe, |
should trample upon your heart did do
that thing now. know your love is too
pure and deep to be torn from your
bosom at will. So I say-wait There
are other feelings in the heart beside
love. That love is a poor, proitless pas
sion which puts aside all other censide'
rations. We must love for eternity, and
so oul love must be free. Wait. I am
going to work-aye, upon the sea to
work."
"But why upon the sea? Why away
where my poor heart must beat ever in
anguish, fear and doubt as it follows
you"
"Because cannot remain here. Hun
dreds of poor fools have imagined that l
stunned them because I was rich. They
know not that it was the tainted Atmos-
phere of their moral life that Stunned.
They gloat over my misfortune. Men
may call me foolish, but it will kill me
to stay here"
"Alas must it be?'
at must. You will wait ?"
"Iwill wait even to the gates of the
tomb"
"Then Heaven bless and preserve
you! '
The ruined youth was u BON the ocean
his voyage conference.-the duties as
laborer for his daily bread all fairly
assumed. All! it was strange life for
him to enter upon. From the ownership
of immense wealth to the trade. books of
a merchant ship was transition indeed.
But ere he went on deck again, he had
fully resolved that he would do his duty,
come what would, short of death. He
would forget that he ever did else but
work for his livelihood. With these
resolves clearly determined in his mind,
he already felt better.
At first our supercargo was too weak
to do much. He was very sick, and it
lasted nearly two weeks, but when that
passed off and he could pace the vibrat-
ing deck with stout stomach, his appe>
tie grew sharp and his muscles began to
grow strong.
At first he craved some of the many
delicacies he had long been used to, but
they were not to be had, and he very
soon learned to do without them. The
result was that his appetite became
natural in its wants, and his system
began to find itself nourished by simple
food taken in proper quantities.
For years he had looked upon break
last as a meal which must be set out and
partaken of from mere fashion. A cup
of coffee, and, perhaps, a piece of dry
or seasoned and highly-spiced titbit,
had constituted the morning meal. But
now, when the breakfast hour came, he
it with keen appetite, and
felt as strong and hearty as at any other
time Of the day.
By degrees the hollow cheeks became 7
full, the dark eyes assumed new luster,
the color, rich and healthful, came to the |
face, the breast swelled with increasing
power, the lungs expanded and grew
strong, the muscles became more firm
and true, the nerves grew strong, and the |
garments which he had worn when he
came on board had to be let out some
inches in order to make them fit. His |
position became cheerful and bright, and |
by the time the ship had reached the |
southern cape of Africa the crew had all |
learned to love him.
Through storm and sunshine, through
tempest and calm, through dark hours
and bright, the young supercargo made
his voyage. In one year from the day
On which he left his native land he placed
MS foot upon the soil of his home.
But he did not stop. The same ship,
with the same officers, was going upon
,he same cruise again, and he meant to
20 in her. He saw Grace Melburne and
he would wait. He saw DR.. Weston,
md the kind old gentleman praised him
or his manly independence.
Again Arthur Morton was upon the
'ea, and again he assumed the duties of
ais Office, and even more. He even stood
watch when there was no need of it, and
turing seasons of storm he claimed post
On deck.
At the end Of another year the young
man returned to his home again. He