Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-03-11
Aunt Mary.

Mary, the Pride of the Lily; ship
ahoy ~
How Aunt Mary started as she heard
the familiar shout of her lover! She
had been for some time anticipating his
return from the East Indies, and yet his
arrival was unexpected, for the home
ward voyage had proved one of the
quickest the Lilly had ever made, and
there were no electric telegraphs in
those days.
Aunt Macy was very fond OF Capt
He]sardt.
When boy he had saved her from
drowning, and she had loved him ever
since. He was so frank, so open. hearted.
And she! Well, as girl she was very
pretty. but as she grew up she became
really beautiful, Here was face which
seemed created for poet to describe; it
would have served as model for a
painter.
But Aunt Mary was more than beau
tiful she was good.
who loved her; we were all rivals
of his. for she was a maiden whom
every one loved.
Her smile brought sunshine into the
dullest family; whenever she appeared
all seemed peace and happiness.
We were not much surprised when we
learned that the captain had asked her
to be his wife, and she had consented.
II there was man whom we should
have chosen for her husband, it was
Capt. Helsardt.
But he had to make another voyage
to Indies before the wedding could take
place. However, the Lily was good
strong ship, and he was a brave and
skilful captain.
One voyage more. and then he would
give up the seafaring profession only
another voyage.
Aunt Mary wished him not to co.
With moistening eyes and faltering lips
she expressed her fear that, if they sep
arated before their marriage, they would
never meet again. She knew it was
foolish, but she could not help it.
Captain Helsardt laughed at her mis-
givings. He was not afraid of the sea.
Not he, indeed!
So Aunt Mary strove to smile, but
could see that she was far from being re-
assured. She did not wish to make her
lover miserable.
When the hour of parting came she
could scarcely tear herself from his
arms. As the Lily sailed proudly out
of the port, she waved her handker.
chief. 1t was answered by her lover
from the deck of the vessel.
At that moment a passing cloud ob.
scured the brilliancy of the sunshine.
Was it an omen of danger?
Aunt Mary felt a chill at her heart
and sank fainting to the ground.
The spring and summer had passed
away, and the woods were decorated
with the rich, mellow tints of autumn
when the news arrived that Capt. Hell
| sardt was coming home.
Coming home! How Aunt Mary's
heart leaped for joy! Never had seer
her look SO happy.
| He was coming back. How she criet
in very delight! She couldn't help it
The world had again become full O
hope and sunshine to her.
1t was night when Capt. HeIsard
arrived in port, but he did not wait fol
daylight. The moment his ship wa:
safe at anchor he was towed to land, anc
shortly afterward was fastening as fas
as postchaise and a pair of gallan
grays could bear him to town.
How impatient he was, to be sure!
| The minutes seemed like hours anC
the hours like days.
But the house was reached at last.
| would he have some refreshment p
| Hang the refreshment! He wanted
to see Aunt Mary; to give the old ia
miliar hail:
MARY, the Pride of the Lily; shiI
ahoy y"
But how silent seemed the house il
which his idol resided.
The blinds were down and vet it wa
midday.
What did it mean?
His hand trembled as he touched tn
knocker. His heart began to be fillet
with a strange mysterious dread.
The door was opened
In a moment he understood it all.
Aunt Mary is dead.
| The fever had seized her in the mids
OF her joyous anticipations, and her cold
llfeless corpse was lying in one of tn
rooms above.
How Captain Helsardt bore his grea
trial l know not. He never spoke t
any one, but sat day and night by tn
dead body of the woman he had loved
They brought him food, but he woul
not partake of it.