Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1880-09-30
HARRY MARTINS WIFE.
BY G. B. STUART.

for we were smoking in the veranda of his
mothers house at Seuthsea. .- -
''tsThen tell US true story" suggested in
nocentlY. The Lieutenant took no heed of
my impudence, but pulled away at his pipe
for full five minutes, in 3 manner which was
supposed to. assist the deepest reflection.
Presently he began: ,.. l.-....4 I'D. .. y'.i
''Did ever tell you how 1 got Harry Mar
tins wife for him? ' u Fl
mo l"lyery increduously from everybody :;
and from chair in the background, 81 should
think Captain Martin was perfectly we'll able
to get wife for himself 10 p
''There you are wrong" said. the Lieutenant
so superbly that we all felt abashed, and
! humbly begged for the story. 5.t -.
| "Beieve it or not, asserted the somewhat
modified sailor, 'but can assure it is as true
as-as true as-Old Bootsl"
This was the Lieutenant's usual formula be-
| fore beginning one q his wonderful adven-
lures, and it never failed to convince us
outwardly at least; for who can withstand
the undeniable existence of old boots? Having
| thus successfully closed all interrupting mouths
| the Lieutenant graciously proceeded to re.
count the following episode in the life of Mrs.
| Henry Martin - 'a2 s.. H..
The Valera was lying in the bay of St.
Michaels, one of the dullest holes we ever put
into in all my experience. Harry Martin was
| first lieutenant and was second. Cripps was
| our captain-a good old sort enough, only he
bothered us rather with reading out sermons
| on Sunday, for he was rigid Presbyterian,
and was for ever inveighng against the errors
OF Rome. Rather queer line for thorough
going sailor to take up, wasn't it (? OF course
l could get frequent leave WhenI wanted
run on shore, butt didn't much care about
taking it, for really there was nothing earthly
| to do IN the place. L had a bad leg at the
| time, remember, !the remains of frightful
hack at foot ball when we played the Excel
| lent and beat them into fits, in this very place,
the Autumn before so 1 wasn't up to much
walking, and couldn't visit the places beyond
the town which Martin was always talking
about and sketching. By and by 1, began to
notice that though he spoke of the general
beauties of the island scenery, he appeared by
his sketch-book to haunt one spot almost exl7
clusively-the convent of Santa Agata, on the
top of hill just beyond the town There
were pictures of Santa Agata from all points
Of the compass. 1t was only to me, as an old
chum, that he showed those pictures; and it
wasn't long before got out of him, by dint
of a little chaff and little judicious sympa-.
thy, that he was madly in love-or fancied he
was, which is just as bad, every bit, while it
lasts-with one of the sisters at Santa Agata.
Why, you might just as well have been in
love with the moon, for all the response you
could get to your finest feelings, if you CEN
tered them on Spanish nun. And so told
Martin, for had been through the very iden-
teal same case myself at Vera Cruz, aboard
the Rapid i s.. .1 -. 80.
"But, Jim, said Martin quietly, locking
quite shy and red in the face, for he was an
awfully modest man. and not half as well
seasoned in these matters as 1 am; Suppose
there has been some response ~ ti3F
'"You don't mean to say you've spoken or
corresponded with her ?" .-..
For answer Martin pulled little packet Of
letters out of the breast pocket of his jacket,
tied with piece of brand-new blue ribbon i
which the poor old duffer must have bought
for the purpose. By degrees the whole story
was told. He had seen Dona Dolores for the
first time three weeks before when he had
strolled into the convent, at the visiting hour,
to buy some OF the nuns famous lace for his
people at home. That was how the acquant-
ance began by looks of admiration on the one
side, and apparent appreciation of them on
the other. After this Martin confessed he
was always buying lace every visiting day,
until the old gOrgoness who assisted at the
lace-selling began to grow suspicious and
changed her companion for another sister
mere of her own calibre than pretty little
Dolores. With the latter, however, our prec-
ious first lieutenant was by this time on pref
ty intimate speaking terms, and by means of
market waman or a mule-girl, or some such
emssary, managed to carry on a correspond
ence of frequent notes. / stared in astonish-
ment when he told me all this, but really,
there are no lengths tina: shy man won't 60
to when once he's reused. Of all lovers, I've
heard girl say, there's nothing to come up to
a shy man when he's IN earnest. Well, so far
the affair had gone, and there it had stuck
for who was to say what could be the end of
such hopeless attachment !? Hopeless, in so
far that there was no chance for the girl ever
I being released from the convent, which, she
now intimated to Harry Martin, she cordially
hated. She was an orphan and had lot of
money, and though she had not taken the
vows as professed sister, you might just as
soon expect shark to leave hold Of YOUR leg
when he has once grabbed it. as the priests
and sisters of Santa Agata to let poor Miss
Dolores out of their clutches There was
| nothing to advise Martin to do but to cut the,
whole affair; not see the girl again, but just
keep close by the ship until we got our sailing
orders, which most of US were hoping for
every day. It's thing sailors have to do, all
the world over, for one can't marry everybody
and it's astonishing to find how in short
time you don't want to. But you should have
seen the fury Martin got into when | suggest
edthis everyday course to him. He talked
about honor and Christian feeling exactly as
if hadn't got either one nor the other. Upon
my word, if he hadn't been my senior officer, |
and such an old chum, and such big fellow, 1
too, should have knocked him down for 4
what he said. AT the same time / was sorry
for him, for by this time l saw he was in ear
nest in the affair, so when he had quieted |.
down bit said to him: "What do you say
to arescue p He jumped as if he'd been
shot, and seized me by the hand. f "Do you
81
help her out P" Are you going to marry herr"
asked severely; ''for it's all very good fun
rescuing the yonng lady, only goodness knows
what we're to do with her afterwards You
may be sure st. Michaels will be rather too
hot to hold her or US If our share in the mat
ter gets wind. You wont be able to marry
nearer than Lisbon, and don't exactly know
how you're to get Ler there. either, unless the
boss gives her passage, which perhaps is a
little too much to expect. 1t might interfere
with the efficiency OF bis first officer" rgr
Poor Martin stood speeches., for though
he had jumped at my suggestion, and EVIL
IDENTIFY had considered the possibility of rescu-
ing Dolores from her prison, his plans had
here evidently stopped short. He had not re-
Elected that the English Consul would never
marry them in the teeth of the Spanish author
tiles, who would probably tear us to pieces for
nledffling with one of their eve lambs. Well,
Martin; may be very smart officer-indeed
there. is no, doubt about that rand he may
have been a red-hot lover, but he certainly
was mot much of a strategist1 So while was
maturing the plan, in which was now almost
as much interested as he, ] SET hjml to write
to the lady and formally offer her marriage,
to be arranged for and carried out as soon as
ever she couied he conveyed safely to Lisbon;
always provided that she herself could elude
the vigilance of the sisters, and Join her lover
outside the convent walls on an appointed
| evening. Back came Her answer through the
medium of old Carmen of the markes, d friend
ly old bag who carried vegetables gup to the
convent every day. The escape would be
difficult, but not impossible. Carmen was to
leave certain doors and windows of the back
premeses unlocked, and Dolores was to slip
out at the time apnOinted But oh were