Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-11-11
1 thonpht I'd a sprter right to

years, and thought I'd sorter right to
be paternsl.
Eighteen, Senior Captain said she, in
the softest voice in the world.
"Said l.: DO you love this young man
and want to marry him2 You needn't il
you don't, because ri see to it your step |
father doesn't bother you any more
81 didn't dare look round at Jack, for |
knew he'd be looking blackerin' thunder |
ut me Just then. And, indeed, he took a
step toward US but l made him keep off |
till she should have answered for herself.
swell, she blushed very prettily, and
hesitated for second, then answered
very sweety that II the Senior Captain
didn't mind the trouble, she should marry
the Senior First Officer. That the Senior
First Officer had been her only friend
that, although she had taken many
voyages and seen many people, she had
never before found any one WHO cared to
interfere in her behalf that she felt very
grateful to the Senior First Officer, and had
now become attached TO him, and with the
Senior Captains permission would gladly
become his wife.
''As she said this, Jack got out of sight
behind the door, put his thumb to his
nose, and twirled his 6nger in the most
to put him in irons for mutiny-but no
matter.
'Of course there was nothing to be
done except marry them =; she was over
| IS, and at sea the captains rs good as a
| psrson, you know.
$50 called up the passengers and the
officers and the ladies DRESSED her up in
| their own finery, and we had wedding in
| 81. ..la hat ihA Chi in
surgeon prescribed an antidote for the
bed-bug poison.
"The second officer went over and took
command of the coffee ship in Jacks
place, and sent back Doloters' trunk and
clothing. At first thought we couldn't
get along without him, for Jack was SO
deeply in love with his lutte sea sick girl
thought he'd be of no manner of use.
But we had good weather most of the time,
and JACK did his duty like man.
"But it was real touching to zee him 60
to his wife's cabin every day and bring
her on deck and fix her comfortably on o
bed the steward made for her under an
awning. And there he'd nurse her aud
Gaze for her just as if he'd been sister of
charity. You might have seen then, Miss
Hetty, how sailor can love woman
"Well, she soon got better and stronger.
Jack and the doctor fixed her up between
them, and healthier, livelier, happier
little woman never set foot in San Fran
cisco. Jack took her right to his married
sister. and there she stayed between voy-
ages till sha had lot of children, and her
husband bought her house oil her own.
"What about the coffee ship? On,
that made port day before us, aud tire
old doctor had us sill arrested tho minute
We touched land. So We were oil hauled
, up in court, and Jack had il ont with his
stepfather-i
~ think that tue court was rather
/ agains. "a tirst; but the bed-bug poison
, and the slap in The face did the business,
, and turned every thing in our favor. lie
, was atterward decided to be luratie AMI
, turned over to his brothers keeping.
1 whats became of Jack? Why, h,
} sailed with Inc for several yaH-s as irsi
officer NOS h9'5 captain of the companion
steamer to this. Tnst good looking young
fellow that's been making eyes 1T you,
= Miss Hetty, is his son; and daressy tina
/ he agrees with his father that sea sickness
Il makes precious little difference when
G mans in love-
8 Tine moon is quite up now, flooding tn
4 sea with silver. Between MS and the shin
ing mirror interposes the head of youn
It jack, showing in fine, clear cut silhouette
Is What q wonder that Hetty has to pu
q severe straint upon her eyes that the
q shall not wander in that direction?
1t The captain saunters away to do agree
= able to other passengers, while Deb stray
( down to the deck to listen, at little close
is quarters, to the tinkle of a guitar, and t
l. soft voice humming a Spanish love song
4 As she strolls back, she finds masct
rs line form usurping her place, and peepin
Il under Hetty's downcast lids are pair 1
Is earnest sailor eyes, whose dawning loy
re and hope no sea can fright or quell.