The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-04-08

1t.
"The poor fellow took both IN
hands in his and squeezed them warm
ly.
"'My dear old friend, [ pity yo
more for what you have to do, than
do myself for what I have to suffer
| want you to protect her, and watc]
over her until she is handed over t.
her mother Then, in low voice
he added, Let me tell you that he
health is very delicate, that her ches
is affected, and it is necessary sh
should wrap herself up well at times
| know that you will be all toher tha
her father and mother could be to he,
won t you, now? If it could be ar
ranged that she should keep the ring:
her mother gave her, should be very
glad. But, if it turns out that they
must be sold, | think you will fine
that they will fetch a good sum. My
poor Laura-how beautiful she isl
"All this began to be more than
could stand, and although | had hith-
erto spoken to him in a cheerful way
to keep up his spirits | could no longer
do so.
Between brave men there is moth
ing more to be said. Everything else
is understood. Go and speak to her
now and let US lose no time
Il shook hands again with him as
said this, but as he still retained mine
in his grasp | looked him straight in
the face and added, 'Jf | might be al
lowed to give last word Of advice it
would be not to say word Of this to
her. 1t shall be arranged without her,
or even you, knowing anything about
it. That is my business
"'Ah! well, yes, perhaps you're
right. Farewells are dangerous, very
dangerous.
eyes, yes said I, don't be child,
and all will 60 WELL Whatever you
do, don't kiss her if you can help it; if
you do, you're lost
Il gave him another grip with my
hand and let him go. How hard it all
was to bear!
ut seemed to me, as [ watched him,
that he kept the secret as we had ar
ranged, for they paced the deck to-
gether for more than half an hour,
arm in arm, and then they went over
to the side of the ship and began fish
ing up the bits of seaweed with the
line she had dropped, and which one
of the cabin boys had managed to get
hold Of again. All of a sudden the
night was upon us, as is usual in these
latitudes. 1t was the moment [ had
selected for the fulflment of my duty,
but its mournful recollection has new
er since left me for an hour, and =. |
drag it about with me as a convict
does a chained shot"
The evident emotion of the old Off
Ger when he reached this point in his
narrative compelled him to pause, and
when he resumed it, after an interval
of a few minutes, it was in some
what incoherent strain, in which
sort Of running commentary was mutt
tered to himself on the changing
phases Of his story.
Il called up the second lieutenant
onto the quarterback and gave him
his orders. Since we are ordered to
turn butchers and executioners, launch |
the first cutter without delay. Put |
that woman into her, and row straight
away from the ship until you hear the
report of six muskets; then turn about |
and return ;"
Here he muttered to himself, "Obey
a mere scrap of paper like that-for
that was all it really was | must
have been possessed by some foul fend.
| saw that unhappy young man kneel
lown and kiss her knees and feet when
the sailors approached her, and [ Or
lered them to separate them. Oh,
God, | see it all now"
He stopped short suddenly in front
Of me.
II tell you | was like a mailman.
them,' | cried, for we are
all set of scoundrels. The Republic
is dead. Directors, Directory, they
are nothing but vermin. See what |
these villains of lawyers have forced !
me to do. If [ had but the five
here | would shoot them
every one. | swear I would as the
heavens are above mel [ saw the
men staring at me, and evidently
| had lost my wits, but what |
did [ care for them or for my life?
Not so much as for this rain that is
falling on me now"
He turned from me and strobe away,
to himself and clenching
his fists, whilst he occasionally struck
the mule with the hilt of his sword as
if he meant to kill the poor animal.
His face was so convulsed that his
bushy eyebrows fairly met; and the
weather-beaten hue Of his face turned
to so deep crimson that | thought he
must have fit of apoplexy. In his
excitement he threw his cloak from
off his shoulders, leaving his breast
fully exposed to the wind and rain, of
which he seemed quite unconscious,
and thus we marched along, side by
ide, until | plainly saw that if |
wanted to hear the conclusion of this
sorrowful story [ must break the 81
lence.
II can quite understand" said |, as
if he had finished his story, ''that after
such an occurrence as that one holds
ones duty in adherence" "
DUTY, duty! Are you mad? 1t is
not duty at all. No captain Of a ship
ought to become butcher, and would
never be asked to, except under the
government of set of thieves and as
sassins, who take advantage of the
habit of a poor fool to obey blindly,
to obey always, in fact to obey like
machine, and against all his better ma
ture.n
Then he drew a red handkerchief
from his pocket, and burst into an I'M
cnvernahle food of fears which he