The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-04-08
JACKSON, OHIO, THURSDAY, APRIL 8, $780,

that it would be time enough to ge
them when | had some semblance of /;
beard. He seemed pleased at the man
ner in which [ had answered him, and
after short pause
Il dare say you We never seen a ship
in your life, and don't know the poop
from the stern?''
| was obliged to confess my ignor-
ance, and he gave me long descrip-
tion of each, adding with regard to
the former, ''It is there a man is
placed when he is ordered to be shot. y
Il understand" said I; she tumbles
into the sea, and there is no more
trouble"
He made no direct answer to this
remark, but began talking about the
number Of boats a corvette generally
carries, and their several positions on
the deck, and thus he insensibly glided
back to the subject which evidently
occupied all his thoughts.
"The sailors carried Laura off into a
six-oared boat before she had time to
cry out Or speak to me, but it is aston
ishing what set Of fools there are in
the world who always manage to do
what they are ordered in the wrong
way. Poor, poor Laura! The officer
in command of the boat was actually
fool enough to row away straight in
front of the ship, and, as for me,
had calculated on the night conceal
ing the work we were about, totally
forgetting that the flash of the mus
kets must naturally light up the scene.
Well, to cut it short, from the boat
she saw her husband fall, shot dead.
into the sea!
'Our merciful God above alone
knows how such things come to pass
as [ am about to tell you-at least I
know that [ can't explain them; but
the moment the volley was fired, she
raised her hand to her forehead as if a
bullet had struck her, and there she
sat in the boat, without fainting, with
out screaming, without speaking, and
returned to the corvette when and as
they willed. Iwent to meet her, and
[ spoke long. time to her, and said
what I thought was best. Her fore
head was bright red, whilst her face
was deadly pale, and she seemed as if
she listened to me, and looked me
in the face whilst she slowly
rubbed her forehead. She trembled
all over as if she were afraid of every
one who came near her, and thus she
has ever since remained. You may
call her what you like, an idiot, an
or a madwoman, and all |
have ever heard her say since is, Take
the ball away; take it away out of my
head
"Can you wonder that have devot-
ed my life to the fulfilment of the
promise | made to that poor murdered
lad, and that my conscience has Or
1ered me to cherish and take care Of
poor Laura so long as [ am spared on
this earth? When I returned to
France | claimed my rank in the army,
having taken a dislike to the sea, be-
cause had shed innocent blood there;
and when the arrangements had been
carried out, [ obtained leave of alb
sence, and left with Laura for her old
nome, intending to leave her with her
family. Unhappily, found that her
mother was dead; and what do you
,hink her sisters said to me? They
proposed to put her in the madhouse
1t Clarendon, and I turned my back
IN them, and have ever since taken
care of her myself"
rs she inside there, then?" asked l,
to the cart.
Certainly she is;. and you may see
Ter if you like" and he called to the
mule to stop.
TO BE CONTINUED.