The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-01-15
THE PRESS.
The Pirates Diamonds.
London Society,"

this evening. | have told them that was
going to bring you, and they will be very
pleased to make your acquaintance"
Jack Burnett and 1 were the Oldest OF
friends. We had been at school and college
together, and such ties are among the most
enduring in the world. Ali our small Sc
crets were open ones. Consequently when
Jack got engaged he-being clerk in Som
erset House, was speedily informed OF the
circumstances. / had never seen the young
lady, however, beyond her photograph;
which was prepossessing enough in all con-
science. had been articled to lawyer
and was now engaged as clerk in the office
in the north of England, and did not often
get TO town; and even when l was in Lon
don the proverbial selfsbness of lovers kept
them together, and was shut out of the
little paradise of that far western square.
1t was only a little, little square in the far,
far west, but, according to Jack, it was the
abode of bliss. But the paradise had its
drawback in the presence of the demon of
impecuniosity. The Delormes had to cut
things extremely fine The drawback was
the greater as Jacks official salary was only
ninety pounds, rising ten pounds year. 1
thought myself poor man, but l was att1u-
ence itself compared with Jack. We calcu-
lated that he would have to wait at least fif-
teen years before he could marry Flora.
How well remember that Summer even
ing when first went to Weston Square and
there met my fate! If this story is not all
about Fanny, it is none the less to be under
stood that Fanny became all and everything
to me. The only thing that / could never
make out was why Jack should have been
such dolt as to have fallen in love with
Flora when he had a chance of falling in
love with Fanny. Jack himself assured me
subsequently,, and in great confidence, that
for several weeks he had loved both sisters
with an equal degree of intensity.
Music was the order of the evening Di-
rectly the introduction was effected the girls
needed no persuasion to come to the piano,
and poured forth gem after gem from ora
torio and opera with skill and vigor which
transcribed all my conceptions of what
might be done in this way. Jack professed
to be able to sing, which he did according
to his lights. l was not able to sing myself,
which gave me more leisure for falling in
love with Fanny. 1t was easy to see by va
rious signs visible to the observer, that the
Delormes were not overburdened with the
good things of this world. There was only
one domestic and she was taking an even
ing out; and indeed it was impossible for
them, as they told me, to have any domestic
who did not have good many evenings out.
But poverty has many gifts and graces that
in the eyes of lovers at least-caL make it
absolutely enchanting. We had a simple,
substantial supper; the cool salad and cold
meat and jug of foaming beer were brought
in by the young ladies themselves; and Fan
ny lighted our cigarettes for us, and out of
innocent bravado offered to smoke one her
self. Old Delorme produced square bottle
and some lines, and though think that we
would rather have gone back to the music,
held us all with his cheerful talk. 1t was in
the style of the Vicar of Wakefield's parties.
perhaps not much wit but great deal of
laughing.
"You ought to know all about our family
affairs, Mr.. Burnett" said the old gentle
man, snow that you are likely to be con-
nected with u.s." Here Flora blushed ''ce-
lestial rosy red.' 81 am sorry to inform
you that we have had pirate in the fami-
ly."
so, never mind that" said Jack. 'When
DR.. johnson was engaged to the lady who
became his wife, she told him that she
ought to let him know that she had had a
relation who had been hung. Old johnson
replied that he had half dozen who de-
served to be hung"
swell, papa, it was not quite so bad as
all that" exclaimed Fanny. "The poor fell
low did not mean to be pirate. He couldn't
help himself"
at was the funniest thing that ever hap
pened." said Fanny. 'It was quite by acct
dent that we discovered it. We happened
to knock up against an old hair trunk, which
few open, and lot of papers tumbled out.
We spent the whole afternoon looking them
through: such lot of letters and bills of
lading and old almanacs, and all sorts of
queer papers! Among the rest we found a
letter from our reat-great-grandfathe
telling us OF some extraordinary adventures
in the Southern Seas.'
Il should like to see it above all things
ell we have two copies. Here is the
original, put IL is so dim and defaced that
you will hardly be able to make it out. The
copy was made many years ago. 1t is quite
clear. But we should not be able to make
out the original without great deal of diff
Guilty."
The following is this extraordinary letter
Englished to suit our modern date
my dear Son George: l am just going to
put down divers strange passages of my life.
These are some things which you ought to
know, for the part clearing of my memory
and for your own well-doing and fame here
after. Alas, am sinful man, and there
has been much that is bad and evil in my
life, and some things that press very heavy
upon my poor soul. And yet I do protest
that when Captain Morgan did invite me to
go on board his ship, that had letters of
marque and reprisals, thought that he had
the Kings warrant to take ships in the Span
ish Main; these said Spaniards, so to speak,
being our natural enemies, and unjustly
claiming all the Indian seas. But. alas, he
was more of buccaneer than privateer.
To be sure, at first he was more like a
general or an admiral leading an army against
an enemy. For he had three ships that
could ire their cannon against strong fort,
and he once landed enough men on a GER
tain island that should fight great battle
And well it was that the foe. yielded when
they did; for we had hardly two rounds of
ammunition left when they so yielded and
turned their backs And, indeed, without
the gunpowder he wreaked his wicked will
on the poor helpless wretches whom he took
captive. For if one of their slaves did say
that such a one had money, but concealed it,
he would tie him up by the wrist to tree,
or would beat him and make sore wounds,
or would rack his feet with irons, which no
true sailor with his Highness's commission
would ever do. Moreover, he would send
some of us round in periaga into the little
creeks to ravage and plumber and torture
any people, we ourselves being as bad as
sayages, and more like pirates than honest
sailors. And, Indeed, l take great shame to
myself to confess that there was much saw
agery and wild adventure to which my evil
heart did much incline at the time. and for
which 1 do humbly hope to be forgiven.
Around the isle of Cuba are innumerabe
little islands which the Indian folk do call
Sdyos. anu one OF tneSe Islands he had a
design to make a retreat, where he might
rest after much fighting and tolls, and recOv-
er himself, and then sally forth for more
booty. And truly, it would have been well
for him, and me too, if we could have tar
ried in that pleasant island For, indeed,
the woods were most delicious, the air pure
and delicate, the streams very clear, with
varieties of choice fish; and many great tur-
tie come up o. the sands, and these are cas-
lily overturned, and their flesh and broth are
excellent.
MASTER said to Captain Morgan, if
you do not mean to go back to our own land
to old England-which is cold and rainy
and dull, will you not stay in this beautiful
island where all is ease and wealth and COM
fort? He was hard and cruel to others, but
to me he was always in a rough sort courte-
ous l often thought that he would come
back here to die, as indeed he did, though
not in the way thought for. But when he
might have heaped up an abundance for
himself l considered he would be satisfied:
for, indeed, in his storehouse in the woods
he had many costly and pleasant things
rare carpets and hangings, and silver, car
ven and chasened work, and linen, and stores
OF wines and strong waters. Also the birds
they call the Faisands breed there much.
Each time he came thought he ould stay
there for many days, and that he would
STAY there for good at last For indeed IL