The Worthington advance., 1881-09-15


ing back. She was was tall, n,ther awk-
ward looking school girl Of twelve now,
with preternaturally long limbs, that we're
always in her way; hi gh shoulders and
prominent cheek bones. So Captain Storms
found her when, more bearded and more
suubrowned than ever, he walked, with his
sea swing, into Mrs. Lees prim parlor.
Peace sat at the piano singing MY
Willie's on the dark blue sea-" and with q
shrill cry Of joy she jumped up and HUNS
herself headforep1ost into his blue pilol
coat.
"Oh, guardy! dear, darling. guardy
I'm so glad to see you again! So glad
so gladE'
And SO am I, little Peace. Don't choke
mo with those long arms, my girl. Heads
mp, and let MS see you."
Peace lifted her flushed face and kisset
Kim ecstatically.
why, how my little woman's grown
getting as tall as the mainn,ast, by George
and as thin as shadow. Don't they givt
you anything to eat, Peace?"
Plenty, guardy; but growing girls ar.
always thin-Mrs. Lee says 50. And nov
what have you brought me from New xea
land?"
Bushels of things, Peace. They'll b,
here by and by. How does the learnin,
progress? Let us hear you at the piano,
Peace sat down and rattled of polkas ani
waltzeB.
And can read F<ench, guardy," Whirl
ing round on the STOOL; ~and draw penci
drawing, you know, and do fancy work.
like everything. Aud guardy, when I grow
up and am young lady, and my education
is finished, 1 want you to fit up tho cabi,
OF the Lovely Lass with Brussels carpet
AMI q piano, and heaps of new novels, ant
take me to sea with you all the time unit
I'm an old woman, won't you?"
OF course Captain Storms devoutly prou,
ised, and rose up to take his leave.
"I'm going to China this voyage, " b.
said, pulling her long brown braids. III
see papa I'm to give him his little girl'l
love. I suppose"
"Ah! If you only would see himi" Peace
cried. clasping her hands. Darling papa
Guardy, he used to be in Hong Kong,
know. Try if you can find him for mt
when you go there"
Captain Storms promised this also, ani
departed. Peace clung to him sobbing al
the last. "You'l write to me often thit
time, won't you, dear, dear guardy? You
only sent me one little stirgy letter laat
time, you know"
All right, Peace, " the captain said. I'LL
try. never was ANYTHING OF a scribe, but
this time I'll do my BEST"
So once again the captain of the Lovely
Lass left his little girl, to sail merrily over
the world; and once more Peace went back
to her horn book and fancy work.
But the. months strung themselves ont
and the years rollea slowly backward, and
Captain Storms, sailing to and fro in gold.
en- eastern and southern climes, never came
to take his little girl from school. His let
ters were few and far between, despite his
promises, only six letters in six long years,
and in answers he had at least received
sixty.
But the sixth and last announced his
coming, and told her the wonderful news
that he had met her father in Hong KONG
and that she must be ready 10 20 with him
next voyage to China.
Captain Storms, hale and brown. and
handsome despite his lniddle-a age, rang
Mrs. Lee q door bell, and strobe like sun.
burnt giant, into the boarding school par
lor.
But of course she csuldn't know was
coming" he thought, as he sent M his
name; poor little girl, hope she'll be plad
to see guardy.
The door opened, and young lady
walked in. A tall, and stately, and erace-
fui young Lady, with dark, handsome
face, and waves Of sunny brown hair.
Surely, this was not Little Peace"
MY dear guardian, welcome back! Oh,
how happy l am to see you once more!'
Yes, Peace, beyond doubt; put. oh, 80
nnutterably changed. Captain Storms red
dened under his brown skin, aud actually
stammered.
''You surely know me, see," she smiled
brightly. Il dare say have grown out Of
all reason. Am taller than the mainmast
now? I was almost as tall, if yon remem-
Der, six years ago."
She recollected what he had said all
these years, and Captain Storms face
beamed.
Il expected to see my little Peace, and I
find a young lady so stately and womanly
that am at loss what to soy to her.. I'm
not used to ladies' society, you see."
She laid her hand on his arm, and looked
mp IN his honest sailor face with deep.
sweetly shining eyes.
Talk to meas you used to aud call me
Little Peace: All, guardy, how I have
loneed for your coming. And nv father
tell me of him."
Captain Storms told her how, by merest
accident, they had met; how he was rich
and lonely and longing for her, but unable
to come to America; how she was to return
with him, and that the steward of the Love-
" Lass was to take ont his wife with
him to wait upon her. And Peace
listened, like one in a peaceful dream. It
was being heroine it was living chap
ter ont OF one of her pet novels to romantic
Peace.
So they sailed for that far off land of c.
lestial tea and pig tails. Captain Storms and
bis handsome ward. And Peace and her
fairy dreams realized, and there was brus-
sells carpet in the cabin, aud q piano and
lots OF new novels; and she was happy Of
as the days were long. Her music filed
the Lovely Lass with sweetest melody: her
clear voice rang out over the purple mid
night eco, In songs sweeter than the siren
strains OF the mermaids; and her beauti-
1nl face lit up the grim old ship
IKE the summer sunshine itself. Peace
was bright and bewitching, and happy as a
bird. The sailors adored her as an angel of
light; and the captain-ah! the captain
adored her too. Sailing along, by day and
by night, through days of amber sunshine
and nights OF misty moonlight, to that dis
tant land, Captain Storms, in his forty
second year old erough and big enough
to know better-fell m.dly, and desperate
ly, and rediculously in love, He lost his
sleep, and he lost his appetite; and he
hung on girls foolish words, and existed
only in the radiance of a pair of lanphinp.
girlish eyes.
Fool that I am for my pains!" he thonpht
sometimes, In bitter meodiness: II am
more than double her age; and am rouph.
and black, and weather beaten az the tim.
bers OF my old ship. No, no. Harry storms:
the only wife for you, my boy, is the
Lovely Lass"
And yet, sometimes he wildly hoped.
She talked to him so happily, she smiled
upon him so sweetly, she was ever 90 Glad
when he came, so regretted when he went
And girls Of eighteen had married men oi
forty-five before now; and, oh, why should
IT not happen again, and Harry Storms be
the most blessed among men? l,
They reached China they reached Hone
kong-and Peace was folded in her faith:
er's arms. -'-,-