The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-09-15
these years, and Captain Storm face

expected 70 see my little Peace, and
find q young lady SO stately ana womanly
that ! am ata loss what to say 70 her. I'm
not used to ladies' society you see. sss5
She laid her hand on his arm, and looked
up IN his honest sailor face with deep,
sweetly shining eyes.
Talk to meas you used to and call me
Little Peace. All, guardy, how I have
loneed for your coming. And my father
tell me of him. II
Captain Storms told her how, BY merest
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 out his wife with
him to wait upon her. And Peace
listened, like one in peaceful dream. It
was being a heroine it was living chap
ter out Of one of her pet novels to romantic
Peace. 8s5
So they sailed for that far of land 81 ce-
lestial tea and pig tails, Captain Storms and
his handsome ward. And Peace and her
fairy dreams realized, and there was brus-
sells carpet in the cabin, and q piano and
lots Of new, novels; and she was happy as
as the days were long. Her music filled
the Lovely Lass with sweetest melody; her
clear voice rang out over the purple mid
night sea, in songs sWeeter than the siren
strains Of the mermaids; and her beauti.
ful face lit up the grim old ship
like 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 ali! 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 CROUCH and big enough
to know better-fell madly, and desperate
~, 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 laughing.
girlish eyes. ia 81.
Fool that ! am for my palns!" he thought
sometimes, in bitter moodiness; 81 am
more than double her age; and am rough.
and black, and weather beaten as 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 SO glad
when he came, so regretted when he went.
And girls Of eighteen had married men Of
forty-fve before now; and, oh, why should
it not happen again, and Harry Storms be
the most blessed among men?
They reached China they reached Hong
Kong-and Peace was folded in her faith
er's arms. #
$50 like your mother" he said, his tears
falling. "Oh, my child! So like your
mother!' q
Captain Storms was to spend three weeks
IN the Celestial City-to visit it perhaps
never again. He made the most Of his stay,
visiting Peace every day in her palatial
home, and growing moodier and moodier
with every visit. Peace, too, dropped a
little and looked at him wistfully, and lost
some OF that bright happiness that made
her the light of both places. And when
the last day came and he stood to say good
by, she broke down altogether, and cried
like very child.
And shall never see you again" she
said; you who have saved my life! oh,
Captain Storms, must you go?"
And then that bashfnl giant took heart of
grace, as q landsman would have done
weeks before.
Il must go, said he; 4but we need not
part, my darling Peace, if yon say so; FOR
love you dearly; and If you will be my wife,
we will sail together, forever and ever, as
you once wished, until our heads prov
gray, Mine is not far from it now, be
added, ruefully.
But Peace had thrown herarms impetu-
ously around him, and kissed the dark,
crisp locks. 5
And if every hair were white as the foam
of the sea, I should love you, and go with
you, just the same. Why, Captain storms,
you have been my hero all these long years;
and should have died Of disappointment,
know, if you had left me behind"
So the China merchant lost his daughter,
and the Lovely Lass had second com
mander; and in all the years to come Peace
will reign perennial in the heart Of Storms.