Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1881-06-28
MISC cEILAAt US.
THE CAPTAINS DAUGHTER,


"AeR. DUDLEY, ask Lieutenant Ray
mond to como on deck, for l wish to
speak with him." aud blunt Dan Lepnox. a
diamond in the rough, for his heart was in
the right place, turned to a MILDLY standing
near, and who saluted politely, but with
mischief in his eye, went to the wardroom
and said TO handsome young officer of
twenty-five or three-
"lf you please, sir. the Captain wishes to
see yeu on deck, and his brow is as black as
West Indian tornado, and he has a letter
in his hand that locked strangely like your
writing"
81 think 1 know wha. he wants, SO. if
you love me, Dud, prsy for me" and Gill
bert Raymond went on deck, his face fush>
ing aud paing by turns.
"Mr. Raymond, you wrote this letter, 1
believe" said the Captain bluntIy.
II did, sir"
"Not ashamed of it, shl"
"No, SIR"
"In it you ask the honor Of marrying my
daughter, Amy, in the ofing of whose atfoe>
tious you have been backing and filling for
the past two years"
81 do, sir, ask tho honor of an alliance
with your daughter"
"Ahem! Raymond you arc clever fel>
low; passed oil your examinations with fy>
ing colors, have gone up the ratlne of pro-
motion rapidly since, and three years ago
saved my lie when our Lunch was run
down by that sccursed Spanish gunboat, and
now wish to serve me still further by becom>
ing my son .in>low.".
The young officer smiled family and
bowed.
"Well, sir, my con ,in-law you can never
be-"
The lieutenant turned deadly pale, and
seeing it, Captain Lennox said
"Now deu't turn schoolgirl and faint
but tell you that you can never be nv
son>in- law, and I'll tell you why; have no
daughter"
"Sirl and Amyp'
"ls not my daughter, Raymond, only my
adopted child!"
"Ah! but thought, sir"
'You have no right to think, for appear
anoes arc often deeeitful, and many q laugh
in my sleeve have | had at designing old
maids and widows who wished to catch me
because l was rich, mind you, bv saving
that Amy was beautiful, and the very inn
age of her papa!"
"Bahl Half tho world arc fools and the
other half crazy, and you and Amy arc not
exceptions; but, Raymond, if you are in
earnest, and L know Amy is, you can have
her, and, if you break her heart, I'll be
dashed if / don't break your head; but hold
on, young man, You may change your mind
when tell you g. yarn about the girl, and
how came to adopt her; dc you care to
listen, or do you take her on faith, rs the
lubbers forward take the surgeons pills2'
Il am willing to listen to your yarn as
you call it Captain Lenuox, but not any
thing you could say would turn me from nv
intention as yeu Intimate"
"That's what 1 thought about you; get
on the right track, and held on your course
If your scuppers run under and your keel
sees daylight; but young man, the warn I
have to spin is of time seventeen years
age, before you were breechod, 1 dare saw.
81 was cruising in the West Indies. and
was passed MILDLY then, on board brio,
OF war, sent in search of Cuban free. .bootor
that had been playing havoc with our ship
ping.
After several months cruising. We
sighted the pirates trim schooner off the
Kermudas, and he led us long chase too
In sight of Cuba, for he was unable to throw
as on his wake, though be tried every dodge
known to those wild sea rovers.
''As We sighted Cuba, we go. in range
aud storm coming up that we expected To
lose him in, We lulled up and gave him an
entire broadside, and it was fatal one. for
1t brought his sails to the deck with run.
cut away his bowsprit, and before he could
repair damages We were upon his deck with
cutlsss in hand, but mind you, Raymond, il
you ever breathe one word Of this yarn 20
that 1t reaches the ears of my wife and Amy,
that you'll have to fight me-"
alt shall remain a secret, SIR"
so wish it to be; well was young and
ambitious then, and was the first one on
the rovers deck; but he met us brayely, and,
with his crew fought US like demons, until
1 shst him down, and the schooner was
ours.
"Dsmages were repaired, and, as had
disarmed and killed the pirate, for he was
fatally wounded, was placed in command
of the schooner and prisoners, with order.
to run them into Port Royal, and surrender
them to the authorities there.
"On the way the Captain asked to see
me, and never saw more elegant gentle
man, or Pluckier man, for he knew be wa:
! dying, aud did not care. He knew that j