The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-31
NORMAN's FORTUNE.

deck of an English sloop- of-war, and
were gazing with interest upon the har-
Dor and city of Malta, which they were
to leave in 4 few hours for the Pacific,
whittier their vessel had been ordered
There comes the boat, and now We ii
see what manner of man our junior
lieutenant is to be-" said one of the Off
GERS, as a man-of-war's boat put out to-
wards the sloop.
..As live, it is Norman Ernescliffer'
cried one, cycling the boat closely.
''And who is Norman Ernescliffe,
Charlie?" cried several.
"A splendid fellow, l can tell you.
He was appointed by the Admiralty for
going out in fearful gale, at the risk
of his own life, and plotting brig-of-
war into safe anchorage"
'Does he come of good stock, Char
lie" asked an aristocratic young Off
Ger, who was always talking of his blue
blood.
Ellis family were poor, 1 believe; but
he's rich now, and his wife was an heir
ess, and the way he won her was most
romantic, L can assure you"
''Give us the yarn, Charlie, as soon
as the huff goes down in the cabin to
pay his respects to the captain" urged
one, while the others joined in the re-
quest.
Il will spin the yarn as soon as I've
spoken to Ernescliffe, and introduced
him, and I'm glad he has been ordered
to our ship"
So saying, Charlie Beauchamp walked
to the gangway, and greeted the new
officer as he came on board, while the
group on the quarterback commented
on his appearance.
Hes a handsome fellow, anyhow"
declared one.
And looks like q fearless man." re-
marked another.
..What superb form he has," put in
a third. while fourth added:
..And looks every inch q sailor.''
The object of these comments had in
the meantime returned the greeting of
his friend with warmth, and then gone
toward the cabin to report to the cap
tain. promising to return on deck soon
brother officers.
The captain will keep him some
time, Beauchamp, for learn he brings
dispatches from home, so give us that
yarn called out a passing midship-
man.
''All right, I'll give it to you as
schoolmate of his wife,
1T seems that Ernescliffe's father was
a captain in the merchant service, and
took-his son to sea with him on his diff
ferent voyages.
Upon one of these trips, Captain
Ernescliffe was so fortunate as to rescue
the passengers of homeward bound
East Indiaman that was in a sinking
condition, and among them was a young
girl, the daughter of a Calcutta banker,
whom Norman, then in his twentieth
year, and mate in his fathers vessel.
fell in love with.
Her name was Flora Hastings, and
she was but sixteen, beautiful, as can
vouch for, and an heiress, and she re-
turned his love as fondly as he. could
wish.
'.But the banker did not wish his
daughter to love a poor sailor, and he
frowned down Norman's attentions.
s.But, little did the lovers care, and
when they parted, after the ship drop
ped anchor at Liverpool, they were Sc
cretly engaged.
Going round to London, where more
cargo was to be discharged, Captain
Ernescliffe was lost overheard, and
when his affairs were settled up, the in
terest he owned in his vessel had to be
sold, or his wife's home 90, SO Norman
was determined to let his mother keep
the old place, and giving up his position
ON the ship, obtained mates berth on
packet sailing to Havana, but was
soon after transferred to a vessel of the
same firm running between the East In
dies and London.
''One day, when ready to sail. Nor
man, to his surprise and delight, saw
Mr.. Hastings and Flora come on board
among the other passengers; so The
kept dark until after the ship was at
sea, fearing for the old man to see him,
as he expected he would change his
mind, and take another vessel, rs he
tried to do in fact, when he saw who
was the mate: he wished to return to
England.
..But Norman held himself aloof from
Flora when old papa was about, though
they had many a stolen talk together,
and he learned how her father had
forced the maiden into an engagement
with n German baron more than double
her age, and that he was TO come to
Calcutta before many months to claim
his bride, and the irOuSSeau had been
already purchased.
.sBut the old banker seemed to be a
perfect Jonah, for when among the
Andaman Islands cyclone struck the
ship, and in spite of every effort of the
captain and crew, the vessel became a
wreck, and the boats were launched to
save the lives of those on board.
F'Through all the trying scenes of
danger, Norman Ernescliffe proved |
himself hero, and even the old banker |
was anxious that he should command \
the frail boat in which himself and /
daughter were to go; but when all was
ready, and Norman alone remained on |
the sinking ship, huge wave tore the
boat away before he could spring on
board, and the crew refused to return