Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-09-15

tive, into the hands OF Mrs. Lee. MOI
but that she shed few tears at parting.
too, and chung to the sailors neck, and was
very sorry when it came to the last, and
the good by kiss was given.
"There, there, nv little Peace!" Cap
tain Storms said, unclasping the clnging
arms. "You mustn't cry like that; it will
rsdden your eyes, and swell your nose, and
make you look ugly: Keep up heart, little
with q cart load of lovely presents for my
little girl. Kiss me again, and let me go. -"
Captain Storms imprinted sounding
smack on the wistful little tear-wet face,
and unwound the clasping arms 9nd walked
OFF. and straightway was whistling cheerily
along the deck of the Lovely Lass, and
quite forgetful, am afraid, of his little
Peace and her grief.
Dear, good guardian" thought Peace;
she's so kind and so good natured; and it
was nice playing on the deck of the Lovely
Lars; but, for all that, had rather be here,
and wear pretty dresses and play with Mrs.
Lees boarders, and never be afraid of ship
wreck any more"
Captain Storms sailed for New Zealand;
and on windy nights, when the doors and
windows ratified. and great soughs came
down the chimneys, Peace lay Awake and
thought of him on the terrible ocean, and
said her simple childs prayers for his safe
keeping.
Two years went by, and Peace had lust
one letter from "guardy" (guardian) in all
that time, and that one to say he was COM
ing back She was was tall, rather awk-
ward looking school girl of twelve now,
with preternaturally long limbs, that were
always in her way; high shoulders and
prominent cheek bones. So Captain Storms
found her when, more bearded and more
sunbrowned 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 a
shrill cry Of Joy she jumped up and flung
herself headforemost into his blue pilot
coat.
"Oh, guardy! dear, darling. guardy!
I'm so glad to see you again! So glad
SO glad!"
me with those long arms, my girl. Heads
up, and let us see YOU
Peace lifted her flushed face and kissed
aim ecstatically.
Why, how my little woman's grown;
getting as tall as the mainmast, by George!
and as thin as shadow. Don't they give
you anything to eat, Peace?"
Plenty, guardy; but growing girls are
| always thin-Mrs. Lee says so. And now
what have you brought me from New Zea-
land?"
Bushels of things, Peace. They'll be
here by and by. How does the learning
progress? Let us hear you at the piano"
Peace sat down and ratified off polkas and
waltZes.
and can read French, guardy," whirl-
| ~os1
drawing, you know, and do fancy work.
up and am young lady, and my education
is finished, 1 want you to fit up the cabin
of the Lovely Lass with Brussels carpet,
and piano, and heaps of new novels. and
take me to sea with you all the time until
I'm an old woman, won't your"
OF course Captain Storms devoutly PROM
Used, and rose up to take his leave.
I'm going to China this voyage, he
said, pulling her long brown braids. IF I
see papa I'm to give him his little grill
love, I suppose"
"Ah! if you only would see him!" Peace
cried, clasping her hands. Darling papa!
Guardy, he used to be in Hong Kong, I
know. Try if you can find him for me
when you 60 there"
Captain Storms promised this also, and
departed. Peace chung to him sobbing at
the last. you'll write to me often this
time, won't you, dear, dear guardy? You
only sent me one little stingy letter laat
time, you know"
All right, Peace, the captain said. "I'll
try. l 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
| no Il. nd hoo
to her horn book and fancy work.
But the months strung themselves out,
and the years rolled slowly backward, and
Captain Storms, sailing to and fro in gold
en- eastern and southern chimes, never came
to take his little girl from school. His let
tiers 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 to go with him
next voyage to China.
Captain Storms, hale and brown, and
handsome despite his niddle-age, rang
Mrs. Lees door-bell and strobe like sun
burnt giant, into the boarding school par
lor.
But of course she couldn't know I was
coming" he thought, as he sent up his
name; poor little girl, hope she'll be glad
to see guardy.
The door opened, and a young lady
walked in. A tall, and stately, and grace
full 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 am to see you once more!'
Yes, Peace, beyond doubt; but, oh, so
unutterabIy changed. Captain Storms red
dened under his brown skin, and actually
stammered.
lyon surely know me, I see" she smiled
brightly. Il dare say have grown out OF
all reason. Am I taller than the mainmast
now? 1 was almost as tall, if you 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 young lady so stately and womanly
that am at a loss what to say to her. I'm
not used to ladies' society, you see."
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
longed for your coming And my 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.
ly Lass was to take out his wife will
him to wait upon her. And Peace
listened, like one in peaceful dream. Il
was being heroine it was ivinga chap
ter out of one of her pet novels to romantic
Peace.
Sothey sailed for that far off land of ce.
lestial tea and pig tails, Captain Storms and
his handsome ward. And Peace and hel
fairy dreams realized, and there was brus.
sells carpet in the cabin, and a piano ant
lots of new novels; and she was happy OF
as the days were long. Her music filled
the Lovely Lass with sweetest melody; hel
clear voice rang out over the purple mid.
night sea, in songs sweeter than the sirer
strains of the mermaids; and her beauti.
full face Lit up the grim old shir