The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-06-16
THE CAPTAINS DAUGHTER.

speak with him." and blunt Dan Len
nox, q diamond in the rough, for his
heart was in the right place, turned to
. MILDLY standing near, and who salut-
ed politely, but with mischief in his
eye, went to the wardroom and said to
a handsome young officer Of twenty
two or three ,tH ~ ,l- NSrH DOS : =
If you please sir, the Captain wishes
to see you on deck. and his brow is as
black as West Indian tornado, and he
! has letter in his hand that looked
strangely like your writing" -
81 think know what he wants, so If
You love me, bud. pray for me-" and
Gilbert Raymond went on deck, his face
flushing and paling by turns. ta
'Mr. Raymond, you wrote this letter,
/ believe" said the Captain bluntly.
81 did, sir'' ''tH =. 'ii
..Not ashamed of it, eh?'' .tsv
..No, sir.'' -. t.,f.
Elm it you ask the honor of marrying
my daughter, Amy, in the offing of
whose affections you have been backing
and filing for the past two years. ~
II do, sir, ask the honor of an alli-
ance with your daughter" "Ht ar ~ +
"Ahem! Raymond you are clever
fellow; passed all your examinations
with flying colors, have gone up the
ratline of promotion rapidly since, and
three years ago saved my life when our
launch was run down by that accursed
Spanish gunboat, and now wish to serve
me still further by becoming my son-in
law" 't'''i e7''i t''>' - i'''i.-
The young officer smiled family and
bowed. .l... -.ss-s. tc3tf hls: =, ial,. 81
well. sir. my son-in-law you can
never be-" ,'.,.. --..,
The lieutenant turned deadly pale.
and seeing it, Captain Lennox said:
'.Now don't turn schoolgirl and faint
but I tell you that you can never be
my son-in-law. and I'll tell you why;
have no daughter"
"Sir! and Amy?"
els not my daughter, Raymond, only
my adopted childp' th@ 80
':Ah! but thought, sir-''
"You have no ght to think, for ap-
pearances, are often dcceitful, and
many . laugh in my sleeve have had
1t designing old maids and widows who
wished to catch me, because / was rich,
mind you, by saying that Amy was
beautiful. and the very image of her
papsr" ,
the other half crazy, and you and Amy
are not exceptions; but, Raymond. if
you are in earnest, and know Amy is.
you can have her. and if you break her
heart, I'll be dashed if don't break
you may change your mind when tell
you . yarn about the girl, and how /
came TO adopt her; do you care to listen,
or do you take her on faith, MS the lub-
bers forward take the surgeons pills?'
II am willing to listen to your yarn,
as you call it Captain Lennox, but not
any thing you could say would turn me
from my intention as you intimate.
''Thats what l thought about you;
got on the right tack, and hold on your
course if your scuppers run under and
your keel sees daylight; but, young man,
the yarn have to spin is of a time sew
enteen years ago, before you were
breeched, 1 dare say. 49,
81 was cruising in the West Indies,
and was a passed MILDLY then, on board
q brig-of-war, sent in search of Cuban
freebooter that had been playing havoc
with our shipping. ~
'.After several months cruising, we
sighted the pirates trim schooner off
the Bermudas, and he led us a long
chase too in sight of Cuba. for he was
unable to throw us off his wake, though
he tried every dodge known TO those
wild sea rovers. rs .rlg -
'As we sighted Cuba, we got in range
and storm coming up that we ex-
pected to lose him in, we lulfed up and
gave him an entire broadside. and it
was fatal one, for it brought his sails
to the deck with a run, cut away his
bowsprit, and before he could repair
damages we were upon his deck with
cutlass in hand; but mind you, Ray
mOnd, if you ever breathe one word of
this yarn SO that it reaches the ears of
my wife and Amy, that you'll have to
fight me-" ...1
"It shall remain secret, SIR"
$50 1 wish it to be; well was young
and ambitious then, and l was the first
bravely, and, with his crow fought us
like demons, until shot him down, and
the schooner was ours.
Damages were repaired, and, as 1
had disarmed and Killed the pirate, for
no was fatally wounded, was placed
in command of the schooner and pris- |
Oners, with orders to run them into
Port Royal, and surrender them to the
authorities there.
'On the way the Captain asked to see
me, and l never saw more elegant
gentleman, or pluckier man, for he knew
he was dying. and did not care.
He knew that I had given him his
death wound, but bore me no malice,
and offered me his hand which 1 fer
vently grasped, for could not but ad-
miro him.
Then he told me that he was an Amer
ican, had been educated for the navy, |
but his wild life got him dismissed from
the service, after which he became reck-
less and over game of cards had lost
his temper and taken human life, which
forced him to fly to save his neck from |
the gallows.
''While in the navy he had married a
beautiful girl at New Orleans, and his
wife and child were then living near
there. es..e --4
ssThen ha rave ma a uold 1ocket. IN