The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-03-18


ner absent manner convinced the
ung man that he could hope moth
lng from this concession.
he was a manly fellow, whom the
sprrows of women. but especially
nose of the one he loved, affected
Neep y; and Mary, who Had alway
rather liked him, at once noticed aud
appreciated his sympathy,
Marry him and forget that other
Rprthless fellow" her father ventur.
Ifn TO say to her, at last.
II could never like Mr.. Thomas
#ell enough tor that, papa. and /
apuht not he knows It."
Yes, but il was only the other day
nat he told ynur mother that he
!ssApld williugly run thesrisk Of your
Iiiss aiteF marriage, n you
would have him"
But Mary sadly shook her head.
80 yOu persist in thinking of that
false-imarted rascal ="
on, papa. say nothing against
him." she interrupted. "Somehow
still feel as if there must some
mistake. Yes" she added, starting
up; "you shall take me away off to
Costa Rica and we will search the
marriage register there !"
This was MT the first time she had
made that plopoSal, and now her
iather replied: Mr.. Thomas sails
on a trading voyage next week to
Costa Rica, anda | have business to
transact there, where | intend to es-
tabll>n an agency for shipping stores,
you and | can accompany him"
They sailed at the appointed time,
and finally arrived at Costa Rlca.
There inquiries were made, uut the
marriage reg lister could not be exam
ed. as the building in which it had
been kept had lately burned down
and the book was lost.
1t WAS aScertained, however, that
i the chaplain of British frigate,
which had been in the harh0r about
Il year bpfnre, but had now sailed
away, had married ii young naval
officer and Il lady. The names of the
wedded twain could not he learned
but there existed no d, ubt, even in
Mary Weldon, that they were Her.
bert Weyman and the Fanny Major
mentioned in the notice.
Mr.. Weldon now hardly gave his
Daughter moments rest with re
Spect to Captain Thomas. He be.
lieved that, if she married that per.
son, she would be happy woman,
in time.
AT last he said: "PromiSe me one
thing, Mary-tEat you will at least
have him when we return home,
whirh will he in about eight months
from now :"
''Yes, if l am alive. and if l learn
nothing in the meanwhile to show
that we have been mistaken about
Herbert ~
She only made this promise to
please her father. She felt quite sure
it would never be fulfilled that she
would die before she arrived home,
and be buried in the deep sea.
At lat the time came when the
vessel sailed.
Mary had continued to droop. Her
cheeks were sunken, hervoice was
hollow; she had hecome thin and
worn. But her strong constitution
kept her up. and when final y within
a days sail of home, she concluded
that she was likely to live on lor
years.
So then, after all. her promise
would have to he fuIfilled-she would
have to marry Thomas-fnrshe would
not break her word even though it
broke her beart to keep it.
eyes. 1 have allowed myself. by
papa's importantly, to he drawn into
making that unfortunate promise,
and ] must keep my word even
though it kill mel"
As she spoke, she sprang upon a
bench near the rail, the better to re-
ceive upon her hot, fevered brow the
full force of the fresh morning wind,
which was blowing hard.
Not a quarter Of a mile astern ol
the ship was another vessel--a bauti-
ful top sail schooner, which had been
sighted that morning, and was evi-
IDENTIFY also hound for Bristol.
In her agitation Mary hardly no.
ticed it. Her brain was reeling, and
she felt dizzy. A sudden roll nf the
ship prpcipitated her over the rail in
to the sea.
All the officers and men being in
tent upon some work fnrward-the
young girls father being beIow-no
person. not even the man at the
wheel, whose back was toward her.
and who was a little deaf, saw or heard