The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-07-07
she exclaimed. advancing toward the old
IL 80. 4 L. L.

"He Ia not living" said Polly, quietly.
ST am SO glad you came on board. This
is your friend, I suppose"
Wonderment introduced me.
"Oome into the cabin" she said.
"and 1 will tell you everything that has
happened"
When two glasses OF grog hal been
brought, Polly told her story. 1t was
not q very long one. Her husband had
died about three years after they first
sailed away in the Ooppering Pet This
happened when they were In the Japan
ese seas. She would have sold the yes.
sci and returned to her home, but she
found it was not easy to make suitable
arrangements OF the kind and then, be-
fore any plans could be carried out, she
heard Of her fathers death. When she
recovered from this new shock she did
not want to come home, and if she sold
her vessel, she felt that she would have
no abiding place in this world, so she
determined to keep the Coppering Pet,
the only home she had and having q
competent mate and good crew, and
being accompanied by middle aged
Scotch woman, who acted as both maid
and companion, she had sailed and trad
cd in those Eastern waters until few
months ago, when she had determined
to see once more her native town.
While Capt. Polly was speaking had
watched her closely. She was really a
very handsome woman and her face was
but little sunburned.
And now" she said, &c want to hear
everything that has happened here"
Thereupon Wonderment told the story
of Capt. Mereen's death and the singu-
lar disposition of his worldly substance.
This is IA strange story" said Capt.
Polly, land l must think it over before
1 say anything about it. And now,
Wonderment, did you come out to take
Pet over the bar? ?"
81 didn't come fur that" said the
old man." inspired by the grog, "but
though I'm not a pilot by trade, I've
been over this bar back ards ard for
ards as often as any man Twin. If any
OF the reg lar pilots had been in the town,
l suppose they'd come, but they're
away, and here l stand ready for the
job"
Gall right" said Capt. Polly, "you
shall take us over.
was not at all satisfied with this de-
cision. When he came aboard, Won
derment had supposed that Capt. Alba
was in command, and knowing the chan
mel he would scarcely need IA pilot. L
took Capt. Polly aside, and explained
the matter to her.
"It will soon be high water" she said,
"and don't want to wait outside twelve
hours more. There is nobody else here,
and au certain old Wonderment would
not offer TO pilot lis ii he did not kno v
the bar. He can't help knowing it; be
has lived here all his life"
1t was not long after this that the sails
were set TO fresh southeastern breeze,
and we were steadily moving along to-
ward the narrow entrance to the harbor
Wonderment stood leaning against the
foremost, his feet wide apart, and his
frequent orders were passed to the man
at the wheel. We had now almost
reached the bar. On either side of US
stretched long expanse of sandy beach,
with gentle surf rolling up on it.
=" Hard-a-port Starbu'd Hard
stsrbu'd D-W shouted Wonderment.
And then there was CRATE and grind,
and the vessel stopped! We were
aground on the north beach.
The next day after this l was sitting
with Polly in the parlor of little house
in the town where she had taken lodg-
ings. Capt Polly was much troubled,
but kept upa good heart and blamed only
herself for trusting Wonderment.
felt anxious to help her in every
way that could, and was now discuss
ing with her what was best TO be done.
The Coppering Pet was high and firm
upon the north beach. Every effort had
been made by the crew and the inhabit-
ants of the town to get her off, but all
were unavailing. 1t had been decided
to send to more northern port for
steam-tug, and in the meantime Polly
and her woman Sarah had taken lodg-
ings in the town.
Two weeks elapsed, during which the
Coppering Pet remained firm upon the
beach. The tug had arrived, but 1t had
been found too small to move the vessel.
Another and larger one had been sent
for, and in the meantime the cargo was
being taken out and removed to the
town i'll lighters.
During this time saw much of Polly,
and became indeed her most trusted adj
wiser She had no relatives in the town,
and turned to me as if / had been an
old friend.
One day told her my love. Folly
listened to me very quietly. :" I am glad
you told me this" she said, ''after you
knew how poor ! am, but cannot con-
sent to drag you down."
"Polly." cried, "this has ceased to
be question of poverty or riches. ALI
/ ask is this-do you love me?'
1 looked into her eyes, and then took
her in my arms. The matter was set
tied.
In the course of another week the
larger tugboat had arrived, and during
three high tides it hauled and pulled at
the stranded Pet. but was unable to
move ner. Her Captain had been paid
with portion of her cargo, sold at q
sacrifice in the town, and he had gone
| away.
When everything had been done, and
Polly's affairs had been placed in the
hands of responsible business man Of
the town, Polly and were married.
1t was not necessary for us to stay at
this place any longer. The Pet would be
disposed of 60 the best advantage, and
the crew would remain in the town un-