The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-05-12

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supposing that some boy had hurt himself
while picking the berries that grew plenti-
fully around, hastened in the direction of
the voice She came unexpectedly on three
men struggling with each other; one was
defending himself against the other two,
who fed, as they heard approaching steps,
without stopping to see who it was that
thus appeared upon the scene
When Isabella came near the man whom
she had been the means of preserving, she
found him too much injured to be able to
walk; she therefore procured assistance;
and, as he was, by that time, almost insen-
sible, she had him conveyed to Mr.. Mar
tins
In two OF three days the gentleman, who,
introduced himself as Mr.. Maitland, was
well enough to take his departure. But
first he wished to thank the lady to whose
timely approach he owed his life. He
dimly remembered having been conscious
of face. which seemed that of an angel
bending over him, as his senses failed him.
He had smiled as he lay on the bed in Mrs.
Martins spare room, at the delusion that
could transform sturdy country girl into
SO. seraphic being; but, when Isabella
Stewart entered the parlor of the farm
house, he stood for a moment silent and
absorbed in gazing upon beauty rarer and
more perfect than any he had ever imag-
ined, even in his dreams. Recalling his
thoughts, he thanked the young girl warmly,
| and accounted for the situation in which
she had discovered him by saying that he
had over-fatigued himself while on hunt
ing excursion and sat down to rest. The
heat of the warm summer day, and the
profound stiffness, had lulled him to slum-
ber. He had been aroused by an attempt,
made by the men whom Isabella had seen,
to possess themselves of his purse and
watch In the contest that ensued he had
been nearly overpowered, when Isabella
appeared to his assistance.
Mr.. Maitland did not leave the neigh
borhood, as he adproposed doing an hour
or two before. He took lodgings in a
farm house near by, on account Of the hunt
ing, he said, although, to judge by his
actions, one would have thought there was
no game worth finding out of Mr.. Martins
garden He was successful in his pursuit,
for it was no hard lesson for Isabella to
learn to love the only educated refined man
whom she had seen for the last three years.
Charles Maitland was the adopted son
of his uncle, rich and childless merchant
of New York. When he applied to him
for permission to fulfil his engagement, he
was astonished by positive refusal. The
older Mr.. Maitland was naughty and ex-
elusive aristocrat, proud of his family and
his wealth; and the idea of his nephew's
marrying poor girl, the daughter of a
sea-captain, and brought up in farm
house, was repugnant to him, that he COM
manded Charles to give up Isabella Stewart
entirely and Immediately. Isabella, dis
covering the difficulty between Charles and
his adopted father, and its cause, Withdrew
her promise. But Charles was firm; he
considered himself pledged to Isabella and
no arguments or threats could induce him
to retract his plighted word The end was
that he presented himself to Isabella
disinherited man, and urged that, as he
had given up SO much for her sake, she
should no longer refuse to fulfil her old
engagement.
Isabella's own heart pleaded two power
fully in his favor for her to resist long the
arguments used by her lover. They were
married, and for two years the young Mr..
Maitland was obliged to strain every nerve
to keep his wife from suffering from abso-
lutte want At this time situation, that
promised to be a lucrative one, was offered
him in the West Indies; and the friend
who proposed it to him told him, also, that
he could give him passage with his wife
and child in one of his ships.
Both these offers Mr. Maitland accepted,
for, not trained to a business life, he had
found 1t difficult to succeed. Mrs. Maitland
was the only female on board the vessel,
with the exception of her maid; and, as
she suffered much from sickness, she re-
mained, the greater part of the time, in her
state-room. Whenever she appeared on
deck, she observed that she was closely
scrutinized by one of the sailors. Once he
approached her, and asked if her name was
Isabella Stewart. His manner was respect
full and even anxious, although the question
seemed familiar one. She replied that
that had been her maiden name.
''Do you remember Andrew Blake"
asked he
every well,' was the reply. cam l
speaking to him.
The man bowed and walked away; and
Isabella had no further opportunity to
speak to him.
Mr. Maitland had remarked, with some
Indignation, that the captain was very
severe and tyrannical in his treatment of
the sailors. He had wondered several
times at their patience. One morning, he
was aroused by a disturbance on deck. On
attempting to leave his state-room, he
found that the door was locked, and not
only that but guarded ON the outside 1t
was not many minutes before it was opened
by Andrew. II have done the best [
could for you, Miss Isabella" said he,
hurriedly. "The captain has been thrown
overheard; and you would have all served
the same fate but for ne. nress yourselves
quickly; take whatever you want from
your trunks, and come with me-
In half an hour, Mr. Maitland, with his
wife, child, and nurse, were in an open
boat on the wide Atlantic, with only
small cask of water and few loves of bread
to preserve them from starvation. Fortu-
nately, they were in the broad highway
between New York and Havana, and were,
before twenty-four hours had passed, safe
on board vessel bound for Spain, but
about to touch at Havana on its outward
way.
There was an old Spanish gentleman on
board, who had been the first to descry,
while amusing himself with o telescope,
the little craft that bore such precious
burden. He had insisted on the captains
sending to their relief, and had shown the
greatest interest in them.
The next morning, Mr.. Maitland said to
his wife: Isabella, as you can speak
Spanish, wish you would thank that old
gentleman. But for him, we should not