The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-05-03
MYSTERIOUS LEGACY,

LEGACY.
MY grandfather was a aea captain--not q
mere claimant Of tho title, like the water.
men Of the lakes, and tho coast skipport
who never got out Of sight Of land, and
who' ii they got there, could never 90,
nack-but a genuine "old SALT" trained
from boyhood under a tarpaulin hat. md
M familiar with the paths OF the sea'' as a
shepherd is with thoao Of q sheepwalk,
spending bis lie on extensive VOYAGES. ho
Saa aeldom at home long enough at a
Time for the salt spray 10 dry on his wealth.
er.beaten checks; and there was hardly a
port on tho hab,table globo in which he
could not ehake hands with an old nc.
quaintHnce, civilized or savage.
VI course his history WAS crowded with
curious incidents. Most OF these, ut which
my childish ears tingled and nv ewes dila.
ted, have become 30 iaded in memory IA
to be incapable Of a tolerablo narration.
Inc following, however, made a more last.
ing impression:
During the calm between the Old French
VA and the American Revolution, a large
ship was lying at a wharf in the town Of
New York, loaded with n valuable cargo
and ready to aail for Liverpool, and thence
to whatever part Of the globe tho chances
OF commerce would dictate.
inns was my granufsther's ehip, only
waiting Tor her papers and n fair wind,
Inc papers were Boon ready, and shortly
after them amt q breeze, Presently
everything on board was in active motion
the casting of and coiling Of ropes, tho
uniurling OF canvas, and the running IN
OF sailor boys along the %ratlines like spi.
doris on their webs; while the SHARP. i'm.
p~erative orders Of the mate, and The
hearty ,"~ye-hoy-ye!" OF the cheerful crew
echoed over the ripping waters OF the har.
Dor, which looked IN the rays OF the set.
ting sun as il it was covered with q cream
Of liquid gold.
Just before the last plank was hauled in,
q stranger stepped hurriedly on board and
inquired fcI the Captains otateroom, Be.
ing conducted thither, he entered, and.
with a slight bow, accosted the Captain
who sat writing at his desk:
"You are for Liverpool, l believe sir p"
ayes, biz"
81 am in poor health, and, intending 10
spend the winter in Italy, wish to get pas.
ysgo In the first ship thar sails for Europe,
Will you take a passenger ?"
"ies, air, il my accommodation will suit
YOU"
mo matter about accommodations, Can.
tain. am en- old sailor, and know how
to accommodate myself. Besides, the
trim Of your ship suits my eye."
The allusion to his i'll health attracted
my grandiather's scrutiny, and the intro.
duction Of himself as an old sailor touched |
his heart. On noticing him more parti.
culsrly be was struck with an undesirable
feeling OF curiosity and sympathy at his |
appearance. Tall, straight and rather
slender, he was dressed in fue black |
broadcloth, with a sort OF Spanish cloak Of
the same color and quality. A two-edged
sword, common on shipboard at that time,
and improperly called a c%utlass, was partly
covered by his cloak, and hung by his side
without q sheath. His hair was quite.cray.
and his manly features would nave been
handsome had they not been 30 emaciated
ne to give unpleasant prominence to a hall
dozen deep scars Oh his face. His ewes
neAS Ui4o IN !uA IA eApleESlUuI UuL Iebs. !
less at times, showing Il sudden abstrac-
ton. Tho loosenees Of one Of his black
gloves gave evidence that he had lost a fiu-
ger or TWO from his left hand. These OBJ
servations were made by the Captain while
the stranger was looking at a beautiful sex.
tant on the table. Turning, as If startled
at his forgstfulness, he resumed:
"Name the price, Captain, andI will pay
it now"
My grandfather had already fixed the
price In his mind and replied:
"You are a sailor, sir, and sick. The &C.
commodations oil my ship, as we'll as nv
v services, are at your free command"
The language Of q sailors heart can not
DO misunderstood, and knows no inter.
prefer, and the stranger knew that remon-
STRANGE would be ungenerous on his part.
BE made no reply, but eagerly extended
his hand, and my grandfather, as he shook
it, thought he saw n tear in the strangers
eye. But noble hearts arc impatient OF
exhibitions Of gratitude, and he quickly
added;
II am readyt to aail, sir. Isyour baggage
on board"
"This is all my baggage, Hir," he replied,
showing him a email black satchol under
his cloak.
Lending him to q state room the captain
left him and went on deck, and found the
ship already under wsy,the sails filled with
a stiff breeze, and wharvCe, warehouses
and spectators last growing Gmalli In tho dis.
lance. At length, as darkness shut in tina |