The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-10-18

The cautain's daughter was AS famous as
the captain himself; for although she could
. play the "piauuy,' and was reported To be
able to speak French las well as the French
themselves l,uCh a Smatterlug OF the Ian
| magc a. any schoolgirl might poNS IS
2 would suffice for tai, report, she was her
t fathers clerk and purser besides being ms
| Auu-pk.tpcr. She accompanied HIM on all
3 . hO, voyages, and IN the widest storm was
r. az cool a. the old 30 seaman ON board,
f When the lLJm,aH wa, In straits she
8 would stud hy .nr fathers side her sailor
: hat amt the pea ivnE'' over her Ordinary
dress giving her tall h-uea somewhat man
rs appearance ready 10 obey him IN any
thing hc might command
And throughout this rough life She pre-
served the grHticSt characteristics of We
manhood. When at home in the cottage no
Stranger would have suspected that the
quict-'Onkng lass with the merry smile was
accustomed 70 such stern experiences.
The NClnUd wa, small steamer which
Duncan Murray had purchased bargain.
Then, having sold his cutter, he employed
the steamer to considerable advantage In
carving goods along the coast, or to where
ever he M ght obtain cargo. BY this means
he had made a good deal Of money-a big
fortune his friends considered it-Some OF
which was prudently invested in house
property
He might have retired and lived comfort
ably on his income. But he would not do
that; he only became more particular about
his cargocs and about his rates Of freight
Likewise, he would now employ a pilot
more frequently than had been his custom,
in order to give himself more ease on board.
Often he had been heard to declare with
an emphatic oath hat he would never part
with the Mermaid or his daughter las lang
as they could baud thegither."
In spite of this well-known declaration
there were men who would have been glad
to make him forego his vow so far as the
lady was concerned; only, she seemed to be
as much disposed to observe il as her father.
AT any rate, no one had yet obtained her
favor: and there seemed no likelihood Of
that favor being easily won.
To herself there was the simple fact that
her life was a happy one and there was no
need of change. Even if one should APP
pear possessed Of that strange power which
draws a maiden away from father, mother,
and kindred to trust her whole life to him,
/ she believed that she could resist ii, until
her father sajd-"Gp, and take my blessing
with YOU"
Here is Mr. Ross, father" said Annie,
a. she entered the room, and added with
some surprise-"Mr. Cargll has gone"
/ GAY; did you not see him?-he wanted to
see YOU =. How are you, Bob? I'm want
! tin you to come wi rs as far as Peterhead
| Can you manage it?'
| The captain was burly little man with
very ruddy face-Shrewd, sharp and yet
not i'l-natwed.
| "Whpng' was the prompt query.
| Next week, on Tuesday maybe, but on
"Wednesday sure
/ Ross looked at Annie--his eyes turned to
| her involuntariy, asking the question, was
she gUin. to-? But She looked down at the
table examining some forms which her
father lad thrust towards her whilst he was
speaking.
I'm not sure. But what should you need
me for?-you know the roads better than
me"
The captains quick pale eyes looked up
at him sharply, and he said good-natured-
Iy-
"Tm perfectly aware o that, Bob, but
next to mysep | think you ken them best"
"Thank you captain"
"And rs am TO have friend WI me, l
dinna want to haze MAR fash myself nor Is
| Just necessary. That's the reason why l
want you WI u,, though what you are sac
particular about kennng for, Gamma make
| out. What's wrlng wi YEP
That was a question not easily answered,
for the man himself did not know precisely.
He felt that there was great deal wrong
l,f I..,, ~ "a a
cover an explanation for it in his own mind,
it was impossible to translate it in words to
the understanding of another. So he an
swered vaguely
Nothing, captain, except that would
like bit rest"
'Rest!-you that fetched afr they three
billies frac the smack this morning, and
was able to walk out here as if naething
had happencd-you to talk about rest when
you are gaun aboard the McrmGid!-hoots
man, that's ma your reason"
What is that about the smack, father?'
broke in Annie, with eyes Frightening, as
she remembered the explanation Ross had
given for being late.
, "A daft thingthat foO-felIOw gaed out
In the teeth o gale because he saw smack
cap ecZed-"
Did you save them?' she asked of Ross;
but the father replied
90 ay, he brought hame three O them
but he might haze made the loss o his ain
crew as weel as that o. the smack. 1t was
cleverly done as am told, all the same but
you should mind that life in the hand Is
worth twa in the wrack. But that's ma the
question; are you to come VII me or no?
Cargill is coming"
Annie by flush Of the cheeks and a
movement Of the hand-instanty checked
as If she would take that Of Ross, appeared
to think that the saving of the men was very
much the question.
The father did not observe the movement,
and Ross was entirely occupied with the
announcement that CargiH was going to
Pcterhead on board the Mermaid
"Tll go wi you, captain, he said quietly;
and any one hearing him speak would have
thought that he was merely closing an ordi-
nary bargain. But through his mind was
passing the panorama of Cargll, all the
way along the coast counting Annie.
That's a plain word, and / think you
ought 10 haze spukpn il sooner for it's an