The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-06-21
A SEA-
By b Il.

1t is rot much Of story. but it would
have been O great deal happier one If it
had not been for the little pink twisted
shell which Jack Wallace found and gave
to Dora Carter down on the beach the
day Jack sailed for Bombay.
They had spent the afternoon there on
the beach walking up and down, arm in
arm, or sitting on some bit of broken
spar, Jacks arm about her waist. and
her little brown hand clasped closely in
his great strong fingers.
They talked about their future; about
the morrow and its parting, and whether
they should ever meet again, and how
Dora would break her heart if they
didn't.
And Jack told Dora how, when be was
away on the sea and in the far-off eastern
land, he would always think about her
aud strive to keep his life pure and good
for her sake. and never do anything to
render him unworthy of her.
And Dora told Jack how lonely and
sad she would be when he was gone, and
how she would pray for him every night
and if it was stormy lie awake aud
tremble to think of him on the furious
ocean; and how faithful and truo she
would always be to him, and how he
would 6nd letter from her at every
port where the vessel touched. and must
be sure to send one back to her.
Aud they both talked of the time when
Jack should return and buy the little
stone cottage at the Headland; and Of
the quiet wedding they should have, and
Dora should be mistress of the stone
cottage; and then when Jack came to be
commander of ship. instead of second
mate, Dora should accompany him on
his voyages and be the captains lady.
l doubt if there was ever happier
pair Of lovers, albeit their long parting
was so near,
And suddenly Jacks eye caught the
rose colored gleam of "a little shell among
the shining sands at his feet, and he
picked it up and gave it to Dora, saying.
Keep it for my sake. When 1 am
gone it shall mind you Of your sailor"
''As if 1 needed anything TO remind
me of him?" answered Dora with little
pout.
NAY, then" said Jack, lightly, II
have whim. Let it be the sign of your
constancy. Keep it till you cease to
love me, and part with it only to the
man who wins your heart from me-"
"You know that no man ever will
Jack, dear. What gave you such a
thought"
1T just occurred to me to be jealous
of that handsome Tom Selwin and tall
Dirck Landfred and-aud--all the rest
of them who would give their eyes for
my bird. Dora dear, when I'm away
don't sail with Tom and ride with Dirck,
as you've been used to, )" said selfish Jack,
half anxiously, half playfully.
"You great bear" scolded Dora, "to be-
so jealous! If you were not going away
SO soon I'd he angry with you. Bnt I'll
give you the promise, Jack" she added
seeing his sober look. "Ill do just as
you wish, dear"
And SO Jack sailed with the comfort.
ing conviction thot Dora was quite safe
from the attentions OF his numerous
rivals.
Alas that wretched little shell! it and
Jacks jealousy were the cause Of all the
trouble that came to those two.
Over year from that day Jack mel
, Dirck Landfred, 1000 miles from Dora,
and was very glad the handsome fellow,
who loved as madly as Jack himself, was
no nearer her.
Until this little coolneEs about Dora
Jack and Direk had always been the bes
of friends, ana now Jack was not sorry
when Dirck shipped for his return voy
age on the same vessel with him. Dircl
= sad sailed two weeks after Jack and fol
the same port. As I said, Jack was no
i'll pleased to have him for q shipmate
, and before the long voyage was hal
I ended they were as good friends as ever
; One day when Dirck was rummaginI
through his chest for some trife, Jsel
came along and sat down for chat. And
suddenly, while they talked, Dircn
opened little box OF miscellaneous odd
and ends, and Jack caught sight anon,
: them of little pink, shining shell. TO
be would have know it among ten thous
= ands.
: "Dirck, where did you get that shell !.
he demanded in voice SO sharp tha
that Dirck looked up. startled.
: "Where did l get itl" he Responded
I jesiingly. my sweetheart gave it t,
Q me."
g Jack stared at him one minute will
great hgonized eyes, too blind, in hi
e sudden anguish to see that he was jok
G ing. Then a strange, white pallor set
e tied over his bronzed face, and he walk
y ed silently away. She was false 10 him
n then; she had given tho she'll TO Dirol
Landfred; and was not this the sig