The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-06-27
SELECT STORY.
A FAVOR OF FORTUNE.

Elizabeth, situated upon the coast of
Essex aud overlooking the English
Channel, was the seat of Admiral Sir
Thomas Strout, rough, robust old
British sailor, who flourished during
the latter part of the last and the be-
ginning of the present centuries. Orig
iually the place had been called an alb
hey. The Admiral had given it its
present name in honor of the old Jason
lrigate, on board which he had served
"a post captain when it was the flag
ship of England's sailor-King, William
w, then Admiral, and Duke of Clar-
ence .. I.. ~
In 1882, the time of which we write,
Sir Thomas, grown old and battered in
the service, had been honorably retired
upon full pay. He was never 80 hap
py as when he could induce old ship
mates TO share his hospitality.
Admirals of the Red, the White or
the Blue were all gladly entertained by
Sir Thomas Post captains were al
ways welcome even commander, if
his war record was good, might find
favor in his sight. But lower than
that he did not go. In fact, he was
an aristocrat of the first water-the
very safest of the salt and he would
sooner have admitted to social equality
the boatswains and the gunners of the
old school than to have admitted a
lieutenant of the new.
The only near relative which the old
Admiral had was a granddaughter,
whom he came very near to worship
ping. His wife had died when quite
young, leaving only one child, a beau
tiful girl, who the proud father was
wont to declare was the handsomest
and the best and the most intelligent
girl in the kingdom.
She, rather late in life-her father
having kept the general run of lovers
at distance, became the wife of an
Earl, but the Earl was so poor that
when he died, only five years after his
marriage, he did not leave behind him
the wherewith to pay his debts, the re-
suit being that Lady Irene, the Admi-
rails daughter, came home to her faith
er, bringing with her an infant daugh
ter-the little Lady Emeline
At the time of the opening of oul
story Sir Thomas daughter had been
dead several years, and the Lady EN-
cline had grown to beautiful maiden
Of 10, with a character that lacked
nothing to make it lovely and lovable
And she had lover-a young lieuten
ant of the Royal Navy-named George
Ayling. He had come first to Jasor
Hall, having been sent with passage
to the old Admiral by the Board Of
Admiralty. On that occasion had to
remain all night, and Sir Thomas had
detailed Lady Emelne to entertain
him. He was brave, loyal, true
hearted man, 20 years of age, tall anc
strong and handsome, so handsome
and so genial and so minded thai
his beautiful young hostess fell in love
with him during that first visit.
| He was attached to the naval de
partment at Whitehall, being on tht
staff of one of the lord commissioners
His father was only a merchant, bu
one of the most wealthy in London. Ii
fact, few men had more influence a
court than had the elder Ayling, h'
having been lifelong friend aud {
devoted helper of the present King
and he never obtruded himself Tn,
only favor he had ever asked had beer
in behalf of his son.
| Lieutenant Ayling had fallen des
perately in love with Lady Emeline
and at length he told her of it, an,
he told her so heartily and so ardent,
and so lovingly that she could not keel
back her own confession, but said
"Oh, George! my love my heart il
all your own now"
| But when he talked of speaking
with her grandfather she trembled
She knew the old AdmiraIs whim
and Inconsistencies, and she feared h
would oppose their union.
| "Fortune favors the brave" sal,
George, laughingly. "Faint hear
never won fair lady. l shall beard tn
tiger in his den. Surely he cannot ca
me- ......
| And, on a certain afternoon, whe
| the lieutenant had brought down
| packet from the naval office, and ha
seen and spoken with his darling, h
| approached the old Admiral in hi
sanctum sanctorum and told of his low
for the beautiful Emeline, and boldl
asked the veteran for her hand.
i What q shock was that for Tn
British Admiral At first he ooul,
not credit the evidence of his senses
1t could not be possible that he ha
heard Alright. And the ardent love
stated his case a second time-statet
| it SO there could be no mistake. An,
then the wrathful torrent burst forth
| What A lieutenant! Son of
London merchant A mere nobody
| A stripping, who had never smel
Ipowder! Who had never seen flee
put in line of bat:lel Marry with hi
granddaughter-the daughter of a
| Earl ! Aud so he went on to the close
and the close was this "Get out q
my house, sir Get out, sirl An
don't you dare to speak with the Lad
Emeline again You! You! You
marry with the granddaughter an
heiress of Admiral Sir Thomas Strout
BY heavens, if she should do such
thing as listen to your tale of love,
would-would-I don't know what
should do; but, if she should MARI
with you, I'd cast her off on the il
stantl Now, go! | think you hav
| your answer"
| The young and gentlemanly Lier
tenant was thunderstruck-utterly al
founded. He gazed upon the foamin
old tiger as he might have gazed upo
a South Sea Islander gone mad.
| "Well, sir, d'you hear me VIII
don't you moves What are yo
waiting here for? / don't thin
you've got any more to say" blustere
the irate Admiral, while the extraord
nary rush of blood to the head gave t
his rough and puffy face a color purel
crimson.
"Only this, my dear sir for th
present" returned Ayling, mildly an
modestly, and bowiDg politely.
would like to know, sir, through yo,
%