The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-11-07
A BRAVE GIRL.

named Mary Gray. who stood by tho
beach near her fathers humble cottage,
two miles from Falmouth, talking 10
her lover, Captain Thomas Brown.
IL am sure my father likes you,"
she was saying. 81 have heard him
speak well of YOU"
Then why has he refused TO let me
have you for my wifeP" asked her
companion.
Really" she responded. blushing
deeply, you and are both young,
and, 40 father says, we can wait"
Your father would have me wait
until am sixty" said Captain Brown,
gravely.
.'Of course you are jesting," she
said.
Not in the least. / am confident
shall be sixty before / can earn the
sum your father expects me 10 have
saved when l marry you"
HE Is certainly unreasonable. re-
piled Mary, pouting.
Yes" said Captain Brown, but"
he added, his eyes lighting up. you
are worth striving for, and 1 shall
work harder than ever. As captain OF
the fishing schooner Sea Wing my
salary Is rather small, but the owner
of the 'Ringwood' has offered me more
to take command of his vessel, and
mean 10 accept the position"
Soon after, the two separated, Mary
returning 10 her fathers house. and
her lover fastening in the direction of
Falmouth to close his bargain with the
owner Of the "Ringwood."
Thomas Brown was an industrious
young man. He was an orphan, who
from childhood until his eighteenth
year had lived with Henry Richards,
an uncle, who kept a seaman's cloth
ing store in Plymouth. The boy had
worked hard in the employ Of this
relative, who was then doing thriv-
ing business. But Richards, who had
the name of being an eccentric person
age, finally sold out his stock and went
away to parts unknown, not even tell
ing his nephew where he was going,
and not giving the youth penny for
his past services.
you must shift for yourself, as |
had to do when / was of your age"
was all he said TO the young man when
he took leave of him.
And SO Tom, who had always loved
sea life, had familiarized himself
with nautical affairs, and in due time
became the captain of O fishing schoon-
er.
A few days after his meeting with
Mary on tho beach, he called at her
fathers house to bid her goodbye, as
he had obtained the command of the
"Ringwood"-an was to take the
craft TO the Mediterranean port for
fruit.
Good luck to you," said Mary's
father who was fisherman, to the
captain. you have the right stuff in
you to get along. and you shall have
my girl as soon as you have saved
enough to make you both comfortable
for life"
al am afraid IL will be long time
before have enough for that" said
the young man.
..Never you mind" said MIR. Gray.
"Folks marry too early nowadays. l
was tbirty-fve when l took Mary's
mother for my wife. and good woman
she sartinly was"
You had no fortune, father. when
you married." said Mary, slyly.
''Ay, girl, and that's the very reason
want Tom to have one, do you see.
/ saw, when 1t was too late. how hard
1t was TO be family man without a
nice little sum of money"
A few hours later the "Ringwood"
plunged her bows into the foaming sea,
and with the summer wind filling her
sails, away she went on her course.
Weeks passed, and as the time drew
near for the return of her lovers
vessel, Mary Gray would often ascend
one of the cliffs on the coast and watch
for the expected craft.
One morning in July the wind was
blowing heavy gale. All along the
beach the huge waves came rolling In
with the din of thunder.
II hope Toms vessel will not appear
to-day Off this perilous shore" was
Mary's mental comment, as she gazed
seaward.
Her father, near his boat, which was
hauled up on the beach of small,
sheltered cove. stood conversing with
some fishermen who had collected
there.
Mr.. Gray was unusually elated. The
cause was known only to himself. On
tho day before while his daughter was
absent. stranger had called at his
house and inquired II he could direct
him to Captain Thomas Brown.
Mr.. Gray told him the captain was
every day expecting to return from
voyage.
"Will you send him to me when he
comesp" said the man. IL will be In |
waiting for him at the George Hotel in
Plymouth. |
II suppose you bring good news for
himP" said the shrewd fisherman. rub
bling his hands. "Ain't that SOP"
II don't mind telling you II you will |
keep IL to yourself, was the reply.
SAY. ay." answered Gray; 81 can
promise that"
..Well, then, Mr.. Richards, Captain
Browns uncle Is dead. and has left his
nephew legacy Of f5ooO In the Three
per Cents.
"Phewr' whistled Mr.. Gray. 81 al
ways thought he was rich, but I
sartinly never before knew he was so
gen'rous. Five thousand That's
enoughl that's plentyr' he muttered to
himself. 1.-The young fellow can have
my Mary as soon as he likes"
The delighted fisherman resolved
not TO tell the news TO his daughter
until after Browns return.
Wholly unconscious Of the good fort
une that awaited the young man,
Mary stood on rising promontory,
still gazing off towards the rushing,
whirling masses Of storm-rack that OBJ
scured the dark waters In the distance.
All at once she uttered q cry Of dis
may, turned pale, and pressed both
hands 10 her heart
Emerging from the rack came top
sail schooner, with only the stump Of
her foremost remaining, and with all
the canvas of her main-mast torn TO
tatters.
The group of fishermen had already
seen the craft which was not half o
league distant
She'll 60 down before she strikes
the rocks" said one. They have
tried to tighten her. as you can see by
the looks of her lumber. but 1t won't
do any good"
..If I'm not mistaken, that vessel IL
the .RingwoodP F" cried Mr.. Gray.
much agitated. God help Captain
Brown and his crewr'
mo hope for them. poor fellows"
said one man. .'The best OF swimmers
couldn't keep mp in such q sea- They
are all doomed.n
MIR. Gray clenched his teeth and
walked TO and fro in despair.
al. A III Il n - Il