News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-05-07

power is natures breath, and to tht
passengers on which every change O.
weather or shift of wind is of vast i'm
port and interest These afford endless
themes for talk, and mutual interest
seems to draw people closer together
Miss Latimer had quite an affection fol
the Winchester, which had brought hel
safely from England, and was then bear.
ing her back. She and the captain ap.
peared to be on excellent terms, and she
was often invited to walk on the captain e
own side of the quarter-deck-a pathway
which we were supposed not to vanture
to tread without a special summons.
"There was something about Miss Lat
imer-Rose was her name-which was
irresistibly attractive to me. do not
know exactly how to describe it, except
as curious compound of girlish inno-
cenee and womanly frankness. One
would never dream of flirting with her,
and fancy few people would have ven-
tured on any direct love-making without
a speedy accompaniment of humble
entreaty for her hand. She was awfully
kind to me; used always to be afraid that
I'd overexert myself, and was constantly
making me tell her stories of my expert
ences. am afraid that sometimes a
little overdid the Othello business, but
she never seemed to mind.
''Day after day slipped away in an &C.
stasy of happiness tempered with occa-
sional qualms of doubt. I hesitated to
put my fate to the test, for if by any
chance she should refuse me-and despite
my belief that my affection was returned
such an event was barely possible-it
would be very unpleasant to meet her
every day for at least two months.
Again, if she accepted me- I should be
SO anxious to be married that l couldn't t
bear to think of waiting till we got to
England. There Is no need for me to
say that was very Young; you can see
that from my state of mind. Well,
| finally I made confdant of Watson.
He cut the Gordian knot at once, ASK
| the lady, he said, and if she consents
get the captain to marry you as soon as
she's agreeable
"'But is that legal p I inquired.
Perfectly. It will be duly entered
in the ships log just the same as a birth.
The captain is er oficio clergyman,
magistrate, registrar, and sometimes
Doctor
'"The idea was splendid, and I gave
Watson my best thanks. should have
at once proceeded to act on his advice,
but it occurred to me that it might be
as we'll to sound the captain and see if
be would be willing to perform the cere-
mony. You see, I wanted to have every
thing sure before L put my fate to the
test. I waited through one day for
favorable opportunity to speak to the
captain on deck, but he never invited
me to share his walk. So the next morn
ing [ sent message by his boy, asking
if he could spare me few minutes. The
boy speedily returned with a request
that would follow him to the captains
cabin.
'I found the great man sitting at his
table looking over chart. Somehow or
other he appeared to me as unusually
formidable.
"Good morning, Captain Hamilton,
he said, as he waved me to take a seat.
Can do anything for you?'
"'Well, captain, it's rather delicate
hJf 7 &a1 70
thing about your powers on board.
They are absolute, sir, he answered
little sternly. Why do you ask ? Do
you want some one put in irons for in
sultipg youT
"tNot exactly, captain. The fetters
that L would like you to use are of a diff
ferent kind-the matrimonial ones.'
""The devil you say T he exclaimed,
jumping to his feet, and his face light
ing up with a sailors quick sympathy
for love affair. $50 you have lost your
heart to one of my passeng ers? Pray
which is it 2
"'Well, captain, answered, 4 know
can trust you not to let this go any
further at present. 1t is Miss Latlmer.
81 didn't quite like the look that came
over his face. Is it possible, I thought,
that this old sea-dog is a little bit gone
in that quarter himself? p?
"He gave me plenty of time to think
before he made any verbal comment on
my announcement. His first words
were
"'Pray, sir, have you spoken to the
lady on the subject of your hopes p
"'Not yet, captain
"'Has she given you any encourage
ment to think that the love you say you
feel is returned by her?'
"'No, captain; but she has been very
kind to me, and has talked to me great
deal, and seemed to like to have me talk
to her.
"'And on these faint grounds you
base your hopes ?
81 didn't at all like the tone in which
he made that remark, and was about
to reply little haughtily. I suppose
he saw the expression on my face, and
he stopped me from speaking by hold
ing up his hand.
"'Don't say any more, Captain Ham
ilton. ought to have stopped you be-
fore. couldn't possibly marry you to
the lady
"'Why not, Captain Smith, asked,
rather warmly.
"'Because, sir, I couldn't very well
marry you to my own wife,
What ? 1 almost shrieked.
My wife, he answered firmly. III
am sorry you should be placed in so un.
pleasant position. 1t is partly my
fault, but much more that of your own
youth and rashness. You are an officer
and gentleman, and will respect the
secret am obliged to confde to you
81 felt so utterly crushed that I was
scarcely sensible of where was. Ger
tainly L did not fully understand all he
was saying, but l managed to retain
sense enough to bow my head in sign of
ascent.
was married. said the captain,
when was last home, to Miss Latimer,
who was left an orphan under unusually
sad circumstances and surroundings.
She dreaded to be left in England alone,
The owners of this line do not allow
their captains to have their wives with
them even as passengers. We therefore
decided to keep our MARRIAGE saorat and