The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-08-01


the name of the young lady.
She's q Miss Latimer,' he said;
came out with us this voyage, l sup
pose only for her health, since she's
going right back. Understand she's an
orphan and got some money. Dresses
well, at least. Shall introduce youP'
"Of course / jumped at the offer, and
very soon the magic words were spoken
which privileged me to speak to my
idol. You see even now get enthu-
siastic and romantic in my language
when talk about her, so you can i'm
agine the condition of hopeless 'smite'
in which was then. Well, she proved
to be just as charming as she looked,
and before / turned in for the night l
was deeply, desperately in love.
81 don't suppose there is any place
in the world SO favorable for love-
making as q comfortable passenger
ship. Not one of these new ocean
greyhounds' that rush at break-neck
speed through all kinds of weather,
and land you.at your destination almost
before you have time to know any one
aboard, but fine clipper vessel, whose
only propelling power is natures
breath, and to the passengers on which
every change of weather or shift of
wind is of vast Importance and interest.
These afford endless themes for talk,
| and mutual interest seems to draw
people closer together. Miss Latimer
had quite an affection for the Winches-
ter, which had brought her safely from
England, and was then bearing her
back. She and the Captain appeared
| RI, ha chn
often invited to walk on the Captain S
own side of the quarter-deck-a path
way which we were supposed not to
venture to tread without special sum-
mons.
There was something about Miss
Latimer-Rose was her name-which
was irresistibly attractive to me. do
not know exactly how to describe it,
except as curious compound of girl
ish innocence and womanly frankness.
One would never dream of flirting with
her, and fancy few people would have
ventured on any direct love making
without speedy accompaniment of a
humble entreaty for her hand. She
was awfully kind to me- used always to
be afraid that I'd over-exert myself,
and was constantly making me tell her
stories of my experience. l am afraid
that sometimes l little overdid the
Othello business, but she never seemed
to mind.
''Day after day slipped away in an
ecstasy of happiness, tempered with
occasional qualms of doubt. I hest
tated to put my fate to the test, for if
by 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,
should be so anxious to be married that
| couldn't bear 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 | made confidant 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 legalP' / inquired.
Perfectly. 1t will be duly entered
in the ships log just the same as a
birth. The Captain is ca o6fcio clergy
man, magistrate, registrar and some
times DOCTOR
1.-THE idea was splendid, and l 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 well to sound the Captain,
and see if he would be willing to per-
form the ceremony. You see, wanted
to have everything sure before l put
my fate to the test 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 morning l sent message by
his boy, asking him if he could spare
me a few minutes. The boy speedily
returned with request that l would
follow him to the Captains cabin.
81 found the great man sitting at his
table looking over chart. Somehow
or other he appeared to me to be I'M
usually formidable.
Good morning, Captain Hamil-
ton, he said, as he waved me to take a
seat. Can l do anything for your
Well, Captain, it's rather deli
cate matter, but wanted to ask you
something about your powers on
board.
They are absolute, sir he an
swered, little sternly. why do you
askp Do you want some one put in
irons for insulting youP'
"'Not exactly, Captain. The letters
that would like you to use are of a
different kind-the matrimonial ones
1.-The dickens you say!' he ex-
claimed, jumping to his feet, and his
face lighting up with sailors quick
sympathy for a love affair. So you
have lost your heart to one of my pas
sengersp Pray which is itP'
"'Well, Captain I answered, 4
know / can trust you not to let this go
any further at present. 1t is Miss Lati-
mer.'
81 didn't quite like the look that
came over his face. Is it possible,
thought, that this old sea-dog is a
little bit gone in that quarter HIMSELF
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 hopesP'
"'Not yet, Captain.
Has she given you any encourage
| mant m thi,1ly thot tho 1ova vO,, COW