The Sunday herald., 1886-09-26
WAITING FOR ORDERS.


nc were II
-R. W. McAlpfne, Hdrper's young Folks.
->.os$-
WAITING FOR ORDERS.
In Psngelly Creek lies the Princess Iris, a
smart and beautiful craft, flushed and
adorned with a care that show how she is
valued by her captain and owners. Her
taper masts, her fine spars, and the cobweb
tracery of her rigging, catching at this mo
ment strong CLEAN Of sunshine, stand out
against dark masses offolisge; rugged, many
oolored crags; and the rude stone walls upon
Pengelly Hill. Land locked, calm, and placid
are the waters of the creek, like those of
some inland lake; but just round the point,
into the tide, lies the broad expanse of Lear.
mouth Harbor, where all the navies Of Eu
rope might ride at anchor.
Byt trim aud handsome as is the ship,
there is an aspect of solitude and deseition
about her. No sailors are lounging about
her decks or hanging from her rigging. Her
crew, indeed, were paid off month ago, and
nobody knows when she will ship another,
for times are bad and freights are scarce,
aud thus the good ship lies in ballast wait
ing for orders. But the captain still lives
on board; aud, indeed, one could not desire
better quarters than the handsomely fur
nished house on deck which forms the cap
tain's cabin and the mate is there, too, In
his cabin down below. But each lives apart,
and has little to say to the other, and the
man who cooks for them serves their meals
separately and at different hours of the day.
Just now, as the ship swings gently round
IN answer TO the first movement of the tide,
and as q soft breeze ripples the water, the
captain comes out from his white house on
deck, and gives hail down the opening to
the cabin:
"Hi, Psnsilonl I'm going ashore"
Capt. Carnew is handsome young Corn
ishman, not giant by any means, but we'll
built and proportioned, with bronzed and
ruddy visage, and good.bumored and yet
determined expression. As the mate thrusts
his head into the daylight. and looks about
him, yawning, lie presents strong contrast
to the sanguine captain. He is yellow aud
dark ey ed, with crisp, black curling hair, and
his eyes gleam savagely as they rest upon
captains spruce array.
~ shall go ashore, too, II you co." said
the mate defantly.
"When come back you can go ashore" :"
said the captain, in a voice that did not in
vite further discussion. And then he low
cred himself deftly into little dingey that
lay alongside, and was soon out Of sight
round the bend of the creek.
There the hill rose still more precipitously,
and its summit was crowned by an old
ruined tower, known as Pengelly Castle,
while just below, in little clearing among
the woods, stood the tiny church OF St. Kso,
with q pathway up to II from the creek, and
little landing place with steps almost hid
den by moss and weeds.
Here Harry Carnew moored his skif aud
then he spraug with vigorous footsteps up
the hill, TO where q little spring by the
church yard wall filed messy basin, and
hidden by luxuriaut growth of ferns and
bright leavsd ivy. This was the wishing
we'll Of st. Kso, and by its margin stood q
tall and slender young woman, gazing into
the pellucid water, and so much occupied
with her incantation that she did not hear
the approaching footsteps. And thus Mas
ter Harry stole quietly upon her, aud, put
ting his head over the girls shoulder, saw
reflected In the little basin the dark and
glowing face Of Iris Grade iu close proximity
TO his own manly features. The girl, OF
course, saw the same reflection. and gave q
start and little scream; but next moment
her wrist was firmly clasped, and round
dozen Of kisses put all illusion to flight.
"Oh, Harry, you clumsy fsllowi' cried
Iris, untwining herself deftly from the
| spoilt the oharmi I really did believe In
81. Keo just for minute"
"St. Keo's all right" said the captain.
"You were looking to sss your future hus-
bands face. dear, aud you saw him.
Though, after all )" his face olouding over,
"what reason had you to bs In doubt about
| the matter ~
"Oh, thore Is terrible doubt" said Iris,
"aud that Is why asked you to meet me
here. But, Hrst Of all, where is Pension ~
"Why, on board, Of course, replied Car
new, oha6ng at the question; "what mat.
ters about himf 7"
"Why, you know" began Iris coaxiugly,
"how fond he has always been Of me. Now,
don't GO. in rage, Harry; you know don
care for him; but still l feel little sorry
for him, because, don't you see. Harry, be
fore knew you think ussd-whst y0r
might call to dirt with him."
~ make no doubt Of II, my girl" sal,
Harry dryly. well, and now ~
swell, now, You know, dear Harry, tina
papa is somewhat in fx-
swell, that's not my fault, anyhow,
said Harry gloomily. "pve always dom
him justice with my Princess--shs is
charming Princess, isn't shei" hs cried
snatohing q kiss from the radiant face tha
was SO near his just then.
"She il a beautiful ship, Harry" re-
joined Iris, ignoring the personal applica
tion of his words. "But think of the OLE
Princess, the deserted, miserable old thin
lying there In Bool River. Come, Harry
| I'll race you up to the tower to have lool
at her."
Aud Iris, forgetting all troubles for tn
| ri ltuh
tangled pathway with Capt. Harry clos
behind her; aud they reached the SUNNI
Of the hill, aud the foot OF the old towe
that crowned the height, almost at tho sam
moment. From this point o charming view
was spread out before them. On one sid
Pengelly Creek, with the one tall ship lynn
: there at anchor, aud on the other the Boo
River winding placidly among the woods,
heights. In front lay the brond expanss o
} Lsarmouth Harbor sparkling In the esunshine
and dotted with the sails Of innumsrabl
craft, while beyond was seen the dark head
land and tho low sandspit, with Its black
grim looking forts, aud further still the sea
horizon, almost lost in a summer haze. Blu
the object that most Interested the lover
was an old black hulk that lay just beneatl
them in little bay formed by the river
hulk that had lain there for many years
The story went that she had belonged to a
old sea captain, who had sailed her ON hi
own account, till, both ship aud captain wear
ing out and growing old, they had anchore
for the last time in Bool River. Withou
money to reGt his ship, aud having Out
lived all friends who could help him, th
old captain was found one morning hangin
in his cabin, dead and cold and from tina
/ time everybody had avoided the old hulk
which had been called the Princess in he
sea-going days. And now she belonged
Stephen Grade, of Pengelly Castle, til