The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-06-09

marry 40 -. 5&e
He looked at me curiously, and did
not speak for long. Then he said:
81 have been thinking of that; but it
will not do. Poor as he is, they might
marry now, in spite of us. No; we
will let him 90 out again in the Con-
queror. That will separate them for
some months, and give us time to con-
trive."
Some time after the sailing of her
lover | observed great change in
Faith. Her cheerfulness departed. She
grew pensive and silent: once I found
her in tears. I could not speak to her
OF the old, distressing subject, for it es-
tranged US. l feared still more for her
mind, and treated her with the greatest
kindness. Her eyes thanked me, and
she always kissed me now upon going
to bed. And more than ever did l pray
that peace and security, as of old, mi ght
rest upon our home.
One night there was rap at the door.
My niece was out among her flower
beds, and I answered the rap. The caller
was Squire Bradish.
"Where is Faith?''
1 told him.
Il have bad news, Miss Rachel. She
must hear it. Please call her in.
She came in, with her sunbonnet in
her hand, not at all agitated by the
'squire's call. '.-
There is bad news to-day, Miss
Eldridge," he said. "Can you bear
it?''
She fixed her eyes intently upon him,
but showed no emotion
''The Conquerer has just rounded the
lower point. A swift cutter coming
up brought me letter from the mate
1t tells me that Captain Converse was
drowned on the 18th of June, in mid
ocean.
/ looked to see her scream or faint
She did neither With he hands lying
loosely in her lap she sat there, with a
far-away look in her eyes, which seemed
to see neither of us. I went to her and
laid my hand on her arm.
"Do you hear, Faith? The Squire
says that Captain Converse is drowned. :"
at is not true" she said. 81 saw
him on the 18th of June He seemed
weary and troubled. I can believe that
he has been in danger and perpIexity,
but he is not dead. He did not come to
NE in that way
There was nothing to be said in the
face of such perversity as this. The
squire took his leave and next morn
ing. after the ship was at the dock, he
sent in the particulars of the captains
sad fate. In the height of storm
the lurch of the ship threw him against
the rail. He must have been stunned,
for as he lay doubled over it he did not
reach out his hand to save himself, but
toppled into the sea. No boat could
live in such gale, and nothing could
be done to help him. The mate saw it
all, but was not near enough to aid him.
All this I told to Faith. She merely
shook her head. I grew angry--I
could not help it.
"Foolish girl'' cried. 'Will you
insist after this that he is yet alive?''
II know he is, was her calm reply.
"Faith Eldridge. beware! You are
flying in the face of Providence. These
visions and dreamings are not of Cod
the adversary is in them. Confess your
wickedness; ask Him to forgive your
impiety; mourn little, if you will, for
your dead-and then, in due time, mar
~ that excellent man who is patiently
waiting for YOU"
II think" she said, tthat God made
my betrothed come to me that night
that l might know he was still alive"
Her shocking irreverence took away
my breath. Had it been six years
earlier in her life l should have
chastised her severely, and felt
like doing so as it was. But twas
no use to labor with her. Prayer
was the only weapon left me, and I
welded it most vigorously. Months
passed and Squire Bradish ventured to
speak to Faith about his wishes. 1
never asked either what happened in
that interview. had no need. I saw
him leave the house with clouded face,
and l knew there was no hope for him.
And soon something happened that
startled the town. lnexpressibly
shocked as 1 was, the avenging hand Of
God seemed it. The squire was strong
and robust and in the maturity of life;
but, as often happens to such men, he
sickened and went rapidly to deaths
door. When the doctor told him that
he might not have another day to live,
he had his lawyer sent for.
"Tear up my WILL" he SAID, which
gives everything to churches and char
tiles. Draw another; let the old house
keeper have thousand dollars, and all
but that goes to Faith Eldridge."
1t was done and duly executed.
Tell her." he said, ''that it is all the
PREPARATION can make her; the Captain
of the Conqueror stood in my way, and
hired that ruffian of mate to remove
him. He did it; he caught him una
wares one dark and stormy night when
the crew were all aloft and forward and
none could see, and flung him over the
quarter. The mate told me he did it
when he came for his blood-moneyi and
he has left this land forever. 1t was
my work-God forgive mel
So it came to pass, through these as
founding events, Faith went one day to
take possession of the British mansion
and the wealth of its late owner. She
took me with her.
Yes, thanks be to God, Captain Con-
verse returned, alive and well, when
three years had passed since the Con-
queror bore him away. was present
at his happy meeting with Faith, and on
that occasion T am constrained to saw,