Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-07-15


mora"
"what more, Dau?"
"Fueleman, he'll laugh when he hears
the news. He's helping in the job. ne
don't know nothing about it; only Matthew
and me knows what that job is. Mathew
end me-and one other"
sswho ia the other, Dan? Aud what ID
the joS?"
he shook his head and buried it for
safety in the pewter pot.
"Malhew Humble" he said, lis a
masterful man"
'rwbst is the job?" asked Nan, feeling
curiosity slowly awaken. :.
st is q job" replied Dan, (which can't
be told unto women"
"why, We lubber," she sprang to her
feet and shook her fat in the Strong Man's
face, 80 that be started back; 'lubber and
land lubber, you dare to call me- woman
captain ofthe foretop. Now, let me hear
what this Job is that / am not to be told.
Dat with it ro'--I omit the gsrnish OF
her discourse, which consisted of sea oaths.
"Mathew Humble did say" - the
Strong Man began. But strong men are
always like babies in the hands OF o wo-
man.
'"ysst there, Dan," said said Nan;
dye think I value your job nor want to
know what it is-s ropes end? But that
Won should refuse to tell it to me, you
shipmet-that's what gals. And after
yester f~orenoon's sslmagundi?"
This accusation of ingratitude cut poor
Dan to the quick. In the matter OF sea
pie, lobscouse aud saImsgundi (which is a
mess of salt beef, onions, potatoes, pepper,
oil and vinegar, the whole fried to make .
toothsoms c%ompound) Sailor Nan was more
than q mother to him.
Twenty years afloat," continued Nan,
in deep disgust; '.from boy 10 captain Of
the foretop, and from Cape Horn to the
Narrow seas and Copenhagen, and to be
told by q land swab, who never so much
as smelt blue water, that Pm q womanW
90 course" said Dan feebly, II didn't
really mean It."
Didn't mean il? Wby-thers! What
is it, then? Is it piracy or MURDER"
He shook his head.
Look ye, Nan. II won't signify, not
a button, telling you. / said to myself, at
the beginning, Nan WON'T spoil sport;' and
it's only a girl"
Only a grill Nan pricked up her ears.
GAS if 1 cared about girls" she said care
lessly.
''Only a girly. It's Miss Drusy-that's
all. You see she's been longing to run
away with Mathew and marry him, for
months. Longing she has, having took a
fancy for Mathew, which is a strange thing,
come 70 think of it, and she so young.
But women are. Ay, ay, Nan, j
know. You see l always thought she was
saving up for Ralph Empleton. But
Mathew, he says that's nonsense. Well
she all this time longing to marry him.
and her mother won't hear it-no chance
till now. So it's fixed FOR tonight. What
a run! Lace, and brandy, and Geneva,
and a girl"
"On well; 1 don't care. Go on, Dan,
if you like"
He then proceeded to explain that
Mathew had arranged for a pony to be
ssddled in readiness; that the signal agreed
upon between the girl and Mathew was q
message from the castle carried by a GER
tain boy named Cuddy, pretending to come
from the fugleman, who was to be kept out
of the way, employed at the Hermitage,
where the stuff was bestowed; the bog
was to say that the fugleman was ill. On
receiving this message the girl would make
an excuse to run up to the castle where
she would mount the pony, and 90 ride Oft
with Mathew and be married over the
Border. To keep up appearances, he went
on-this soft headed giant-it had been ar
ranged that the young woman was to
scream and struggle at first, and that Dan
should lift her into the saddle, and, If
necessary, hold her on. Once across the
Border they would he married without 80
much IA ssupsSs9 O. or the hsHe'H"'s"k
"I'n get you some more beer, Dan,"
she said.
She went indoors and poured about
threefourths of a pint Of gin into a tankard
which she filled up with strong ale, aud
brought out to her lodger with tender
care.
Drink that, DAN" he said; 'it's good
old stiDgo-noneo of your small beer. Drink
it up; then you can put on your coat and
20 about your work"
He drank it off at a gulp, with every
outward sign Of satisfaction. Then he
suddenly reeled and caught at the door
post.
go and put on your coat, Dan" she
said, looking at him with a little anxiety.
He disappeared. Nan heard one-two
heavy falls, and nodded her head. Then
she followed into the room and found the
strong man lying upon the floor, on his
back, with his mouth open and his eyes
shut. She dragged a blanket over him,
and went out again to sit on her stone
with as much patience 20 a spider in
October. She sat there all the morning, az
quiet as if she was on watch. About $50
in the afternoon there came slowly down
the street nc other than Mathew Humble
himself.
"Where is Daniel ?" he asked.
Nan pointed to the door.
Hes within, fast asleep. He came
home late last night. 1 dare say he'll
sleep on now, if you let him alone, till
evening"
"Have you-hss he-talked with you
this morning." Mathews eyes were rest
less, and his cheek twitched, q sign oil
prolonged anxiety or much drink.
"Nay, what should he say TO me, seeing
that he came home in the middle of the
night as drunk rs o pig? Let him bide,
Master Mathew. What do you want him
for? Is there q run ?"
He nodded.
She held out her hand. "Ill drink
luck to the venture" she said, taking the
shilling which he gave her for luck.
Thank you; this is sure to bring you
luck. You'll say 80 tomorrow morning.
Remember that you crossed old Mans
palm with a shilling. A lucky ruu! Such
. run as you never had before. A run
that will surprise the people,
"Ha! hap said Mathew, pleased with
the prophecy. ut will surprise them
And how do you get on with Miss
DrusyP So shs said nay. She will and
she won't-ay, ay-I know their tricks.
Yes, 8 fine girl, and spelling, as ons may
say, for q husband. Take care, Master
Matthew. Better men than you have lost
by shillyshally."
HWhy- what would you have me do