Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-07-28
HOW | HAPPENED TO MARRY

leaning over the gunwale of the brig Ellen,
watching the coast of Cuba grow more dis
tinct as we sailed rapidly toward it, while
/ smoked cigar, which, after long Jour-
ney, was expiring within sight of its ma
tive land. did not feel at all like talk
ing.
''Ycu haven't paid your passage" he an
swered.
What do you mean, Captain" l re-
piled, " / have your receipt"
Well, well, don't get angry" he said,
g have your guiueas, sure enough, but
that is not all. Do you remember when /
came across you in Calcutta, asked you
10 tell me your story-who you are, and
what's the matter, and all that / took a
fancy to you somehow, and you promised
10 tell me all about it some time on the
voyage if | would take you. You're the
first passenger Eve carried this ten years,
and you've got your sad look and your
story that's coming to thank for that
Wen lie ashore by four o'clock and | can
give you a half hour now We sailors
like yarns and have Yankees wanting
to know too"
mot now, Captain" / answered "If
you must have my biography, will give
it to you this afternoon, after we've
landed, but you'll find it stupid enough"
"All right" said he; that's settled"
and he walked off
1t was not long before we entered the
port of Havana. | hardly remember its
appearance, for | was too much preoccu-
mol 1u,fh t,,alanrhnl1. ,.ouaatin,,s J.
the view. | have an indistinct recollec-
ton Of the narrow entrance Of the harbor,
with its fortresses - Moro and Punta
Castles - on either hand, the cathedral
looming up above the city, and that is ALL
We were soon at anchor, and presently 4
custom-houSe officer came on board and
examined my luggage. l was ready to
go ashore, and was about to get into a
row-boat which had come alongside, when
was stopped by tap on the arm.
turned and saw the Captain.
"You can't get rid of me that way" he
said; 81 will go with You. 1t is too late to
do anything on board tonight"
We went ashore together, and walked
10 the nearest hotel, my companion lead
ing the way. There was not much to
arouse my curiosity in the town, for had
been in Spain; and if all had been novel |
would not, in my frame of mind, have OBJ
served anything. took the Captain into
a small room opening into the hotel cafe,
and called for wine and cigars. Ny friend
was a short, weather-beaten man of fifty.
with grizzly beard and red face, but
thsre was something sympathetic in his
eye and manner which showed that he
would not be bad confidant in spite of
his roughness.
"Go on" he said after he had taken
down glass of port at a swallow, and be-
gun to puff vigorously at cigar.
"Well, said /, "Let me see. might
as well 90 back to the beginning. Ny
father used to be r very rich man-one OF
the richest in New York. He was q wild
over for many years and | was his
only child. OF course | always had my
own way"
" Umph," nterposed the Captain; ''
had seven brothers." and he gazed sorrow
fully ut the end of his cigar.
Until | was twenty-five" ! continued,
all went well, but then my fathers affairs
became involved He had specialized in
real estate, prices fell, and in Short he was
suddenly left 4 poor man. He did not sur
kAhG Ai4t Ni4bth ltHA- NO MONTHS after
the crash he died.
81 Poor fellow" murmured the Captain.
" found myself with few thousands OF
dollars, expensive habits, complete ignor-
ance of business, and decided disinclina-
ton to work"
How many dollars ~ the Captain
asked, taking his cigar from his lips.
forget not enough to produce over
FIVE hundred year." | responded ."
had TO work. There was no help for it.
A rich uncle Of mine, my mothers brother
offered to let me live with him. There
was plenty OF room in his house for me,
for mis- wife was dead and he had but one
child, my cousin Henry, who was in bust
ness with him."
What was your uncle's name p said
my listener
Richard Lee" | answered. ''He took
me into his banking office as clerk"
why didn't you follow the sea ?' said
the Captain
81 don't suppose that l thought of it, to
tell the TRUTH" | answered, smiling Il
should certainly have liked it better. As
it was | lived like n drudge, and vet
never succeeded in doing anything well.
/ hated business. In fact / liked other
things very much better. | was rather too
fond of balls and parties and that sort of
thing, suppose, and when had taken of
mourning for my father, gave more at
tention TO them than to my work"
81 don't wonder at it," said my guest
81 wouldn't sit in an office fer a thousand
dollars q day." and he blew forth tremen-
dous cloud of smoke
'Of course my uncle did not like my be-
havior. He used to compare me sith his
son Henry, who thought of nothing but
making money. | think that he might
have stood it all, though, if / had no. be-
come engaged to be married"
You don't say" said the Captain.
Yes" | said. "Of course, as l went
out good deal, that is to parties, you
know saw no end of people, and as
might have been expected, fell in love.
My fault was that | did not fall in love
with an heiress, that was ALL"
What was your girls ?" inter-
rupted the Captain.
Never mind said l. al am telling
you more than l should, as it is. This
wine is thawing me out"
I" Beg pardon said he. "No harm in
tended. | was wondering if she was n
Smith. My wife was a Smith,
"Well,' proceeded, we were engaged
for year, and my business suffered more
than ever. | was very much in love- NV
mind would wander from my work, and /
used TO go up town early in the afternoon
TO walk with her. However, was taken by
surprise when one day my uncle called me
into his private Office and reprimanded me
severely. l answered him with spirit, and
before ! realized what was happening |
was discharged, and it was arranged that
/ should leave my uncle's house in two
days. | could not compose myself suffi-
ciently that day TO see my iancee, but /
determined to tell her everything the
next morning. In the evening, however,
| received note from her father, in which
he said that my uncle had informed him
of the change in my prospects and of my
conduct; that his daughter could not be.
come the wife OF good-for-nothing beg.
gar, and so on. Ny first impulse was to
20 TO her at once and insist on marrying
her at all hazards, but my wounded pride
interfered, and between the two | thought
the matter out. My better judgment pre-
vailed, think. knew that could moi
support her, and that would never BIZ