The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-12-27

andwe1r drink his health, my niend,n
and the captain got up and heartily
shook Peter Hexel by the hand. Com
pound us another bowl of punch, John
Renowden, and sec that It be worthy of
the occasion"
That night the rafters Of the Golden
Lion rang with the cheers which greeted
the toasts of "The British Navy" and
1.-THE Hero of st. Ives"--as Capt. Tren-
with was pleased TO call Richard Hexel
Il was doubtless the darkness that
made it so difficult for the mayor and
the captain TO find their way home that
night, though they were escorted, as
usual by the black servant with lighted
lantern. The mayor accounted to his
wife for a headache which oppressed
him next morning by the extreme exer-
tion he had been obliged to use in sup
porting Capt. Trenwith, who, poor mani
having only one leg, could not be ex-
pected to walk as firmly as other people.
You may be sure the heart of Mary
Renowden was gladdened by the news
that had come about her lover; but
months passed away, and nothing more
was heard of him. At length there came
a letter, stating that ne had been severely
wounded in an action with a Spanish
ship in the West Indies, had been dis
charged, and was then lying in hospital
at Falmouth. Old Hexel at once started
for that place, and found poor Dick pale
and thin from wounds and fever, but in
good spirits and anxious to return home.
The doctors, however, would not hear of
it, and ordered the patient to lay up
week or two longer, and then, perhaps,
he might be allowed TO go. His father
was, therefore, compelled to leave him
and return to st. Ives, where he was
eagerly expected by John Renowden and
his daughter. When two weeks had
passed, they all three went over to Fal-
mouth, when the finishing touch was
put to Dicks recovery by the embraces
Of his happy sweetheart.
"Time, though old, is strong in flight"
says the old song; and he has brought us
once more to Christmas eve. The club
is assembled at the George and Dragon;
there is a brimming punch bowl on the
boards, and the silver ladle with the
golden guinea is in active operation.
The talk is of the war, and John Tack
abird has been reading aloud an account
of battle in the Bay of Biscay, where
large Spanish ship had been taken, and
where the name of Tom Champer figured
among the killed.
The mummers, having finished their
Christmas play, have departed on their
rounds; but suddenly they are heard re-
turning, with cheers and shouts. The
clatter of horses hoofs is heard on the
paved streets
"'Tis Dick Hexel come back" cries
the barber, looking out of the window.
'Let us give him welcome" said Capt.
Trenwith. "He is a brave lad, and hath
fought and bled for the British flagi'
''Hurrah" cried the crowd outside.
"Hurrahl hurrah' shouted the cap
tain and his companions as they hurried
to the door, and there, sure enough, was
Dick Hexel, on horseback, with Mary
Renowden seated on pillion behind him,
while Peter HeXel and John Renowden
had already dismounted, and were under
going a vigorous handshaking among the
crowd. The club sat late in session that
night, and Capt. Trenwith would fain
have had Dick in to tell how he had
scaled the ramparts of Portobello but
Dick excused himself on the plea of
fatigue, and he spent the evening much
more to his liking in the company of
Mary Renowden. 81 do suppose" said
Will Nance, "Dick Hexel will have
considerable sum in the way of prize
money coming to him?"
'lf he lives to be an old man it may,
perhaps, come to him." said John Tacka-
bird; "but the tyrannical abuse of power
under an oligarchy"-
"D-n your hard words' cried Capt.
Trenwith; they would break any mans
jaw but yours. l tell ye, true man
will do his duty whether he is paid for it
or no; and may never live to see the
day when British tar will think more
of profit than of honor"
This sentiment of the good old captain
ought, according to the usual custom of
the stage, to bring down the curtain on
our little drama; but, to satisfy th.yeader,
we beg to state that in the early spring
Richard HeXel espoused Mary Renow-
den in the parish church of st. Ives, and
Capt. Trenwith proposed the health of
the young couple in the parlor of the
Golden Lion, which ancient hostelry is
still standing in evidence of the entire
truth of this narrative.-M. j. in Illus
trated London News.