The Wahpeton times., 1889-01-10


the matter short. eve shall see,' =
said he. ssWhen tits done W. shall
doubtless hear on't-but what noise
is that outside? What now, Tom
Chnmper? What's amiss?"
''sThere is much amiss, Captain
Trenwith," said young Champer,
who now entered the room. "Dick
Hexel is among the pressed men.
He was seen in the last boat when
they put off from the shore.
What! my son taken by the press
gang!'' cried Peter Hexel, starting
to his feet. "'Zounds! I'll not be-
lieve it-there must be some mis-
take"
81 fear there is no mistake" said
Champer; and there was O CLEAN of
satisfaction on his face, which he
tried to conceal with a pretended
look of concern. "There be those
outside who saw him carried off, and
the officer swore he would sink the
first boat that dared to go nigh the
ship"
Old Hexel hurried out, followed by
John Renowden.
"If the lad is really pressed" said
Captain Trenwith, 81 hope he will
remain in the service. Sure an he
won't disgrace it. No lad of spirit
should refuse to serve his country
when old England's enemies are
afoot. But come, sit down, Tom
Champer, and help us to finish the
punch"
Will Nance, who was already
"thlee sheets in the wind" as he
would himself have expressed it,
boisterously inquired OF Champer
how it was that he himself had es-
capped capture by the press-gang.
'Thou art O likely lad enough"
said he, "and would swab q deck as
well as another"
II was not in tho town." answered
Champer. 81 have but now walked
over from Zennor.''
"Ah!" cried Nance, with drunken
wink at the rest of the company,
"trust Zennor man to take care of
himself. They're q wise folk in their
gen-er-en-eration. They know why
thecow ate the bell-rope."
"Just as St. Ives folk know why
their whipped the hake," retorted
Champer, angrily.
The Captain interposed. "Come,
Come" said he, "no more cross
words on Christmas Eve. 'Tis near
midnight. You and l, Mr., Mayor,
must set a good example by appear
ing in church tomorrow morning so
let me jog homewards."
The Mayor crossed the room with
q devious gait: "Your Shervant,
Cap'n Tren'th. Shervant, Sir-happy
to 't'nd you," and the Mayor of St.
Ives solemnly staggered after Captain
Trenwith, who stumped away on his
wooden leg, escorted by his black SER
want carrying his lantern. The rest
Of the company also departed, and
George and Dragon was left in soil
tude and darkness. But lights were
burning in the Golden Lion long
after midnight. Three anxious hearts
We're there holding communion, and
vainly trying to find a way out of
the trouble that had come upon them.
After the first shock of grief for
the loss of her lover was over, Mary
Renowden dried her tears and re-
viewed the situation with a strength
of mind and q GOODNESS of judgement
that astonished her father and Peter
Hexel.
| "Dick will return after a time," she
said; 81 an sure he will. Heisstrong
and brave, and has always been lucky.
Perhaps he will make his name fa-
nous, aud then we shallall be proud
of him."
Cheered by this hopeful spirit of
hers, the two old men plucked up
their hearts, and all appeared in
their usual places at the church on
Christmas Day. After service, as
they stood ip the churchyard gazing
rather wistfully over the sea, they
were Joined by Thomas Champer, who
wished them q 'Merry Christmas!"
and uttered some clumsy expression
of coincidence about Richard Hexel.
He had heard, and said, that the
sloop had gone to Falmouth, and if
it could be any satisfaction he would
write to Il friend there, or would even
60 over himself and make any
arrangements they pleased for help
ing Dick; but he feared there was
little hope of his release now that war
had broken out.
These friendly overturns rather
softened the hearts ofthe two fathers;
but Mary felt sure that Champer was
insincere. His hypocrisy was not
proof against her woman's instinct.
She turned coldly away, and he left
them, racking his brain for some
means of presenting his suit in a
favorable light.
Day after day Thomas Champer
came to the Golden Lion and sought
every possible opportunity of ad-
dressing Mary; but his perseverance
was useless. She would not listen to
him. He saw that his suit was hope
less, and that he had gained nothing
by the absence of Richard Hexel.
Yet he continued to haunt the neigh
borhood of the Golden Lion, until
one night he encountered the press
gang, which had made another de-
scent on St. Ives, and he was caught
in the same trap he had set for his
rival. In the meantime, letters had
come from Richard Hexel. Hewrote
that he was well, and only unhappy
because he was parted from Mary.
He had Joined the West Indian
Squadron under Admiral Vernon, and