The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-03-20
HOWL HAPPENED TO MARRY.

Well, have you forvotten your prom
ise ?"
What promise?- said I, curtly was
leaning over the gunwale Of the brig Fl.
len, watching the coast Of Cuba grow
more distinct as We sailed rapidly toward
It while I smoked cigar which, afier a
long journey, was exnirinS within sight
of its native land didn't feel at al like
talking.
You haven't paid your passage" be
answsrsd.
What DO you mean, Captain" re-
piled. have your receipt
Well, well, don't get angry" he said.
q ] have your guineas, 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 fancy TO you somehow, and you
promised to tell me all abOati it sometime
on the voyage if would take you. You
are the fint passenger I've carried this
ten years, and you've got your sad look
and your story that's coming to thank
you for that Well be ashore by four
o'clock, and l can give you half hour
now. We sailors like yarns, and have
a Yankees wanting to know, too
Not now. Captain l answered. II
you must ave my biography. Ill 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 of.
1t was not long before we entered the
port of Havana. hardly remember its
appearance, for | was too much preoecu-
pied with melancholy reflections TO no
tice the view. / have an indistinct rec
objection of the narrow entrance of the
harbor, with its Mar and Put
na castles--on either hand, the cathedral
looming up above the city, and that is
all. We we're soon at anchor, and pres
entity cusiom-house. officer came aboard
and examined my luggage. was ready
to go ashore, and was about to get into
row-boat which had come alongside,
when ! was stopped by tap on my
arm. turned, and there stood the Cap
tain.
You cant get rid ofme that way" he
said will go with you. 1t is most
too late to do anything on board TO-
night" Gs
We went ashore together, and walked
to 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 observed anything. took the Cap
tIin into a small room opening into the
hotel cafe, and called for wine and ci-
gars. My friend was short, weather
beaten man of fifty, with grizzly beard
and red face, but there was something
sympathetic in his eye and manner that
showed he would not be a bad confidant
in spite Of his roughness.
Go on" said he, after he had taken
down glass Of port at swallow, and
begun to puff vigorously at cigar
Well" said !, let me see. l might
as well 90 back TO the beginning. My IA
ther used to be very rich man-one of
the richest in New York. He was Wild
over for many years, and was his only
child. OF course, always had my own
way
"Umph (" interposed the Captain. al
had seven brothers, and he gazed sor-
rowfully at the end Of his cigar
Until was twenty-five" / continued
all went well, but then my fathers az
fairs became involved. He had sperula-
ted in real estate, prices fell, and, in short
he was suddenly left a po2r man. He
did not survive the shock long. Two
months after the crash he died"
Poor fellow" murInured the Cap
tain.
found myself with few thousand
dollars, expensive habits, complete ig-
noranee of business. and Discrimination
to work
How many dollars?p the Captain
asked, removing his cigar from his lips
/ forgot not enough to produce over
$5oe a year | responded. had TO
work there was no help for it. A rich
uncle Of mine, my mothers brother, Of
fered to let me live with him. There was
plenty of room in his house for me, for
his wife was dead and he had but
one child, my cousin Henry, who was in
business with him."
What was your uncle's name - said
my listener.
Richard Lee" | answered. He
took me into his banking Office as a
clerk"
Why didn't you follow the sea p said
the Captain.
don't suppose ! thought of it, totell
the TRUTH" answered, smiling. Il
should certainly have liked it better. As
it was, lived like drudge and yet new
er succeeded in doing anything well. !
hated business in fact, / liked other
things very much better l was rather too
fond of balls and that sort ofthing. sup
pose, and when had taken off mourn
ing for my father, gave more attention
to them than to my work"
Il don't wonder at il, said my guest
" wouldn't sit in an Office for thou
sand dollars day and he drew forth a
tremendous cloud Of smoke.
"Of course, my uncle did not like my
behavior. He used to compare me with
his son Henry, who thought Of nothing
but making money. l think that be
might have stood it all, though, if had
not become engaged TO be married"
- You don't say said the Captain.
Yes" / said I" OF course | went out
: good deal. that is, to parties, you know
i saw no end of people, and as might
have been expected, fell in love My
fault was that did not fall in love with
IN heiress-that was all"
What was the girls ame?, inter-
rupied the Captain
Never mind" said /. a am telling
you more than | should, as it is. This
wine is thawing me out"
q Beg pardon" said he. No harm in