Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-13

window and surrounded by an admiring group
OF natives, stood the famous captain of the Old
Noii prIvateer, in his laced uniform. knee
breeches, and sword at his side Doris COL
ored up as she advanced to meet him. and in
stantiy felt that she had seen his face before.
he saluted her with stately courtesy, and she
led the way to her fathers cottage.
capt Briggs, she said presently, I'm go
ing to take great liberty"
| Captain.
I'm going to call you-Master Briggs, ju-
NOR"
that moment IL could hardly have produced a
more startling effect upon the captain than did
this brief announcement
''Why-good heavens he exclaimed. stop
ping short, Il haven't heard that name for
years"
Not since YOU were at Tusculum House
school; not since you pulled little girl on; of
the Black pond.' laughed Doris
And You are she! Doris Adams. daughter
of Squire Adams of Barncombe HALT he ex-
claimed. We'll. well! II I've Thought of You
once during my voyages. / have a thousand
times. I'm so glad-so glad
Il can never forget that day." said Doris
land we all wanted to see you and thank you,
and reward you; but you had gone"
Il ran away to sea-" said Captain Briggs.
But. Miss Doris, it's still stranger that as
saved your life, so you should have saved
mine"
! how could that be-" The captain opened his
walstcoat and showed. suspended to a bit OF
! ribbon. a battered copper coin.
/ THAT was the penny you gave me as my re-
ward. he said laughing. I've worn it round
/ my neck ever since. Well, a French bullet
once fhttened itself against that penny. which
would otherwise have gone to my heart-sc you
saved my lifc."
! They found Squire Adams walking up and
| down the little garden in a palpable state OF
4 NOR 4 Of.
all vanished from his face when Doris APP
peared, followed by Capt. Briggs. radiant aud
| handsome; ana the meeting between the DOOR
broken-down old squire and the young sailor
was OF the most cordial and enthusiastic nature.
| That lying rascal will be here in a few min
utes." said the squire.
| What lying rascal. sir?" asked the captain
| why a man bearing your name who has been
passing himself off the Briggs Junior who
saved my Dorlss life, who is madly in love
| with my child, who is very rich, and who-you
tell the rest. Doris: can not"
30 Doris told the captain how her father had
| been ruined by the capture of his trading YES
sells by French privateers; how he was crippled
with debts; how Mr.. Briggs had appeared on
/ the scene. and, posing the little boy who had
/ jumped into the Black Pond thirteen wears be-
| fore. had offered to relieve the squire of his
| difficulties IN return for the hand of Doris and
now he was expected momemtarily TO receive
his final answer. Capt. Briggs looked grave
That must be my Cousin Nautilus / heard
| that he had succeeded to my uncle's fortune.
| We never got on well together. but | never
/ thought he would have done this sort of thing -
But time went on, and Mr.. Nautilus Briggs
| did not reappear, and the idea struck all three
| that, having heard of the arrival in England of
| the genuine Briggs, junior, and fearing ex-
| posure, he had got out of the way.
"Dld You have much fighting with the
French rascals last night, sirG' asked the
squire.
short and sharp" replied Briggs: lone fell
low made dead set at me, fellow in cloak,
| and had to knock him overheard; the other
! chaps"
| At that moment a white-faced servant girl
| rushed into the room. crying:
"Oh. sir. oh. Miss Doris, there's a body been
| browt to the door,
| They hurried out, and there on rude
stretcher lay the dead body of Nautilus Briggs.
surrounded by silent crowd.
| The man knocked overboard.' whispered
J the captain III a voice of horror Il did not
recognize him. of course. as my cousin Nautilus
| Depend upon it, he it was who planned the es-
cape and the attempted recapture of the
| prizes"
| OF course-we need hardly write it-Doris
Adams fell in love with the dashing Young
captain and married him: the old squire got
clear of his debts, not with the captains hard
earned prize-mOney. but with the fortune of
the unfortunate Nautilus, which Briggs Junior
inherited as next of kin The Christmas of
1904 was kept at Barncombe Hall in good old
style, and among the guests who assembled to
drink the heaiths of the squire and the newly
married couple were not a few who remembered
the new master of Barncombe as Master Briggs
junior.-AR tie lear Round