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

Old Hexel hurried out, followed by
John Renowden.
"lf the lad is really pressed" said
Capt. Trenwith, al hope he will remain
in the service. Sure l am he won't dis
grace 1t. No lad of spirit should refuse
to serve his country when old England's
enemies are ahoat. But come, sit down,
Tom Champer, and help us to finish the
punch"
viii Nance, who was already "throc
sheets in the wind" as he would himself
have expressed it. boisterously inquired
of Champer how it was that he himself
had escaped capture by the press-gang.
"Thou art likely lad enough" said
he, land would swab deck as well as
another"
IL was not in the town." answered
Champer. 81 have but now walked
over from Zennor."
"Ahw cried Nance, with a drunken
wink at the rest of the company, "trust
a Zennor man to take care of himself.
They're wise folk in their gen-er-en-
Grafton. They know why the COW ate
the bell rope"
'Just as st. Ives folk know why they
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 q good
example by appearing in church to-mor-
row morning, SO let us jog homewards.'
The mayor crossed the room with
devious gait. "Your shervant, Capn
Tren'th. Shervant, sir, happy to 't'nd
you" and the mayor Of st. Ives solemn
ly staggered after Capt. Trenwith, who
stumped away ON his wooden leg, es-
corted by his black servant carrying a
lantern. The rest of the company also
departed, and the George and Dragon
was left in solitude and darkness. But
lights were burning in the Golden Lion
long after midnight. Three anxious
hearts were there holding communion,
and vainly trying to find 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 Renow-
den dried her tears and reviewed the sit
uation with a strength of mind and n
GOODNESS of judgment that astonished her
father and Peter Hexel.
"Dick will return after time" she
said; 81 am sure he will. He is strong
and brave, and has always been lucky.
Perhaps he will do something that will
make his name famous, and then we
shall all be proud of him"
Cheered by this hopeful spirit of hers.
the two old men plucked up their hearts,
and all three appeared in their usual
places at church on Christmas day. At
ter service, as they stood in the church
yard gazing rather wistfully over the
sea, they were Joined by Thomas Cham
per, who wished them a "Merry Christ
mas" and uttered some clumsy express
sions of coincidence about Richard Hex
el. He had heard, he said, that the
sloop had gone to Falmouth, and if it
would be any satisfaction he would write
to friend there, or would even 90 over
himself and make any arrangements
they pleased for helping Dick; but he
feared there was little hope of his release
now that war had broken out.
These friendly overtures rather soft
ened the hearts of the two fathers, but
Mary felt sure that Champer was insin-
cere. 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 pre-
senting his suit in favorable light.
Day after day Thomas Champer came
to the Golden Lion and sought every
possible opportunity of addressing Mary,
but his perseverance was useless. She
would not listen TO him. He saw that
his suit was hopeless, and that he had
gained Nothing by the absence of Richard
Hexel. Yet he continued to haunt the
neighborhood of the Golden Lion. until
one night he encountered the press gang,
which had made another descent on st.
Ives, and he was caught in the same trap
he had set for his rival
In the mean time, letters had come
from Richard Hexel He wrote that he
was well, and only unhappy because he
was parted from Mary. He had joined
the West Indian squadron under Ad-
miral Vernon, and expected he would
soon be able TO tell them something
about the war, So time passed on and
the spring came.
The club had assembled one Saturday
evening in the parlor of the Golden Lion.
The customary bowl of punch was on
the table, but Capt. Trenwith had not
arrived, and the serious business of the
evening could not begin without him.
To pass the time VIII Nance stirred the
fire and, lighting pipe, remarked that
the evenings were something chilly,
though the spring had come, in spite of
the men of Towednack.
"What have the men of Towednack to
do with the spring." said the mayor of
st. Ives.
"Why, know you not" replied Nance,
that the men of Towednack built a
hedge round the cuckoo to keep the
spring ba k' But what's this news from
the fleet? "Tis rumored Portobello is
taken"
'Tis true said John Renowden,
'my daughter hath a letter from Richard
HeXel, who was on board the HAMPTON
Court and engaged in the fight"
"Whati Dick Hexel hath smelt gun
powder, then, in real battle? Hurrah
for old England and beloved st. Ives!"
"Amen" cried Capt Trenwith, who
came stumping into the room. "Yes,
friends, It's all true. Here is a copy of
The Daily Post, dated March 20, wherein
is an account of the battle, writ by gen
tleman on board the Burford, the ad-
miral's own ship. Fill the glasses, and
John Tackabird shall read out the mar
rative."
Under the combined attractions of the
punch and the newspaper, all eagerly
drew round the table, and the barber,
clearing his throat, commenced:
"On the afternoon of the 2lst, about
2oclock, we came up with Portobello
harbor, where the Spaniards had hoisted
upon the Iron castle the flag of defiance.
They welcomed us with a terrible volley.
which, being at so short distance. took
place with almost every shot, One struck
away the stern Of our barge; another
broke large gun upon our upper deck:
third went through our foretopmast.
and the fourth, passing through thearm-
ing within two inches Of our mainmast.
broke down the barricade of our quar-,
ter deck very near the admiral, and
killed three men in moment, wound.
ing five others who stood by them. This
looked as if we should have bloody
work, but was far from discouraginp
our brave fellows