Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-09-11
A COQUETTE'S Faith.

lutSoUou Oy Uduus VI uSspcIauOesi" "uOi
led by fierce, merciless chiefs, would
pounce upon all travellers supposed &c
have valuables in their possession,
robbing and very often killing them.
The bodies of the victims were
sometimes flung into deep gorges
and at others left in the very roads
to strike terror to the unlucky wan
derer who should chance to pass thai
way.
Bernard Warren, a young captain
of an American schooner from the
United States, was one day hunting
in the vicinity of the infested locality
when he heard loud cry for help
The words were uttered in unmistak-
able English, and the young captain
even thought he could recognize the
voice as that of one of his sallors-s
handsome youth who had shipped in
his vessel few days before she sailed
The schooner now lying In the harbol
of Valparaiso, the captain had giver
liberty, that Is to say permission to &C
ashore to one Of the watches, that they
might enjoy themselves.
As to the captain himself, his en-
joyments were, he believed, destined
to be few in the world. Hunting hao
always been for him pleasant pas
time, but even that was now somewhat
deprived of its zest by the recollection
of the sorrow which had come to hin
before he sailed.
He had made, in his native city ol
New London, the acquaintance o.
Selma Hathaway, who, unfortunately,
was something of coquette. A
beautiful girl, with eyes like stars and
a voice like music, she had captivated
the heart of Bernard, who had finally
avowed his passion.
Selma had laughed, when he con-
cluded, and shaking her head saucily.
had remarked that she was not yel
ready to marry, and that when she
should be, she did not think he would
be the man of her choice.
Staggered by this blunt refusal, he
rose and left the house without saying
q word. She had led on, only to
laugh at him when he proposed to
her, and he would endeave, to forget
a damsel of such heartless nature.
A week later he sailed away, and in
the performance of his sea duties.
which he could do with all the ardor
of true sailor, he strove to force
Selina's image from his mind.
Vain the attempt. He was a mis-.
cradle man. He grew pale and thin,
and for some weeks lost his appetite.
Finally, however, the latter return
ed, but now with it the lght-hearted
manner which had hitherto character.
lied him.
Thus he was on that day, when,
limiting in the Chilian wilds, he heard
the cry for help. His was a nature
upon which such an appeal could not
fall in vain.
Rushing in the direction of the
noise, he there beheld the handsome
sailor youth mentioned, attacked by
two fierce looking men with long
boards, who had thrown HIM down,
and we're now riding his pockets OF
the scanty allowance of money, which
had been given him to amuse himself
ashore.
Captain Warren struck one of the
rufians upon the head with the butt OF
rs piece, leveling him senseless to the
nth. The other drew one of those
long knives, which were great favor
ties with the robbers at that period,
and rushed upon HIM, aiming furious
blowa at his heart.
The captain quickly sprung aside;
then his gun again wh'zzed through
the air, coming down, with crushing
force, upon the head of the second
ruffin, who measured his length by the
side OF his companion.
The youth who had been attacked,
and who lay upon the. ground half
stunned by blow from one of the
robbers, just before the captain ap-
peared, now staggered to his fee..
Thank you, captain,' he said,
pressing the latter's hand warmly. Il
am glad--very glad You came when
YOU did, as the rascals would otherwise
have robbed and murdered me-
Il am glad came when | did, said
the captain. But you should not have
strayed so far from the vessel. l hope
no others of my sailors have come SO
far away from the town.
The young man colored and hung
his head. Then a smile wreathed his
lips, disclosing teeth which were daz'
zlngly white and even.
I'm afraid I'm q sorry protector,
said he, in voice which was peculiar
ly coarse for one of such genteel ply
sique. Here I am for the sole pur.
pose of being on hand to protect you
in case you should be attacked by the
desperadoes, and instead here you
come to my rescue.
You had better get back to the
town as fast as you can, said Bern
ard.
sAy, ay, sir, answered the youth,
.And your
Al k.s~