Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-01-23

knew that Miss Violet Meserve was not a
fiirt, she was too generous, too nice, too
gentle for any such work as that; besides,
she believed that was nothing but male
flirt, and intended to amuse myself with
her during the cruise. Forewarned is
forearmed was her motto, yet it was too
bad that we should play at cross purposes.
"The silence was broken by one of the
crew forward, singing shanty, or song
used by sailors when strong combined
pull is needed on rope. The shanty
man had a marvellously clear bass voice,
and showed his cleverness in the quirks,
variations, and guavers in his rendition
of the simple music of his song.
"'Listen! Miss Meserve,' l whispered; !;
'listen to that mans shanty, low-voiced,
yet clear and sweet. They are hoisting
the foresail. Listen!'
"'We're outward bound this very day,
Good-by, fare you well, good-by, fare you
we'll
Ws'rc outward bound this very day.
Hurrah my boys, we're outward bound"
"'Ohl Mr.. Dean. Is that not grand !
and what flexible voice the singer has9
Do you know have always had the idea
that a fine bass singer was ever a manly
man, loyal, true and brave2'
" There! There! Miss Meserve, for
you, see, had discerned another mis-
chievous CLEAN in her eyes-you know,
too that l have pretty good bass voice
There give in, let us declare truce;
no more compliments, no more -
" 'FlirtingP she said naively.
I" Yes, flirting, if you call our con-
versation and actions so far a firta-
ton. Some one has given you most
unjust account of me, or you wouldn't
have endeavored to fore-stall me SO pre-
emptorily. Now want you to trust me,
to take me as you find me; to judge me
in fact by my conduct with you, not by
the misdirected opinion you have formed
of me. Is 1t compact2
GO 'She put her little hand in mine,
and said, swectly: YES; we must be
friends, or rather, not refuse your friend
ship, for the others are absorbed in each
other, and have been quite lonely until
you came. Yes, she said, and l noticed
tears in her beautiful blue eyes, I'm sure
we shall be friends Then she left idy
side and went into the cabin. Thus it
was, Dicky, that 1 met my WIFE"
"Is that ala no love-making-no de-
scription of the lady no propos II"
"Oh! you want the whole it, do
youa You have met my fe9 No2
Well, Violet is a trihe abow she average
stature of women, with thu ,blest figure
ever saw. Her eyes >fof violet
color, full of spirit, ye, 1ender and melt
ing, and fringed witd long, coquettish
lashes. Her complexion is of exquisite
softness and purity, with few flecks of
freckles that add measurabiy to the
charm of her face, more beautiful than
can describe; while her hair, of dark
gold and naturally curly, outlines her
features admirably. Her mind is in har-
mony with her beautiful exterior, and,
although not posted in the 'isms, 'olo-
gies and dogmas of the day, she is we'll
educated, and is a sensible wife, just the
woman I've been looking for all these
years.
"We were naturally much together,
and in onr visits ashore at Havana, St.
Thomas and elsewhere in the West In
dies she proved most entertaining trav-
eler and the sweetest, incest companion
man ever had. l fell head over ears in
love with her, but l couldn't see that
had made the slightest impression on her
heart. At last we were homeward
bound, making IA long stretch from Trini-
dad to the mouth of the Mississippi.
Five days out we were engaged. 1t hap
pened thus:
ga heavy squall struck the yacht
about ten o'clock in the evening. We
had been expecting it, so were in man
ner prepared for it. had Just left Vio-
let standing by the main rigging over to
windward to get "a light for my cigar,
when the yacht gave sudden lurch that
sent the lee rail under water, so furious
was the first gust of the squall. had
been taken by surprise, but managed to
keep my feet only to be caught by some
body who ran against me; both of us
went flying to the Ice rail, where we
were brought up with heavy thumps, and
hearing my companion moan, / lifted her
up, caught her in my arms and pressed
her to my breast, Violet, dearest, was
all could say.
g Jack, dearest, was the response Of
my fair love, and then she tainted.
''The squall had spent its fury, though
it had kicked up pretty lively sea, but
/ managed to get Violet to the cabin,
where her sister and Mrs. Wilbur, to-
gether with the maids, took care of her
She had hurt her side and didn't leave
her room for three days. When she did
appear, looking so pale, yet SO lovely
and winsome, l had great difficulty in re-
straning myself from taking her in my
arms and kissing her.
''To my surprise she called me Mr..
Dean, and something occurring to vex
me showed more animus than my wont,
whereat Violet came to me and said,
Don't be angry with the steward. 1t
wasn't his fault.
"'My DEAR I replied, taking her
hand between mine, Il am not angry
with him, but with you
''She stared at me with her big blue