The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-01
A MARRIAGE AT SEA.
". CLARK RUSSELL.
AUTHOR OF 1.-THE WRECK OF THE GRosyE-
NOR" "JoHS WORDSWORTH. MATE"
"MARooNED." ETC. ETC.
CHAPTER vII.-ooatinued.

You exactly express my hope" said
]; "but before we decide. Captain Par
sons. let me first OF ali talk the matter
over with Miss Bellassys.
All right, sir. he answered: but
don't lose sight of this that whilst the
young lady's aboard my ship I'm her
natural guardian and protector the law
holds me accountable for her safety and
well-being, and what say is, she ought
TO be married. I've explained why; and
l say say she ought TO be married"
CHAPTER VIII.
A few minutes later / quilted the
cabin, leaving the captain and Mr.. Hig-
gOnsOn arguing upon the powers OF
commander OF a ship
/ found Grace seated at the table be-
tween Mrs. Barstow and Miss Mogga-
dore. Mrs. Barstow bestowed smile
upon me, but Miss Moggadore's thin lips
did not part, and there was something
very austere and acid in the gaze she
fastened upon my face.
leaned over the back Of my darling's
chair and addressed some commonplaces
TO her and TO the two ladies, intending
presently TO withdraw her, that | might
have n long talk, but after minute or
two Mrs. Barstow rose and went TO her
cabin, hint that Miss Moggadore was
good enough TO take. / seated myself in
that lady's chair at Grace's side.
Well, my pet, and what have they
been talking to you about|
They have been urging me to marry
you tomorrow morning, Herbert, she
answered, with a smile that was half
| pout, and blush that did not signify so
much embarrassment but that she could
| look at me.
II am fresh from long talk with the
captain" said /, land he has been urg-
ing me TO do the same thing"
1T is ridiculous" said she, holding
down her head. There is no clergy
man in the ship"
But the captain of a vessel may act
as a clergyman, under the circum-
| stances" said /.
Il don't believe it. Herbert"
But see here. Grace" said |, speak
| ing earnestly but softly, for there were
ears not far distant; lit is not likely
| that we should regard the captains cell
! ebration of our marriage here as more
| than something that will strengthen our
| hands for the struggle with your aunt.
! Until we have been Joined by a clergy
man in proper shipshape fashion, as
| Captain Parsons himself might say, we
! shall not be man and wife but then, my
| darling, consider this; first of all it is in
| the highest degree probable that mar
| riage performed on board ship by her
| captain is legal; next, that your aunt
would suppose we regarded the union as
| legal. when OF course she would be forced
to conclude we regarded ourselves as
man and wife. Would she then dare
| come between usT"
! She listened thoughtfully, but with an
| ~, ~; 4 hot
| pressibly touching TO my love for her.
] 1T would be merely a ceremony"
said she, leaning her cheek In her hand
"to strengthen your appeal to Aunt
| Amelia"
Wholly, my darling"
"Well, dearest, said she, gently, q" II
you wish it."
could have taken her TO my heart for
her ready compliance. / had expected a
resolved refusal, and had promised my
self some hours both that evening and
next day OF exhortation, entreaty, repre-
sentation.
However. though she had sweetly and
promptly consented, a great deal re-
mained to talk about. 1 repeated all
that Captain Parsons and all that Mr..
Higginson had said, and wheIS we had
exhausted the subject we naturally
spoke OF our prospects OF quitting the
Carthusian and, one subject suggesting
another, we sat chatting till about nine
CLOCK, at which hour the stewards
arrived with wine and grog and biscuits,
whereupon the passengers put away
their books and boards and gath
cred about the table, effectually ending
our tete-d-tete. Then Mrs. Barstow
arrived followed by Miss Moggadore. /
took the former lady aside, leaving
Grace i'm charge of the acidulated gentle
woman with the curls.
Miss Bellassys tells me-" said l,
THAT you have warmly counselled her
to allow Captain Parsons to marry us.
You are very good. She has consented,
asking only that the ceremony shall be
privately performed in the captains
cabin"
"She is very young" replied Mrs.
Barstow,- -" too young, / fear, to realize
her position. Under such conditions as
we find her in, we must all wish to see
her married We're her mother living,
am sure that would be her desire"
Were her mother living" said l,
there would have been no elopement."
She inclined her head with cordial
gesture. Miss Bellassys,' said she
"has been very candid. As a mother
myself, / must blame her but as "A
woman" She shook her head, smil-
ing.
/ had my pipe and pouch OF tobacco
in my pocket, and thought l would go on
deck for half an hour before retiring to
bed. As / passed the table on my way
60 the companion-ladder Mr.. Higginson
rose from book he had been reading,
and detained me by putting his hand
upon my arm.
II have been thinking over the matter
Of marriages at sea, Mr.. Barclay, he
began, with wary look round TO make
sure that nobody was listening. and,
having turned the matter thoroughly
over. don't scruple TO pronounce that n
marriage solemnized at sea by the mast
er of q British merchantmen is as legal
and valid,as though celebrated on shore
in the usual way"
'' am delighted to hear you say so,
said l.
''It is a most interesting point" said
he. IL ought certainly to be settled.
laughed out, anu went on deck with