The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-12

much for me. and for the first time for
many years | wept.
As / weptI also thought. and made reso-
lutlOns for the future that never again
would l go In for Staying and piracy. but
also 80 utterly was my mind darkened. my
soul embruted, that l never thought of do
ing good. but only of leading a life OF idle
pleasure and self-indulgence
Dreaming thus, | fell asleep again, and
when / again awoke 1 felt much better.
and by the time We reached Havana | was
able to leave my cot and walk the deck,
though but feebly, it is true.
Wilmshurst still refused to tell me the
whole story of how | had received my in
jury and how Hawkshaw and his men had
met their end. He said somehow they had
possessed themselves of handspikes, O cut
lass or two. and three or four tomabawks.
and had made q sudden attack on the
watch on deck; that l had come up. and
Hawksbaw had at once singled me ont and
nearly killed me. but that In tine end be and
his shipmates had been all killed. There
are details" Wiimshurst said, Ito say
which will be interesting, and | will tell
You when you are we'll" But what the
true story was | never knew. AZ the
Havana l was welcomed by my old boon
companions, and one of them took me to
live with him IN his house. and twas there
/ met Francisco.
PART Ill.
Francisco was my hosts only sister, fair
as she was good. and good as she was beau
tiful. For many days after had landed 1
suffered from an access of fever, and how
cred between life and death. During this
time l was conscious of some one greatly
aiding me. and in my confused state got
an idea in my head that the fair figure at
my side was my mothers spirit. something
white. filmy. mysterious. { last the fever
abated and my senses became clearer. and I
found that the mysterious attendant was
not my mothers spirit from the
other world. but one who was as
truly an angel as an inhabitant
of heaven-a lovely girl of nineteen
Francesca. the sister of my host. Don Diego
Ximones. How be, knowing what l had
been and what my character was, had ever
permitted his sister TO attend on me, |
know not: perchance he thought that i had
no chance of recovery. ana that no harm
could come of her attendance on me. as |
would die before her fancy could become
entrapped. Afterwards. during my con-
valescence. he was often away gambling,
drinking, leading the same wild life | my
self had led when at the Havana before.
and little rocking what had occurred dur
ing his absence from home. for. partly by
careleseness and partly by custom. grown
out of Franclsca's having nursed me when
helpless. he had left us much In each others
company. True. Francisco had an old du-
girl. she was motherless-but
gold caused her to be blind, and Francisco
and l learned to think hat there were no
other persons on earth bnt our two selves.
and that while we were together We were
not OH earth but In heaven.
Oh! those days of convalescence in the
shaded p~ortico. heavy with the scent of
orange blossoms and cooled by the splash
ing fountain IN che center. with my loved
one sitting by me. her hand locked IN minel
/ often wonder why such a sinner IA l had
been was allowed. even though It were bnt
for q brief space of time. TO experience
such BLISS here on earth. such a foretsste of
heaven.
What became OF the Alligator and Wins
hurst. l scarcely rocked. and oven the news
that the yacht | had ordered from England
had. in obedience To orders | had sent 10
Port Royal. arrived at the Havana. scarce
~ moved me.
Francisco. however. said she wished
much TO SEQ the Buccaneer. for so my new