The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-26

racing gltbly on the paper
Z" can't do It," said Herrick. suddenly i"
haven't got the heart
See here" said tho Captain. speaking wit
unwonted gravity. 1T may be hard to writ,
and to write lies at that, and God knows II /,
but it's the square thing. 1t don't cost any
thing TO say you're we'll and happy, and sorr
you cant make n remittance this mail. and
you don't Ill tell you what think Il is. I Thin
It's about the hgh-water mark OF being
brute beast"
ITS easy to talk" said Herricl. "Yo,
don't seem to write much yourself. notice"
What do you bring in me for :" broke from
| the Captain. His voice was indeed scare,
raised above a whisper. but emotion changed
I'm It. "what do you know about me Ifyou
| Ind commanded the finest bark that eve
| sailed from Portland: II you had been drunk
| in your berth when she struck the breakers in
| Fourteen Island Group. aud hadn't had the
| wit to stay there aud drown, but came on deck
| and given drunken orders and lost six lives -
could understand your talking theni There u
he said more quietly. that's my yarn. and
now you know 1t. It's q pretty one for the
father OF family Five men aud woman
murdered. Yes. there was a woman on board
and hadn't no business to DO either. Guess 1
sent her to hell. IL there is such a place.
never dared go homo again. and the wife and
tho little ones won't to England to her fathers
place. don't know what's come to them" he
added with bitter shrug.
THANK you. Captain" said Herrlck. IL
never liked YOU better"
They SHOOK hands short and hari with eyes
avertcd. tenderness swelling in their bosoms.
Now. boys. to work again at yingw said
tho Captain.
"Tl give my father up" returned Horrlck
with a whitening smile. "Ill try my sweet
h.. - s.,.N 4 49,. - H..
And here is what he wrote:
Emma, have scratched out the beginning
to my father. for l think l can write more
easily to you This is my last farewell to all.
the last you will ever hear or see OF an un-
worthy friend and son. have failed in lifo.
am quite broken down and disGraced. pass
under false name: you will have to tell my
father that with all your kindness 1t is my
own fault know. had chosen. that might
have done we'll; and yet swear to you tried
to choose. could not bear that you should
think did not try For loved you all: you
must never doubt me in that. you least Of ALL
l have always increasingly loved. but what was
my love worth and what was WORTH Ihad
not the manhood Of n common clerk. l could
not work to earn you. l have lost you now
and for your sake could be glad Of it When
you first came to my fathers house-do you
remember those days2 l want you TO. you
saw the best OF me then. all that was good in
me. Do you remember the day took your
hand and would not let it co-and the day on
Battersea Bridge when we were looking at a
barge. and | began to tell one OF my silly
stories and broke of to say loved your That
was the beginning. and now here is the end.
When you have read this letter you will go
round and kiss them all good by. my father and
mother. and the children one By one. and poor
nm, all Nd oil 70 anI 10
get me yourself Turn the key In the door:
let no thought OF me return: be done with tho
poor ghost that pretended no was man and
stole your love. Scorn OF myself grinds in me
as | write / should tell you l am well and
happy. and want for nothing. do not exactly
make money or | should send u remittance:
but am we'll cared Cor. have friends. live In n
beautiful place and climate such as we have
dreamed OF together and no pity need DO
wasted on me. In such places, you under
stand. 1t 10 easy to live. and live well; but often
hard to make slxpence In money Explain
this to my father; he will understand. l have
no more to say: only liuger. going out like an
unwilling guest God in heavon bless you.
Think OF me at tho last here on bright beach.
the sky and sea immoieratey blue. and the
great breakers roaring outside on a barrier
reef. where "A little isle sits green with palms.
] am well and strong. IL Is more pleasant
way to die than II you were crowding about me
on a sick bed. And yet | am dying. This is
my last kiss. Forgive. forget the unworthy"
So far no had written. his paper was all iied
when there returned a memory OF evenings at
the piano and that song. the masterpiece OF
love. in which so many have found the express
sion OF their dearest thoughts, "EinSt. . ,cun-
der!" he added. More was not required: he
knew that, in his loves heart. the context
would spring up.escorted with fair images and
OF how all through life her name |
should tremble In his ears. her name be every |
where repeated In the sounds Of nature; and |
when death came and he lay dissolved. her |
memory lnger and thrill among his elements. |
onee. o wonder from the ashes of my heart
Arose a blossom
Herrck and the Captain finished their let
ters about tho same time: each was breathing
deep, and their syos met aud were averted as
they closed the envelopes.
Sorry / write SO big" sail tho Captain
" Camo all OF a rush, when it did come"
Same here" said IIerrick. - could have
lone with ream when got started; but It's
onG enough for all tho good | had to say"
They were still at tho addresses when the
,lerk strolled up. Sinking and twirlng his
Envelope like man well pleased. He looked
over IIerrick's shoulder.
"Hullo." he said. you amt writing 'ome?"
Il am. though" said Herrick; she lives
With my father. Oh. | see what you mean" he
Idted MY real name is Herrick. No more
Iay"-they had both used the same alias
no more Hay than yours, dare say"
Clean in the middle stump" laughed the
'erk. MY names Uish. II you want TO know.
Everybody has false name in the Pacific
Jay you i've to three tho Captain AS"
80 have. too" replied the Captain. "and
We never told my own since the day toro
no title page out OF my Bowditch and flung
he damned thing into the sea: but I'll tell II
o YOU. boys. John Davis is my name I'm
Davis Of the Sea Ranger"
" HoOce YOU are" said Hush. And what
vas she a pirate or syyer:"
"she was the fastest bark out OF Portland.
Iaine," replied the Captain, and tor the way
lost her might as well have bored hole in
er side with an Uugar"
"O,you lost her, did YOU ?" saiI the clerk
'Ope she was insured ?"
No answer being returned 10 this sally.
Lush. still brimmlng over with vanity aud
conversation. struck Into another subject.
I've a good mind to read you my lotter"
aid he I've good fist with a pen when !
loose. and this Is a prime lark She was a bar