The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-30

and then she had todd the sailor that
all was over between them. A Salem
girl must marry Salem sailor. and Who
could remember when a Sale IN snilor
had been called IA coward? There WAS
Just one person In all that town who
took Tom iIollyb part. and singularly
enough that was Mcllie's own father.
lie had always liked the young man.
and would have been proud of him as
n son-in-law. He got the story from
others, and he got it from Tom, and
he finally made up his mind that Tom
was right. .le might have been ex-
cited and confused under the circum-
stances. but when he left the men of
the shattered boat TO shift for them
selves he exhibited good Judgment.
They could support themselves in the
water for time. and had he dashed in
and his own boat shattered, with the
ship five miles away. there must have
been loss OF life. IL was the thing TO
do-to draw the whale off and then at
tack him. Capt. Williams reasoned IL
out with Mollle, or tried to. but he was
alone in his opinion. n hundred men
had said that Tom Holly showed the
white feather: the women and children
of Salem said that he was a coward.
OF what use for one single person to
speak in his favor? And so the mate
left Salem. and the talk began TO die
out. and the Golden Horn was chartered
for a voyage TO the West Indies. The
captains daughter was to go. and
fortnight later. when the bark WAS
ready TO cast off her fastenings and
proceed TO sea. she bade farewell TO
Salem. and crieyed in her heart that
size might never see Tom Holly again.
AZ first she was certain that the men
had told the truth. Then she had won
dercd il they were not mistaken. Then
SIZE hoped that they were, and had final
J., almost forgiven Tom. and earnestly
wished that she had been more lenient
and merciful. After the one converse
ton with her. Capt. Williams had no
more to say on the subject, but he had
a surprise i'm store for her and the crew
CT the Golden Horn." and for those
who stood on the wharf and saw the
ber!. said away. A quarter OF an hour
before she cast off Tom Holly came
aboard 10 net as chief mate.
"Why. father. what does this mean?"
asked Mollie, Is she caught sight OF
her wbilom lover.
ut means that he Is to go with mo
as my mate" replied the father. "and
that means. again, that do not believe
the stories told against him."
"But. how--how can meet him?"
"You must settle that for yourself"
Until he caught sight of her aboard.
Tom Holly did not know that Mollie
Williams was TO accompany her father.
Ii made the position embarrassing for
both. lie being chief officer, they must
sit at the same table, and be within
touch OF each other. every hour OF the |
day. She wanted 10 believe in him
to forgive and be forgiven. but her
pride stood in the way. He solved the |
problem as to how they should meet |
each other. He bowed 10 her in q
distant way, and went about his duties,
and, when they were brought together
a, table lie wns polite. but formal. |
Sire was compelled TO take her cue from
this. and treat him in the same fashion. !
and thus it came about that a stranger
would never have suspected that they
had loved and been hetrothed.
All went we'll with the "Golden
Horn" as she ran 10 the south. There
were people at Salem who had ridiculed
her owners for shipping strong crew,
and fitting her out with an armament
strong enough for a privateer. but two
or three ships trading TO the Indies had
disappeared. and there
were reports that strange crafts were
about among the islands. One
night, when the boat was nearing Mono
Passage. on her way into the Carib-
bean sea, she was oyertaken by a
which resulted in
strange accident. A bolt OF Lightning
struck and splintered ayard. and one OF
the flying splinters struck the captain
across the nose and blinded him. No
one could tell whether his eyesight
was permanently injured or not, hut he
had TO give command OF the ship to
the mate, and keep to his cabin and
grope in the darkness. Then he con-
graduated hiis self that he had given
berth 10 Tom Holly. To mate was
not only thorough seaman, but n
careful! navigator, and the Golden
Horn" sss perfectly safe in his hands.
She crept through the passage under
n dying breeze. and wns hardly clear OF
Cat island when It fell fiat calm.
This was at ten o'clock in the morning.
and the only sail in sight was brig
~ ing about six miles away. Even 20
the naked eye this craft, with her black
hull a-1 great spread OF sail. had a sas.
plcious look When the mate went
nloft 10 have a better look with the
glass. he made out that the stranger
guns and had too large crew
for an honest trader. The appearance
of the brig was freely commented upon
10y the crew. most of whom doubted
her honesty. but Tom Holly alone was
worried ard anxious. IL was two
o'clock In the afternoon. however. be.
A. A.. ~ |