The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-04-16
Brandon'S Daughter .

Brandon's Daughter.
No, I've never been shipwreckca r,r
been in collision all the time I've bc> 10
Sca--a matter now of over forty years.
But I've carried some queer passengers
in my time. III tell you about two who
exercised a powerful influence over mo:
but whether for good or evil you sl.t Il
hear presently.
1t was in the fall of -, just when o..
the eve of sailing that III old gentleman
stepped on board. and hurriedly ap-
preached me. He was II tall. spare man,
with iron-gray hair, and had Il slight
stoop ut the shoulders.
Good day, captain" said he. Il only
heard this morning that you were sail
ing for England, and l FASTENED down
| TO ascertain it you could find accOmm0-
dation for myself and daughter at so
short notice."
"Certainly." Il replied. in my hearty
way. II shall he only too pleased to
take YOU. AS it happens there arc only
| three rasstn@trs booked this trip. and
they are sccondclasS. 50 YOU can have
| y
he thanked me effusivcy, and disap-
peared into the saloon. | marveled at
his prrcipitancy. and wondered where the
daughter was to come from. for she was
not visible anywhere.
l. gave instructions to the apprentices
t" have their luggage conveyed on board.
| and myself superintendent the slowing
away of their trunks in the two nest-a!)-
pointed cabins in the ship. Whilst so en-
gagged, | heard Il light football behind me.
and, turning round, | beheld the fairrSt
vision of loneliness that ever Frightened
my saloon.
My laughter-Capt Harnott," said
| Mr.. Brandon. introducing us.
was So taken aback by her exceeding
beauty that l awkwar,lly touched my
cap, and. With the wind clean taken out
of my sails stammcred:
"Glad to see you. miss.
She placed her soft little white hand in
my big. sun-brownel paw. and. looking,
mo suuarely in the face out Of her laugh
ing blue eyes. said:
lin sure we shall be good friends
captain. during the voyage.
| She spoke with Il charming colonial ac-
| cent and, from that moment. l was lici
most devoted humble servant, slave,
anything you like. | went head over
ears in love with her at sight. You may
! SMILE but recollect | was Il comparative
| ly young man then.
Leaving them to arrange their cabins
to their own satisfaction. | assembled the
companion-stepS. and went OH deck. It
certainly occupied them considerable
! appeared on deck until the ship was we'll
outside the Heads" and the tug had
| returned to port.
That voyage | look back upon as the
! haopiest and saddrSt | ever made. Miss
Brandon WAS splendid sailor. In fair
weather or foul she'd be OIL deck, de-
lighting me with the admiration she ex-
| clipper. and the child-like naivcte of her
| questions. l used to pace the quarter
deck in the morning, impatient for her
| first appearance. On the dullest or dirt
| lest day it was like Il ray of sunshine
suddenly bursting forth from lowering
sky to see her emerge from the COM
ranion hatch. looking as fresh as Il daisy,
and thousand times more lovely.
Of course it was only natural that
my mates should fall in love with her
| also: but she treated them with marked
mlltfcrence if not absolute GOODNESS.
Her smiles were all reserved for me.
and she lavished them upon me in no
nlggardly manner.
There Was Il piano in the saloon. and
often IN the long evenings she would sing
| and play for my sole dclectation, while
would sit on Il settee alonside and gaze
| raotur0uSly into her pretty face. The
song | liked best was Glow Bowling. ~
and she infused such an amount of pathos
INTO her expression that the tears would
sometimes tricklc down my weather.
beaten checks as she sang. All. those
were happy days; it was heaven while
| have scarcely mentioned her father
yet: The fact is, / was so encrossed
with his beautiful daughter that / didn't
pay SO much attention to him as per
haps | ought. ~ the best he was q
saturnine. unsociable sort of person.
who seemed to prefer his own comDany
to other peoples. When not in his own
CABIN, Where he spent most of his time,
ne was walking with his hands clasped
behind him, apparently deep in thought,
IN the waist of the ship. Sometimes.
When standing idly ut the break of the
poop, ! nave caught myself wondering
II lie had ever committed crime, the
remembrance of which was weighing
neaviiy on his conscience. l was des-
'i1ed soon TO learn more about him.
One. evening. when about nine weeks
OH. | was sitting in the chart-house
alone with my idol The second mate
was stepping the planks outside, old
Jobson was at the wheel away behind US,
and the watch OH deck were loungino
about forward. Some days previous to
TINS l had had the temerity to confess
my love for her. and asked her to be my
wife. She had made me inexpressibly
happy by promising, subject to my ob-
tanning her fathers consent. This, after
some dcmur. he had granted, and that
night the future appeared very bright
for me.
We had been sitting silent for some
time, too happy for words, gazing OH the
setting sun as it disappeared into a
glowing mass of golden-rimmed clouds
on the horizon, when, to my infinite
amazement, she suddenly burst into
| tears.
Darling, what is the matter?' 1 ex-
claimed i'll an agony of apprehension.
"Ob. Alfred, have just heard such a
dreadful story from my father | shall
never be happy again. We can never be
.'Never be marriedr' l calculated
aghast. "Why?'
Because my father is IA criminal!
Oh. | feel SO miserable. l think | shall
throw myself overboardr'
Alice, for Heavens sake don't talk
has he done?"
''Something dreadful. Oh, don't speak
to me any more,' and she sobbed VIC
lcntly.
! At that moment l was so mad | felt
half inclined to go down and tear the
old scarecrow out of his berth by the