The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-12-17
m Sleeps cIot hing ing,

| george In charge OF the Ship!
AS no one attempted to answer thi
question, the Squire asked Mr.. Hedge
IL he had any objections TO letting hir
| see the letter.
! Not at all, replied Mr.. Hedges; "rea
|. it for yourself"
| The Squire took the letter, adjusted
his specta les, and coughed with grea
solemnity, while his face took on tina
expression OF judicial gravity which wa
| the terror of all eviI-doers in that coun
| try.
He was about to read the letter whel
Lea Hedges came up the path and joine,
the party. She has seen the post-ride
going to Squire Condit's, and her hear
told her that he carried news from Relpl
Denham.
After Ellen and her mother had ex
planned the situation, and Lea had ex
pressed her sorrow In her face rathe
than by words. the Squire read the lette
aloud, and then, spreading 1t out on hi
knee he took off his spectacles, anC
after wiping them, again adjusted then
with great nicely to his nose; he con
cluded these preparations by taking a
vigorous pinch of snuff, after ne had
passed round the box with no takers.
Let me ask you question, Lieuten.
ant Hedges, he began, with severity
OF mien that startled his wife and per.
picked Ellen not little.
Aye, aye, sir. Fire away" said Mr.
Hedges.
Captain Denham left you in CON-
mand Of the Sea Hawk"
Yes, sir.
TO hold till he returned?"
Yes, sir, or till am relieved by some
properly commissioned officer.
Just SO; that is the way I see it.
Now this letter does not say that you
are to turn over the command of the
ship to Captain Fox; on the contrary, il
is expressly stated that you shall obey
him as superior officer, so far as the
movements of the vessel under your
command are concerned"
i think you are right there, squire,
said Mr.. Hedges, his face Frightening
ups
Il know am. When Fox comes he
will have orders from the Governor,
and you'll see that they accord with my
opinion IS justice OF the peace. And
satisfied that all the judges in the world
could not differ from this opinion, tho
pfuiiC A9uQCC V0Ck lu6 l0Jl6T.
When Lee learned that Thrasher, the
post-rider N'as about to return in about
an hour or two, she got Quill and Pc
per from Ellen ond sat dovvn then and
there to VITO her lover letter.
All wrote. Mr.. Hedges being the
only letter that had on onloial tone, and
the only one In which love OF friendship
was not sent to Ralph. with strong in
functions to answer as soon as possible,
and give them all the particulars, par
ticularIy tho particulars OF his return.
When all the letters wers ready, Mr..
Hedges and Valentine Dayton took
Them down to the Inn, .;here they found
Thrasher smoking his pipe with an air
Of great enjoyment, aud looking like
anything but man exhausted by long
ride.
These letters" said Valentino Day.
ton, taking gold coin from his pocket
and handing it with the lettors to
Thrasher, ARE all private, 80 will pay
you now, and when you hand them to
Capt. Denham, l am sure he will give
you an additional reward"
L like Capt. Denham as much as any
man ever came across, except, per-
naps, mebbe, Cap'n Fox; he comes up
about to him; and you'll see I won't
'orget myself. replied Thrasher, whose
1ushed face showed that he had been
,aking advantage Of his unexpected
to treat himself to wine.
Soon after this the post-rider left for
Greenport, from which point he said no
vas going to Gardner's Island, then
and still in the possession OF the family
hat first purchased 1t from the Indians.
L don't like that man, Thrasher,
said Mr.. Hedges, as he and Valentine
stood on the beach signaling the Sea
Hawk to send boat for them.
Nor do I, but of course the fellow
has nothing to do with the nature OF the
messages he carries. almost wish the
Sea Hawk was out OF commission, and
We were settled down on shore again,
aid Valentine.
"Oh, it's all very well for you, Val,
Who have pretty girl ready to become
your wife. to talk about settling down;
,ut here am-fve-and-forty, with no
wife and the prospect of none.
That Is your own fault, Uncle
George"
Perhaps it is; could have married
n my time, and when / was your age, IL
0y O3tO oSt tOiQ k4C 1 60ouiQ kf0 " 0Q /
IS old as I am now, without getting |
married, I would call him crazy. Yet
ERE l am. with no bride but the ship |
nd no home but the sea-.
"Oh, come, Uncle George, don't talk !
a that way. Every house on the is and |
} your home and every man is your
riend; and as to getting married, why |
man of forty-f1ve should be In h. |
rhine. If you doubt this start cut
nee with the object of getting vile,
nd my word for it, you can win girl !
early as sweet as Ellen Condit, and |
hat is saying great deal for the pow
RS of fascination OF any man, young or
ID"
The lieutenant's bronzed face and |
lear, brave eyes took on softer ex-
ression. and his usually strong, bold |
Q. ce mad in It sub-tone OF music, as |
Q said
Perhaps you are right Val. know
feel as strong. and my head is as
ear, and my heart as stout as it ever
as; and talking bout being too old to
we, I'll tell you something If it wasn't |
m afraid you'd laugh at me"
You do me an injustice, Uncle
gorge, If you thing could entertain
ny other feeling than respect for what
tn NIX to be the MODEST emotion that
IN stir the human heart. A man him
III in love. is not apt to ridicule the
'eline in another.
II think you are right, my lad,
nd more particularly when that
Ter is ones uncle. But
,n't see why shouldn't tell
IN though Won NAV think strange of |
y taste. that have had my eye on a
'rtain girl for two years and more.
May / ask II know her?