Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-10-05

see them, and likewise come to some
determination as to the other prop
erty," he answered But it may be
apprehend you. You would like to be-
i speak a berth?"
1T seems hasty and eager 20 men,
| tion it," l replied, little in deprrca-
tion, but the fact is"
Say no MORE" he cried, clapping me
on the back. "Can you doubt me?
Why, man, you shall be second mate
| of my best ship. After that mate, and
then captain. Why not? And your
pay shall start with d round sum, and l
not cheated, either, for you are worth
| it. Sellinger at first shall be your su-
| perior-for have him also in mind, to
| advance his fortunes-and l think
you could not ask for better"
God bless you!" l cried. This is
| more than you think!"
In spite of me the tears came into
my eyes.
why, Ardick, man, you have some
! thing behind the lighter!" he said,
looking at me sharply. Nay, out with
| it and relieve your mind. / much doubt
| if you will find more sympathetic
ears"
That / know" I said, with a sob,
"but, indeed, | am but poor creature.
l think / have lost the little courage |
| had. Yet here is the matter, since you
are foolish enough to consent to hear
| it," And with no words spared and
many flounderings and pullings up l
| disclosed my secret.
"And So" he said with an odd kind
of precision, that is the thing behind
the lighter? A stirring enough little
matter, too, but not calling for much
| dwelling on"
"Sir!" l cried, reproachfully.
NAY, but hear me-" he said, waving
his hand. "Eight-and-twentyy years ago
| was young and was in love. thought
as you did, and was intoxicated in the
| time"
was silent. thought knew what
he was about to say. His marriage
| had proved unhappy.
"In two years my wife died" he went
on, his voice dropping and SOLDERING.
Those two years were happier than
| all the time before or since. When
| it came to the last / asked Margaret
| to thank God for me that II had given
me the sweet loan of her. Ipromised
| that l would strive to join her some
day, Notwithstanding my many imper-
| fections, which still l mean to do, yet
in chief through the merits of Christ,
| blessed be His name! for He must
make up my lack. And now to your
matter, which you must think l have
| strayed from. Having been in this
way happy myself, conceive it a good
and sweet thing if might make you do
| likewise. and this beliSve / can do
| l have now neither kith nor kin
| poor George Benther was surely the
| last, as / thought another was before
him-and it will be fitting if 1 name an
heir. Why not you, Ardick, whom in
truth l love? 1 will adopt you, and
so at last l shall have a son. And now
do you think your matter worth much
| dwelling on, for have we not found
way to menl it? | trow my heir and
the agent of my ships, with good ven
| lures of his own and what not, may
aspire to this young woman's hand?
| If not, let me know, and we will see
whether the house of Reginald lynn
has forgotten how to uphold it's hon
or by the sword!"
| Long before the end of this epilogue,
which indeed the man spoke with the
water standing in his eyes, | had seized
his hand and with trembling lips had
| kissed it.
He broke off with this, standing up
and clapping on his hat.
"Yet wait a little, for, after all, the
business is not quite concluded.
would see Mr.. Hope"
He retreated out of the berth, and
with feelings which you may guess,
but which l cannot hope to put into
words, / dropped down on the side
of the bunk and awaited his return.
He was gone above 20 minutes. When
he came in he made a grave bow and
pointed to my hat.
! laughingly and yet in great trem-
BILE clapped it on, which done. he took
my arm and led me out and up the
companion stairs.
Near the top he only said:
"The lady is on deck. Why there.
cannot say, unless it might be to greet
a certain person. But in any event
she is in my way. l wish to have a
further talk with her uncle. There
fore you will oblige me by conducting
her one side, and l recommend the
after part of the quarterback, on the
larboard side, which is in shadow"