The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-11-15

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-
speak berth?"
1T seems hasty and eager 20 men,
tion IT," / replied, a little in depreca-
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 round sum, and /
not cheated, either. for you are worth
1t. 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'll" l cried. This IL
more than you thinkl"
In spite of me the tears came into
my eyes.
why, Ardick. man. you have some
thing behind the lighterl" he said,
looking at me sharply. NAY, out with
it and relieve your mind. Imuch doubt
II you will find more sympathetic
ears"
That 1 know" / said. with sob.
''but, indeed, l am but poor creature.
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 founderings and pullings up l
disclosed my secret.
sand 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"
"Sirl" / cried, reproachfully.
"Nay, but hear me-" he said, waving
his hand. "Eight-and-twenty years ago
Twas young and was in love. Thought
as you did, and was intoxicated in the
same fashion. l married after a
time"
Twas 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 sobering.
Those two years we're happier than
all the time before or. since. When
it came to the lastI asked Margaret
to thank God for me that he had given
me the sweet loan of her. Ipromised
that / would strive to join her some
day, notwithstanding my many imper-
fections, which still mean to do, yet
in chief through the merits of Christ,
blessed be His namel for He must
make up my lack. And now to your
matter, which you must think have
strayed from. Having been in this
way happy myself, l conceive it good
and sweet thing if l might make you do
likewise. and this / believe l 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 name IN
heir. Why not you, Ardick, whom in
truth l love? l will adopt you, and
SO at last shall have son. And now
do you think your matter worth much
dwelling on, for have we not found a
way to mend it? l 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 Tym
has forgotten how to uphold its hon.
or by the swordl"
Long before the end of this epilogue,
which indeed the man spoke with the
water standing in his eyes, l 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 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 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 l
cannot say, unless it might be to greet
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 / recommend the
after part of the quarterback, on the
larboard side, which is in shadow"