Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-10-25


determination as to the other prop
erty," he answered. But it may be /
apprehend you. You would like to be-
speak a berth?"
1T seems hasty and eager to men,
ton it," replied, little in depreca-
ton, 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 I
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 1 think
you could not ask for better"
God bless you!" / 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" 1 said, with sob,
''but, indeed, am but poor creature.
l think / have lost the little courage I
| 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
| 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-twenty years ago
| was young md was in love. 1 Thought
as you did, and was intoxicated in the
| same fashion. I married after q
| time"
was silent. thought I knew what
he was about to say. His marriage
had proved unhappy.
I'm 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
| to thank God for me that He had given
| me the sweet loan of her. promised
that 1 would strive to join her some
day, notwiths tanding my many imper-
| fections, which still l mean to do, vet
| 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 / have
| strayed from. Having been in this
way happy myself. conceive it good
| and sweet thing if mig ght 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 l thought another was before
| him-and it will be fitting if name an
heir. Why not you, Ardick, whom in
truth l love? I 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 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
Ii not, let me know, and we will see
whether the house of Reginald lynn
has forgotten how to uphold its 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 l
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, L dropped down on the side
| of the bunk and awaited his return.
| He was gone above 90 minutes. When
| 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. 1 wish to have a
| further talk with her uncle. There
fore you will oblige me by conducting
her one side, and 1 recommen the
after part of the quarterback, on the
iarboard side, which is in shadow"