The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-30
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9
. BrandOn's Daughter .
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ship. Sometimes, when standing idly
at the break of the poop, / have caught
myself wondering If he had ever COM
mitted a crime, the remembrance OF
which was weighing heavily on his
conscience. l was destined soon to
learn more about him.
one evening, when about nine weeks
out, l 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 on deck was loung-
ing about forward. Some days pre-
vious to this | had the temerity to
confess my love to her, and asked her
to be my wife, She made me mex
pressibly happy by promising, subject
to my obtaining her fathers consent
This, after some demur, he had grant
ed and that night the future appeared
very bright for me.
We had been sitting silent for some
time, too happy for words gazing on
the setting sun as it disappeared into
a glowing mass of gold trimmed clouds
on the horizon, when, to my infinite
amazement she suddenly burst into
tears.
Darling. what is the matter?' | eX-
claimed in an agony of apprehension.
"Oh, Alfred, l have just heard such
a dreadful story from my father. We
can never be married now"
Never be married." ! calculated
aghast. "Why?"
Because my father is IA criminal.
oh, / feel so miserable, | think | shall
throw myself overboard!"
"Alice, for heavens sake don't talk
like that. or youll drive me mad. What
has he done?"
Something dreadful Oh don't
speak to me any more" she sobbcd
violently.
At that moment I was SO mad that
| felt half inclined to go down and
/ tear the old scarecrow out of his berth
! by he scruff of he neck and demand
| wha the deuce he had done to cause
! my darling such poignant grief. But
/ didn't Instead. l drew her to my
side, and kissed her tears away.
Tell me all about it," l said soOth-
ingly.
well, my father, as you are aware
was an agent in one of the banks in
Arlington, Victoria, and it seems he
embezzled large sums of money be-
longing to the bank to speculate with
| OF course, he meant to replace it he
fore the audit when the deficit would
have been discovered But he lost it
and that is why he fled the country
rs that ALL" said |, with a sigh OF
relief. It's bad enough, certainly, but
fail to see that in itself it forms &
sufficient barrier to our union"
But that is not the worst. Ny
father is convinced that the police may
have traced him to Melbourne and Il
this ship. He declares he will be ar.
rested on landing
Nothing more likely" | thought. Bu
remarked casually, Has he any plar
to suggest"
Yes. ah, yes. if you will only assis
him. But it seems to horrible to con
template. He says it is his only chance
of escape"
THAT he should die and be buried
at seal" she responded with a percep
tible shiver.
81 don't understand"
He proposes to feign death. Then
after he has been sewn up for burial
we must find means to liberate him anC
substitute something else"
The daring audacity Of the propose
fairly took my breath away. If dis
covered, the consequences to me il
aiding and abetting a feon to escap
would be disastrous. | resolved Il
have nothing to do with such a crimi
nal proceeding, but look Of entreat!
from those fearful eyes made me fal
ter in my resolution.
For my sake" she murmured, plead
ingy, placing her fair, white hand ol
my arm.
Her touch thrilled me. | hesitate,
no longer. but gave an unwiIDg con
sent All, what folly will not MAJ
commit when in love!
Next day it was reported that Bran
don was seriously indisposed. | tool
out the medicine chest as in dut,
bound, and ordered the cabin stewart
to attend him. Three days later Nj
Brandon was reported dead
When | was informed of this | en-
tered his cabin. He was lying in tn
under berth, pale and motionless a
death. | felt the body; it was cold AM
rigid If this We're not death, he stim
ulated it to perfection. | sent for tn
sailmaker. who sewed the body up il
my presence. When his task was com
pleted I dismissed him, and, securing
the cabin door inside, with a sharl