The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-04-14

letter to a sea captain, who was soon
to sail for Havana. BY mistake the
letter went to Capt. Torrycorn, and
soon after Mr.. Hope himself sailed for
Panama. Having considerable bust
ness on the way he was deferred from
the first plan of his voyage, and
reached this point later than he had
expected. Yet still he did arrive in
precise season to meet us, to receive
his letter, and to find at his very elbow |
the man the letter concerned. Shall
YOU find the match of all this for
strangeness and the very whim of for
tune?"
Indeed" said I, much surprised, lit
passes all that 1 ever heard of. But
what is the amount of the fortune?"
at is set forth in the letter to be
ninety thousand pounds sterling, but
may fall something short" he an
swered at is mainly invested in lands
about New York and in ships. 1t was
in the business of the last that my
cousin made his fortune. l mean in
the plantation trade. 1t is bit
strange that | never heard of him, but
then his ships piled mostly between
our easterly ports and New York, and
had no great knowledge of matters in
those parts"
But here something gave me little
start. ships, then" said l, will cut
considerable figure with you. Do
you mean to keep them or sell themP'
THAT l can answer better when l
see them, and likewise come to some
determination as to the other prop
erty," he answered. But it may be l
apprehend you. You would like to be
speak BERTH
ut seems hasty and eager to men
ton it," l 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 a round sum, and l
not cheated, either, for you are worth
it. Sellinger at first shall be your SUI
perior-for have him also in mind, to
advance his fortunes-and l think
you could not ask for better"
HGod 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 l know" l said, with sob,
but, indeed, 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 fouuderin~s and rulliurs IN
disclosed my secret.
"And now" said |, at the end, you
see how the matter lies. To come
snHedilv as may be to my ship is my
only hope, and even then--who can
say what may intervene r
lie heard me with an inscrutable
face. only | thought his eyes lighted
once or twice, and once he was at his
old trick of thrusting out his lips.
"And So" he said with an odd kind
of precision, that is the thing behind
the lighter? stirring enough little
matter, too, but not calling for much
dwelling on"
"Sir!" | cried, reproachfully.
"Nay, but hear me-" he said, waving
his hand. "Eight-and-twenty years ago
was young and was in love. Thought
as you did, and was intoxicated in the
same fashion. l married after a
time
was silent, l 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 on since. When
it came to the last | asked Margaret
to thank God for me that He had given
me the sweet loan of her. promised
that | 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 | have
strayed from. Having been in this
way happy myself, conceive it good
and sweet thing if might make you do
likewise, and this believe | can do.
have now neither kith nor kim
poor George Benther was surely the
last, as | thought another was before
him-and it will be fitting if | name an
heir. Why not you, Ardick whom in
truth | love? will adopt you, and
so at last | 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? | 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 sc