The times., 1901-04-07
CHAPTER 7.
I'M HEIREsS ANn nm p0ET.

days far eXcelliEg in happiness that
day, was the Goth day OF June in the
year of grace 174I
For on that day. being my nineteenth
birthday ! was promoted though so
young, to be mate or chief officer on
board my ship, the Lady of Lynn, Captain
Jaggard, then engaged in the Lisbon
trade.
l viii tell you presently how I was so
fortunate as to be apprenticed to so
fine a craft as the Lady of Lynn. just
now it is enough to set down that she
was the finest vessel in the little fleet
of ships belonging to my young mis-
tress, Molly Miller. ward of Captain
Crowle. There were eight ships, all her
own-the Lady Of Lynn, the ship in which
. / served my apprenticeship; the Jolly Mil
/ ler named after her father; the Lovely
! Molly. after herself; the Joseph and Jen-
/, infer, after her parents; the Pride of
/ Lynn. the Beauty Of Lynn, the Glory of
Lynn, and the Honor Of Lynn-aH Of
which you may take if you like named
after their owner. Molly owned them all.
l have to tell you in this place why
one day in especial must ever be remem-
bered by me as the most surprising and
the happiest that l had ever known.
! was therefore on the quarter deck on
duty when the boy came up the compan-
ion, saying that the captain wanted o
speak 10 me. So 1 followed. little think
ing Of what they had 20 say, expecting
10 more than some question about log or
cargo. such as the skipper is always put
ting to his officers.
In the captains cabin, however, ] found
sitting at the table not only Captain Jag-
gard himself but my old friend and pa
tron. Captain Crowle. His jolly face was
Fr4n of 81
that It gave one pleasure only to look at
him. But he sat upright and assumed an
air of dignity which spoke of the quarter
deck. A man who has walked that part
Of the ship in command doth never lose
the look Of authority.
John Pentecrosse." he began. q have
sent for you in order to inform you that
on the recommendation of Captain Jag
gard here''-Captain Jaggard gravely in
clined his head in acquiescence-- and with
the consent Of Miss Molly Miller. sole pro-
prietor of this good ship. the Lady OF
Lynn. I have promoted you TO the rank Of
chief officer
SIR ] cried. overwhelmed. for indeed
7 had no reason TO expect this promotion
for another two or three years. What
can 7 say?''
we don't want you TO say anything,
Jack, my lad" The captain came down
from the quarter deck and became my old
friend again. Give me your hand. You're
young. but there never u better sailor
afoat is there Captain Jaggard?"
None. Captain Crowle; none for his
years"
For his years naturally. He's salt |
through and through, isn't he. Captain |
Jaggard?'
And through, Captain Crowle." Ny /
skipper was a man of grave aspect and /
few words.
well. then. let US drink the lads /
health" And upon that the cabin boy, |
who needed no further order. dived into /
the locker produced a bottle, opened ii /
and placed three glasses.
NO better Lisbon" said Captain Jag /
gard, pouring it out Goes even 70 the /,
table OF the king. God bless him.
Nov, gentlemen Captain Crowle /
pushed a glass TO me-''iirst a glass TO |
Miss Molly, my lite maid. Jack, you've |
been her playfellow, and you're now her /
servant"
I could ask nothing better. sir.
II know-a good and jealous servant. |
Drink it off, a fun glass. running over, |
TO Molly Miller"
We obeyed, nothing loath
And now, Captain Jaggard. heres the |
under you. your right htld, your eyes |
open when you are off the deck. your !
sailing master. the keeper of your log. /
Jack Pentecrosse, drink TO your good |
luck
That was the event which made this |
day the happiest in my life. Another |
event OF which 1 thought little at the |
time was more important still In the after !
consequences. This was The humiliation /
OF Samuel Semple.
in the evening as soon as 7 could set I
ashore I repaired. as in duty bound, TO /
pay my respects TO my young mistress. |
She was sitting in the summer house /
with some needIework. Beside her sat her |
good old black woman. Nigra-
Jack" She dropped her work and /
jumped up 70 meet me. Il thought you |
would come this evening. Oh. are you |
pleased"
You knew I should come. Molly. Why, /
have I not TO thank you for my promo /
tom
she gave me her hand with her sweet /
fraukness and her smiling face.
Il would make YOU captain, Jack, but !
ny guardian viii not hear OF ii. All IN /
good time though l am only waiting. / 1
am proud Of you, Jack, because every /
body speaks so well Of you. / met your 1
IaAlrI inns L4Dt li-lH eA4i'A t5tL' 'AiaAA A-A~
good news 10 rejoice his good old heart. /
lie vas too proud TO confess his joy But /
We know him. don't We, Jack? Wen, /
confess I shall not be happy til you are /
Captain Pentecr0sse, with share in 1
every cargo.
..Nay. Afolly. the ship is YOURS. and !
am bur your servant, though a proud and ,
joyful servant
And so We sat and talked. while Nigra !
went gu with her work, sitting at the feet /
Of her mistress. whom she watched all /
the time as a dog keeps one eye always /
upon mis- master
At this time my mistress. as ] have said, !
was already sixteen years OF age. "a time /
when many girls are already married. But
she was still child, or a young girl II (
heart being one OF those who. like
fine Orleans plum. ripcn slowly and are 1
all the better for the time they take IN /
person. il ] may speak Of what should be
sacred. she WAS finely made, somewhat
taller than the average, her hair Of that
fair color which Is the chief glory Of the
English maiden. Lord, If q lisbon girl
could show that fair hair. with those blue
eyes and that soft cheek touched with
Tuddy hue and the velvet bloom Of the
her the whole town, with the king and /
his court and even the grand inquisitor
and his accursed crew OF torturers
She WAS Of Ii truly af1ectionate DISPOSE
fiOn, her mind being as lovely az her face
in manners she was easy and compliant /
g. discourse sometimes grave ana some
times merry. As for her great posses
Ei0uS. she was 50 simple i'm her tastes
and habits. being ia all respects ike the
daughter Of plain merChautfnan's skin !
Of what these possessions meant or what I
they might bestOw upon her
No one. however. must believe that
there was any thought or discourse con-
fHras H..Ha. L..