Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-09-11

She was of truly nffcctionate dispo-
stion, her mind being rs lovely as her
face. In manners she was easy and
compliant, In discourse sometimes
grave and sometimes merry. AS for
her great possessions, she was SO sim
pie in her tastes and habits, being in
all respects like the daughter of
plain mcrchantman's skipper that she
understood little or nothing of what
these possessions meant or what they
might bestow upon her.
No one however, must believe that
there was any thought or discourse con-
corning love between US. had been
her companion and playfellow. / knew
her very mind and could tell at any
time of wh;A she was thinking. Some
times her thoughts We're of high and
serious things. Mostly they We're of
things simple, such MS the prospects of
the last brew or the success of the
latest cordial. OF suitors she had none,
although she was now, as said, 16
years of age. There We're no suitors.
very well know why, because, perhaps
for friendly reasons, Captain Crowle
had told me something of his ambition
for his ward. She was too rich and
too good for the young men of Lynn.
What would any of them do with such
an heiress? She was too rich and too
good even for the gentlefolk of the
county, hearty, rough, good natured
people who hunted and shot and feast
ed and drank. What would they do
with an heiress Of wealth beyond their
highest hopes had they any knowledge
OF her wealth? But believe that they
had none. No one knew how rich she
was except the captain. The girl was
intended by her guardian for some
great man. He knew not rs yet how
he should find this great man, but he
knew that there were very few, even
Of the noble lords in the house of peers,
whose fortune or whose income would
compare with that of his ward-his lit
tie maid. And i, who knew this ambi-
ton, knew also that was trusted not
to betray confidence nor to disturb the
girls mind by any talk of love. Now,
the mind of a young maid piously dis
posed Is like the surface of n calm sea,
which looks up to the sky and reflects
the blue of heaven, undisturbed till
Dan Cupid comes along and agitates
the calm with the reflection of some
shepherd swain and ripples the surface
with new thoughts which are allowed
by heaven, but belong not to any of its
many mansions.
Therefore we talked of everything
except love.
ing. The sun went down, and the soft
twilight Of June. the month which
most love because there is no dark
ness and man on watch can discern
ahead breakers and ships as well as
the vast circle of the rolling sea. And
then Nigra gathered her work together
and arose.
Come to supper, honey" she said.
Come, sMassa Jack" and she led the
way.
Supper over. the captain, instead of
turning round his chair to the fireplace,
filling his pipe and calling for another
glass of October. as we expected, push
ed back his chair and rose with dig
nifty.
"Jennifer," he addressed Molly's
mother, "the persuader."
Jennifer was her Christian name. She
got up and drew from the corner by the
cupboard a stout crab tree cudgel,
twisted and gnarled like the old tree
from which it came. "Be not revenge
full, John" she said
mo, no. am n Justice of the peace.
l am captain on my own quarter deck.
Punishment 1 shall bestow, not re-
venge"
well, John. but he is young, and
you are old"
Captain Crowle laughed. Young, Is
he? And l am old, am I? We shall
see."
Some one was going to be tried, judg-
ed, found guilty, sentenced and to re-
ceive his sentence at once. The thing
was not unusual in the house Of a Jus
tlce of the peace.
Come with me, Jack. 1t shall not be
said that l inflicted this punishment
without n witness. All the world shall
know about it, If so be the culprit de-
sires. Come with me. Jennifer, keep
within, and If you hear groans praise
the Lord for the correction of sim
ner."
Greatly marveling, followed the
captain rs he marched out Of the par
lor. Arrived Mt the garden, he looked
around. so" he said, she has not yet
come. Perhaps 1t is light enough for
you to read some of his pernicious
stuff" With that he put his hand into
| his pocket and drew forth u paper.
| "Read that, Jack. say, read It,"
obeyed. The twilight gave sufficient
light for reading the manuscript. Be
sides, the writing was large and In bold
characters. why" I said, 81 know
this writing. 1t is Sam Semple's"
Every good. Go on, therefore,
~ the very first words understood
what had already happened and guess
ed pretty well what was going to hap
pen.
''Molly diyinc Thy heavenly charms prevail,
As when the sun doth rise stars fade and pale"
mo need for much more of the rub.
| bish, Jack. Read the last of 1t. read
1t all, and 1t made me sick"
| $50. matchless mald thy silence grants consent.
| See, at thy feet, the poet's knee is bent
When evening roses scatter fragrance faint
| And the sad Philomel renews his plant"
did ever man hear such stuff, Jack?
Go on"
"Within this bowr, afar from sight OF men,
Tomorrow. Wednesday. at the hour OF ten.
That bow'r. shrine Of love and temple fair,
will await thee-Samuel Semple-therc''
"What do you think Of that, Jack?
Samuel Semple, the ragged, skulking,
sniveling, impudent son of thievlng
eXciseman! A very fine lover for my
little maid! Ha, will he? VIII he?"
The captain grasped his cudgel with
resolution.
"Sirw said, with submission. "What
did Molly say to this precious epistleT
"AIolly? Dost think that would
let the little maid see such ranting