The St. Johns herald., 1901-08-31
Ned's Wife

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 S VERYBODY but Captain Marvin
 ISa liked handsome Ned Crawling
 - the most popular hand on board
 the old Vanguard.
 Ned never shirked his duty, but ii
 was known to a few that he was dead
 in. love with pretty Cora, the skipper s
 daughter, who was engaged to a man
 named Audley, junior partner in the firm of owners, whom she had never seen. Hence, the old mans dislike for Ned.
 Cora was on board, going home from Shanghai to her future husband, as we supposed.
 "Ned," said to him one morning, "I've good mind to get off this rail and give you a toweling on the spot. You orter have it good and solid. You orter know what chance a common Sailor has with the captain and act uke somebody. Come, give up the 6Ss."
 "Never."
 You'll be sorry for 1t some time."
 Ned looked over his shoulder and saw Cora standing in the waist and had work there instantly. I was vexed, for I knew that the old man was watching him, and I was afraid he would get into trouble. He only said g word or two and passed on, but the old man saw him speaking to her and bore up to him.
 Look here, my lad" he said, didn't you speak to my daughter just now?"
 ''Yes, sir" replied Ned. Any orders to the contrary%
 "Yes," growled the old man. "You dare speak to her again and I'll have all the skin off your back"
 "Give your orders, Captain Marvin, and I will try to obey them"
 "You must never speak to the girl again. She's a fool and forgets that I've promised her to the best young man in Philadelphia; leastways every one says so. But 1 never saw him. Now you must come and make trouble, blame you"
 "I love Cora" said Ned, quickly. If you were to kill me you couldn't change that. But Pm a gentleman, md if she is promised to some one else md cares for him Pm not the man to stand in her way. give you my word lot to speak to her unless you give me cave"
 "Go forward, then; believe you will 10 as you say," said the captain.
 He didn't speak to Cora again, but | he old man forgot to tell him not to write, and believe they wrote enough | etters to fill mail bag.
 We made Calcutta by daylight and | an in with pilot, and just as he took he ship in charge the captain ran be- ow to get glass of grog and found lis daughter reading Ned's last note. We'll, he tore around the cabin and wore until you'd have thought he'd tart off all the deck blanks. Then he alfe on deck on the jump and ordered ne to put Ned in irons.
 ''I'll have you lowed ashore on a rating, you confounded lubber" he pared.
 "No, you won't, captain" cried Ned. What have I done now"
 "You promised not to speak to ,ora."
 "I kept my word, sir"
 "Yes, and she's got stack of letters rom you as high as the mainmast. ught to seize you up to the rigging nd give you forty lashes."
 "I wouldn't do that" said Ned, with
 peculiar look in his eyes. You've ot the right to send me ashore, now Te are in port, but no fiogging, if you lease. Now, I'll make you an offer: ou let me stay on board until we get , Calcutta, and after twelve hours, if ou do not take back all you have said,
 will agree never to speak to Cora, rite to her or see her again" That's fair" said the old man. "OId eth Audley comes aboard there, and Il tell him what sea lawyer I've lipped."
 The pilot took US in safely, and two ours later we were boarded by a lore boat, carrying a passenger, just lch an old blower as our old man and ith as little bite in him. They shook ands and dragged each other up and own the deck. and then the old man sked him into the cabin and showed Is daughter. whom the old chap had ever seen.
 Shell do," said old Audley. Clean Iilt little clipper as ever I see. If my y Ned objects to acting as convoy r such a craft as that I'll have him , at the grating. But where is hep T don't know anything about him." i'd the captain. But I've got a man
 board who swears he'll marry Cora, Id blame my eyes If don't think he Ill if your son ain't smart" If he can weather on Ned Audley, ve him the girlp' roared the passen- T. My boy is smart, tell you. He