The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-05-31
Ned'S Wife
"a EERYBODY but Captain Marvin
JEn liked handsome Ned Grayling.
~ the most DODular hand On hoard

ia NkeQ handsome NED Grayl1ng,
> the most popular hand on board
the old Vanguard.
Ned meyer shirked his duty, but it
was known to few that he was dead
in love with pretty Cora, the shippers
daughter, who was engaged to man
named Audley, junior partner in the
hrm 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 I to him one morning.
'1've Il good mind to get off this rail
and give you 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
like somebody. Come, give up the
idea
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. l was vexed.
for l knew that the old man was
watching him, and was afraid be
would get into trouble. He only said
a 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 will try to obey Them
"You must never speak to the girl
again. She's fool and forgets that
I've promised her to the best young
man in Philadelphia: leastways every
one says So. But l never saw him.
Now you must come and make trouble,
blame your
Il love Cora" said Ned, quickly. IF
you were to kill me you couldn't
change that But I'm a gentleman.
and If she is promised to some one else
and cares for him I'm not the man to
stand in her way. give you my word
not to speak to her unless you give me
leave"
go forward. then; believe you will
do as you say" said the captain.
He didn't speak to Cora again, but
the old man forgot to tell him not to
write, and believe they wrote enough
letters to fill mail bag.
We made Calcutta by daylight and
ran in with pilot, and just as he took
the ship in charge the captain ran be-
low to get glass of grog and found
his daughter reading Ned's last note.
Well. he tore around the cabin and
swore until you'd have thought he'd
start of all the deck planks. Then he
came on deck on the jump and ordered
me to put Ned in irons.
"Ill have you lowed ashore on
grating, you COMPOUNDED lubber," he
roared.
mo, you won't, captain!" cried Ned.
"What have l done nowY'
"You promised not to speak to
Cora
II kept my word. SIR
Yes, and she's got a stack of letters
from you rs high rs the mainmast.
ought to seize you up to the rigging
and give you forty lashes."
IL wouldn't do that" said Ned, with
peculiar look in his eyes you've
got the right to send me ashore, now
we are in port. but no flogging, If you
please. Now, I'll make you an offer:
You let me stay on board until we get
to Calcutta. and after twelve hours. If
!: you do not take back all you have said,
= ! will agree never to speak to Cora,
Il write to her or see her again."
That's fair" said the old man. "Old
!. Seth Audley comes aboard there, and
I'll tell him what sea lawyer Eve
shipped
! The pilot took us in safely. and two
hours later We were boarded by
4 shore boat, carrying a passenger, Just
such an old blower as our old man and
with rs little bite In him. They shook
Hands and dragged each other up and
down the deck, and then the old man