Holbrook argus. (Holbrook, Ariz.) 1900-1913, 1901-08-03
Ned's, Wife


a VERYBODY but Captain Marvin
H. liked handsome Ned Grayling,
~ the most popular hand ON board
the old Vanguard.
Ned never shirked his duty, but it
was known to a few that he was dead
In love with pretty Cora, the skipper
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,
Eve a 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
idSa."
"Never."
You'll be sorry for it some time"
Cora standing in the waist and had
work there instantly. I was vexed,
for l knew that the old man was
watching him, and I was afraid he
would get into trouble. He only said
q 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?"
Eyes, 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 1 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 1 never saw him.
Now you must come and make trouble,
blame your
81 love Cora" said Ned, quickly. eff
you were to kill me you couldn't
change that But Pm 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 off all the deck planks. Then he
CAME on deck on the jump and ordered
me to put Ned in irons.
"I'll have you towed ashore on a
grating, you COMPOUNDED lubber," he
roared.
mo, you won't, captainw cried Ned.
what have 1 done nowW
"You promised not to speak to
Cora"
81 kept my word, sir"
Eyes, and she's got stack of letters
from you as high as the mainmast.
ought to seize you up to the rigging
and give you forty lashes."
81 wouldn't do that" said Ned, with
a peculiar look In his eyes. you've
got the right to send me ashore, now
we are in port, but no fogging, 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,
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 I've
shipped"
The pilot took us in safely, and two
hours later we were boarded by a
shore boat, carrying a passenger, just
such an old blower as our old man and
with as little bite in him. They shook
hands and dragged each other up and
down the deck. and then the old man
asked him into the cabin and showed
his daughter, whom the old chap had
never seen.
She'll do" said old Audley. Clean
built little clipper as ever 1 see. If my
boy Ned objects to acting as convoy
for such a craft as that I'll have him
up at the grating. But where is he"
81 don't know anything about him, -
said the captain. But I've got man
on board who swears he'll marry Cora
and blame my eyes if 1 don't think he
will if your son amt smart"
eff he can weather on Ned Audley,
give him the girlp' roared the passen-
ger. My boy is smart, 1 tell you. He