Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-06-11
Ned'S Wife

a VERYBODY but Captain Marvin
10. liked handsome Ned GrayIing.
~ 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 shippers
daughter, who was engaged to a man
named Audley, a 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 l to him one morning.
give a 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
like somebody. Come, give up the
idea"
Never"
You'll be sorry for it some time"
Ned looked over his shoulder and saw
Cora standing in the waist and had
work there instantly. 1 was vexed,
for l knew that the old man was
watching him, and 1 was afraid he
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 a 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 you"
Il love Cora" said Ned, quickly. eff
you were 70 kill me you couldn't
change that. But I'm n gentleman,
and if she is promised to some one Cse
and cares for him I'm not the man to
stand in her way. l 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.
de didn't speak to Cora again, but
the old man forgot to tell him not to
4 I h,I how vrrl,
letters to fill mail bag.
We made Calcutta by daylight and
ran in with a pilot, and just as he took
the ship in charge the captain ran be-
low to get a 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.
IN have you lowed ashore on
grating you COMPOUNDED lubber." he
roared.
mo you won't, captain cried Ned.
"what have I done now?"
You promised not to speak TO
Cora"
II kept my word, sir"
Yes, and she's got a 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 I'm his eyes. You've
got the right TO send me ashore. now
we are in port. but no fiogging. 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 10 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 Il 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 see. If my
hoy Ned objects TO acting as convoy
for such craft as that III have him
M at the grating. But where is hep
i 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 don't think he
viii II your 1 amt smart"
II he can weather on Ned Audley.
give him the girl" roared the passen-
ger. My boy is smart. tell you. He
went up to Shanghai to-why. there
ne is
The door swung open and Ned Gray
ling walked in.
That's the mani cried Captain Mar
win He says he viii have her. and
III give my consent. But I'll see him
hangedr'
Don't swear. Captain" said Ned.
Shaping him Familiarity on the shout
der. I'm Ned GrSyling Audley. the
son Of that old fellow there and ship
ped in the Vanguard TO see how I liked
COra before married her. And l loved
her from the start. and unless you or.
der me ashore"