The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-08-29

your father:this morning and gave him
the good news to rejoice his good old
heart. He:was too proud to confess his
Joy. Butw know him, don't we, Jack
Well, confess shall not be happy till
you are Captain Pentecrosse, with a
share in every cargo"
NAY, Molly, the ship is yours, and I
am but your servant, though a proud
and joyful servant" 49,
And so we sat and talked, while Nj
gra went on with her work, sitting at
the feet of her mistress, whom she
watched all the time as a dog keeps
one eye always upon his master.
At this time my mistress was 16, a
time when many girls are already mar
ried. But she was still a child, or a
young girl at heart, being one of those
who, like a fine Orleans plum, ripen
slowly and are all the better for the
time they take. In person, if I may
speak of what should be sacred, she
was finely made, somewhat taller than
the average, her hair of that fair color
which Is the chief glory of the Eng
lish maiden. If Lisbon girl could
show that fair hair, with those blue
eyes and that soft cheek touched with
ruddy hue and the velvet bloom Of the
September peach, she would draw aft
er her the whole town, with the king
and his court and even the grand in
quisitor and his accursed crew Of tor
turers.
She was of truly affectionate dispo-
sition, her mind being as 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 a
plain merchantman'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. l had been
her companion and playfellow. knew
her very mind and could tell at any
time of what she was thinking. Some
times her thoughts were of high and
serious things. Mostly they were Of
things simple, such as the prospects Of
the last brew or the success of the
latest cordial. OF suitors she had none,
although she was now, as I said, 16
years Of age. There were no suitors. l
very we'll 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 l 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 as 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 1, 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 young maid piously dis
ic no of
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 it's
many mansions.
Therefore we talked Of everything
except love.
The sun went down as we sat talk
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 we'll as
the vast circle Of the rolling sea. And
then Nigra gathered her work together
and arose.
"Come to supper, honey" she said.
"Come. Massa Jack" and she led the
way.
Supper over, the captain, instead of
turning round his chair to the fireplace,
filing his pipe and calling for another
glass Of October, as we expected, push
ed back his chair and rose with dig
nifty. s
"Jennifer," he addressed Molly's
mother, "the persuader."
Jennifer was her Christian name, She
got up and drew from the corner by the
cupboard stout crab tree cudgel,
twisted and gnarled like the old tree
from which it came. "Be not revenge
full, john" she said.
mo, no. I am justice of the peace.
am captain on my own quarter deck.
Punishment I shall bestow, not re-
vense."
"Well, John, but he is young, and
you are old.'