Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-04-29


ject ofagreNahle expectation, he was
by natural consequence, looked
upon with friendly regard. Hi
address, gaiety OF demeanor, anC
fine figure which last wasstudious
~ set of 10 great advantage by
rich and graceful costume height.
ened this sentiment OF personal fav
or, and gave him privileges In th,
society of the town which, In tina
age OF scrupnlous regard to rank,
| would have been denied him II b,
had been aconstant sojourner. En-
boldened BY this reception he haC
essayed to offer some gallant civil
ties to the maiden OF the Rose Croft
which were Instantly repealed, how
| ever, by tie most formal GOODNESS,
| The skipper vas not so practised
an observer as to perceive In this
repugnance the actual aversion
which themaiien felt againt his &C
vances to acqnaintance; and he was
content to ACCOUNT IL o merely girl
ish reserve which importantly and
assidu0us devotion might overcome
His vanity suggested the resolve to
conquer the damsel's Indifference;
and as that thought grew upon his
fancy, 1t by degrees, ripened into
a settled purpose, which In the end
completely nngrossed his mind. AS
be broOdnd over the subject, and
permi tied bis Imagination 10 linger
around that form Of beauty and love-
llness, cherished, as II was. during
the long weelEs Of his lonely track
ing of3the sea, and In the solitary
musings and silent night.watch es OF
his deck "a Romantic ardor was
kindled In bis breast, and he hasten
ed back TO the port OF st. Mary's,
strangely wrought upon by new i'm.
pulses, which seemed TO nave hum.
anized and mollowed even his rude
natures: the ehrewder observers
were aware Of more gentleness In
his bearing. thought they found him
more hayward In his temper;--he
was proudBr ol heart, vet with hum
bier speech, and often more stern
than before. The awakening Of o
new passion bad over-mastered both
the ferocity and the levity OF his
character. He was, In truth, the
undivulged, anxious, and almost
worshippiug lover Of Blanche
Warden.
When such nature as | have des-
cribed chances h. fall into the loving
vein, II will be admitted TO be- q
somewhat fearful category both for
the lady and tho i0ver,s rival. Such
men are not apt s0 mince matters In
the course of their wooing.
This was the ppFsOn who now piled
his way t0wafdstlie port. In solitary
rumipation over two distinct topics
Of private grief. each OF nature TO
rouse the angry devil OF his bosom.
He could not but see that his first
approach towards the favor Of his
mistress had been promptly repell-
ed. That alone would have filled
his mind with bitterness, and given
0 harsh complexion to his thoughts !;
but this cause OF complaint was
almost stihed by the more engross-
ing sentiment Of hostility against
the Secretary. That hu should have
been rebuked for his behavior by o
man--and q man, too, who evident
| ly stood we'll with the lady OF bis
love taken TO task and child In the
veryNpresenceo his mistress, was
an offence that called Immediately
TO his manhood and demanded re-
dress. Such redress was more to
bis hand than the nicer subtilities
OF weighing the maiden 3 dlspleasnre
aud he turned 10 II with natural
alacrity, as TO a comfort In his per-
plexity 1t is tho instinct OF rude
nature TO refer all cases Of wounded
sensibility to the relief OF battle. A.
rejected lover. like child who has
lost toy, finds consolation in his
distress by fighting any one that he
can persuade himrelf has stood In
his way. and heis made happy when
there chances to be some plausible
ground for such proceeding. The
skipper Thoughts the subject over in
every aspect which his offended
pride could fancy At one moment
the idea OF quarrel with the Secre-
tary pleased him, and almost recon-
ciled him TO the maiden 8 coldness I;
at the next be doubted whether, Of.
ter all, she had In fact designed to
repel his friendship. He vlbrated
between these considerations for q
space In silence his pride quelled
the expression OF bis anger. But
by degrees bis quickened pace and
sturdier step, and, now and then,
that slight shake Of the head by
which men sometimes express de-
termination, made II plain that the
fiery element Ia bis bosom was ris
| ing Ia tdmult. At length, unable
TO suppress his feeling, the In ward
commption found utterancei In words.
Who and what Is this Master
Secretary that has set the maiden OF
the Rose Croft TO look upon me with
an evil spirit2 I would fain know
II be think himself Droperer man
than /. Does he stand upon his fin.
gering OF o lutte, and bis skill 10
dance Why even In this chamber
craft ! will put II to q wager he is
no master Of mine Is be more per-
sonable Ia shape or figure 2---goes
he in better apparel Or, Is that
broken English Of his more natural
10 the province than my plain speech
that be should claim the right TO
chide me for my behavior Is IL
that be has q place Ia the train OF
his Lordship? Have not / served
as near to q belted knight--lord OF a
thousand stout hearts and master Of
a feet Of thirty sail Pay, and In
straits whore you should as soon