Year: 1865

.
The clergyman of the place-you may
see the church on the right as you 90
towards Edgecumbe Ferry-heard of this,
and becoming good deal interested in
the young man, offered him a place as
gardener or general servant or something
or other. Bill was a handy chap, and
soon made friends with people, and they
persuaded him to stop here instead of
going to Liverpool a, he intended. He
didn't want much pressing, for any one
could see thatthere was girl in the case,
and that girl was Helen Meredith, and it
didn't want more than two eyes to see that
she liked him


The folks used to jeer Paul about his
nose beng out of joint, and Tom Trevel-
han the blacksmith, as owed him grudge
tor the dog, used to say, Well, doctor
hows you nose by this timer But they
say the doctor only used to turn white
and rub his hands; it was way he had
and he did the same when he gave the
dog the bread Well, things prospered
so we'll with young Randall. that at last
he made up his mind to ask the captain
for his consent; and as the old fellow was
jolly. easy going customer, and liked
Bill very much besides, it wasn't long be-
fore he gave it. just about this time the
folks IN the village were frightened by the
report that the pressgang were out; that
they Lad been as far as Plympton, four or
five miles from the town there, and
had pressed one or two men. The cap
tain and Ellen wanted to put the marriage
or but Bill wouldn't hear of it, and
strange to say, Paul, as was his worst
rival as you may say, sided with him
Well, on the very day afore the wedding
strange man as hadn't been seen in the
village afore called at the house to speak
to Paul, and neighbor as happened to
be present ut the time, said afterwards
that she had seen them talking together
on the road to Plymouth Now mird me
in the evening, and just as they were sit
ting down to supper and drinking heslths
Paul, who was late, ran into the room
leaving the door open behind him, and
entreated William to lock to himself. as
the pressgnne was already in the village /:
and afore poor Bill! could get away. the
rressgang were inside and had seized him.
and in spite of his struggles and Ellen's
cries, and Paul's entreaties, carried irin
TO the beach, where boat Law ready, and
took him away"


as that all ?" asked


Not exactly, mate said my friend,
finishing the rHm, "thc strangest part is
to come"


So, replenishing his glass and refiIling
his pipe, he continued


"W ell, every one of course was very
much cast down at this, but poor Ellen
particularly; however, for many months
she kept brave heart, always tel ing the
captain she knew William would return.
and they should be happy yet; and dive
see, no one liked to tell the poor thing diff
ferent although but very few thought
they d ever see him again. At any rate
it was clear DR. Paul didn't for after
while he began again TO pay his addresses
to her and this time more In earnest than
before, but it was no use Ellen wou
have nothing to say to him at all


Now, about two years after they had
pressed poor VIII, when it was getting on
towards the winter time.-there had been
good deal of dirty weather about, and
several vessels had been lost on the coast
there was a report that several crews
had been paid of, and then Ellen made
up her mind more than ever that William
would return, when one day q neighbor
comes in and says that he has heard that
a vessel like the Spitfre-th at was the
one that William went out in-had gone
down off the Scllys, and it was feared that
all hands had perished he had it, he said.
from party who was told SO bv Paul.
who had learnt il when he went over to
Davenport the day before on some matter
of business This was bad news for the
poor lass, but | believe she still hoped
and prayed for her sailor sweetheart, and
all along kept on telling the captain that
he would live to see her and Will Randall
bride and bridegroom yet but about n
fortnight after this, Paul comes in a great
taking, and shows the captain a bottle.
which he said had been picked up on the
/ Cornish coast, no doubt having drifted in
and in it was a paper saying the Spitfre
cou dnt live the night through, and pray
/ ing that whoever found the bottle would
4 for heavens sake, send it On to Captain
Meredith, of Cawsend, with the last pray
ers of poor Will.


/ This was dated back, and was about
square with the day when the Spitfre was
said to have gone down and so now there
seemed no hope at all. and so poor Eler
seemed to think at last, for she go, palel
and weaker every day, and moved abou
like one who had nothing to live for. IL


make matters worse, the captain had 60


into debt, and difficulties got bigger anC


bigger Well, one day, all on sudder
the doctor roes to him and offers To MARI,