Year: 1864

'Ihe brig had not been chrlSteneQ
when she was launched, andup to the
day before I was to sail, the stern had
remained barren of a single letter.
I had often asked my father what he
intended to call her, but he always
put me of with some eYasiYe reply,
and what her name was to be, or
whether she was to have any name
at all, remained a matter.of uncertainty
till about noon on the day before that
on which we we're to sail, when going
down the brig, I discovered a painter
at work putting the last leg to the n
in London, and across the arch board
I read, Dart-London,


4 didn't think you would call her
that, l said, remembering the sybiPs
curse, which 1 had told my father all
about, and having no Affections what
ever for the name, Ts' sd' o.


why not, my SOM inquired the
old gentleman, smiling as he spoke;
It's good name, and one I always
liked.


yes, father; but the-the-curse
of that old


Nonsense, boy! Have you got so
much of the forecastle about you as
to suppose a crazy old woman can
influence the weather, or the fate Of
this craft? 7slz %. ....



No sir, not quite; but @


'Well, well, never minds the butts
now; you just go to sea in the Dart
Junior, and if ever you. catch the old
witch in one of her cruises on broom
stick, crossing your howser, why, just
up helm and run her down


4 finally laughed with my father,
at my own superstitions-not quite
fears, but something very nearly akin
to them-and went to sea insthe new
Dart, making at the Outsetone of the
quickest passages that had ever been
made between London and Madeira.


I continued in command of the
Dart for nearly three years, making
successful voyages, during which time
Ireton remained in the Courier, and
although he had been exceedingly for
tunate, yet be had grown reserved
and melancholy, until he became as
different from what,he was at the time
Alwyu disappeared, as the two young
men had been from each other.


4 had often questioned him res
pectiRg this total change in his char
acter or rather temperament, but he
always evaded my questions, until it
finally leaked out that the eonsuls
clerk had thrown out h nts that as
Isabelita left a large sum in gold and
Jewels on board the Courier and as it
was generally understood that Alwyn
was in love with the beautiful
Portuguese girl, it was just possible
that Captain Ireton knew more Of the
sudden disappearance Of tho maiden
and his friend than he chose to tell
every one.


Now almost everybody that knew
anything about the affair, knew that
the parcels which Isabelita had left
on board the brig we're delivered
unbroken to my father, and by him
deposited with one of the most res
pectable bankers in London for. safe
keeping till an owner should be found
for them, either in the person Of the
maiden herself or some Of her Fela~
tives from Portugal; so thaEsthis re-
port out in circulation by the consa's
clesk, was looked upon only as vile
SANDER. But all our arguments with
Ireton to persuade him to look upon
it in that light were of no avail, and
he was every day growing more moo.
dy and misanthropic, until he became
monomaniac, and my father had
two or three times spoken Of placing
another man in command Of the brig,
considering heton as no longer safe
to trust her with.


'But he was engaged TO be married
to my sister, which rendered it del-
icate matter, and so he was continued
in command Of the brig for nearly 3
year after common prudence would
have dictated his removal,


sAt last my father proposed that
Captain Ireton and my sister should
Be- married Immediately, and that he
should take his wife out to Madeira,
1 hoping thather presence would dissi-
pate habituai gloom that hung
upon him. 01rg q p
! They We Q married and On the
pSssae5 ou, F-tis confessed to bis