Year: 1877

Carleton, and were constantly together
during your fathers business visits to
England. Since hearing of his old
friends death, my father has been un-
able to learn anything of you or your
mother, and it was not until Mrs. Gray
informed me that knew of your double
bereavement. Mr.. Carleton talked SO
fondly of his wife and daughter, that we
grew to feel well acquainted with you and
when my father built the ship of which
have the command, he christened her
Grace Carleton"


$50, after all, Charlie, he continued,
"you are right, you see, and the vessel
was named for Miss Carleton. L am
most thankful" turning to Grace, " for
the accident which compelled me to
stop here, for / have searched vainly in
New York for some tidings of you and
your mother. 1t was my fathers most
especial charge to me-"


Mrs. Gray's countenance was sight
to behold, and after seeing her two
boarders seated on the piazza again, she
went about her household tasks in q
state of unalloyed delight.


"I always knew her ship would come
in safe and sound" she soliloquized,
"and now it has, sure enough; and L
don't need spectacles to see that it will
sail away with her pretty soon. Well, L
shall miss her sadly, but Pm real glad,
too !"


Mrs. Gray would have been still more
convinced of the clearness of her vision
had she known what Captain Ken
bricks wisely suppressed; that his father
and Mr.. Carleton had long ago made an
agreement that when their childred ar
rived at marriageable age they would
bring about meeting between them,
which they fondly hoped might end in
mutual attachment. This plan they
had prudently forborne to mention to
the parties concerned; but after Mr..
Carleton's death, Mr.. Hendricks being
unable to learn the fate of the widow
and daughter of his friend, had confided
the agreement to his son, and begged
him to seek the missing ones.


don't ask anything more" the
father had said. g just see the girl and
her mother, and at least let me know
that they are not in destituton, as 1
very much fear they may be, from the
accounts / hear of Mr.. Carleton's busi-
ness affairs"


1t was whim of the old gentleman to
name the vessel which he placed at his
son IS disposal. "Grace Carleton. u "Who
knowsl" he said. " 1t may lead to your
finding her. L feel as if it would bring
success to your search in some way."-
And, as we have seen, it did.


But all this Capt. Hendricks did not
tell Grace, till after inventing every pos
sible pretext for delaying his departure,
he finally told her another tale and on
her replying that she could not consent
without knowing whether his parents
would approve, he thereupon confidedt to
her the real object of his visit to Amer
lea.


81 knew how it would be, my darling
child" sobbed Mrs. Gray, sand am
glad and thankful; only / can't help
thinking for a minute how lonely shall
be without you. But we must not waste
any time in crying" she added, pres
emily, " for the captain will be back in
two weeks, and you WON'T be ready


Grace smiled, as she thought that her
few preparations would need but little
time. Capt. Hendricks had business in
Boston, and had gone there for two
weeks, when he was to return and car
ry Grace away but first he must needs
give grand party on board his ship, to
which all who had ever even spoken
kind word to Grace were hidden and as
she was universal favorite, this in
cluded almost every one in the little
village. A very grand affair it was, and
every one was delighted, especially the
school children, who, to their astonish-
ment, found everything that their teach
er had ever promised ready for them in
that wonderful ship.


Mrs Gray's heart was gladdened by
many a gift from that same mysterious
vessel, so that, as she gratefully declar-
ed, she had enough to make her rich
all her life, if she lived to the age of
Methuselah. And finally, one lovely
morning there was very quiet wedding
in the village church; a procession of
oldand young to the wharf to see the
last of the fair bride, and still more
firmly-rooted conviction in the minds
of the juveniles of the reality of the fact
that the old saying for once came true.