Year: 1874

! long buried in his own heart and almost for
gotten-the bottle! What might have been
the effect of the news upon the girl he loved?
was his next thought.


A few words from the pilot, who boarded
the ship, explained the whole misunderstand-
ing. But in most cases no harm had been
done but such as could be soon repaired.
Though friends had mourned them as dead,
the joy would be greater at the news of their
resurrection, and the novel circumstance would
serve as good joke to be laughed at in years
to come But Winslow, on making inquiries
of the old pilot, learned that which hurled
him at once from happy anticipation to hope
less despair. Jane Athearn had been mar
ried but week before, had closed the eyes of
her father, and had gone away with her hus-
band an orphaned bride.


The news had well-nigh crushed his heart
even as the fond girls had been by the cruel
message which he had so thoughtlessly cast
upon the waters He had so looked forward
to happy meeting-had thought of her al
ways as his good angel and polar-star-had,
in the words of the old seasong, "brought
back her parting kiss as pure as he received
it," and now, to the pain of disappointment
and blighted hope, was added that of remorse
that he owed all this to single reckless act
of his own. Had she proved false to her
VOWS without good cause, he might have borne
it manfully, for his own conscience would
have been clear.


Mechanically he attended to his duties in
working the ship up the channel; but there
was none of his usual spirit in the orders
which he gave to the crew no hearty response
on his part to the joyous greetings which sa'
luted the return Of men risen, as it seemed,
from an ocean grave. An outward bound
ship, all ready for sea, lay moored in the
stream as they passed in.


"She was ready to sail three days ago." re-
marked the pilot; "but her mate was taken
i'll at the eleventh hour, and had to give up the
voyage. She's only waiting now to ship
mate"


"I'Ngo in her." said Winslow, desperately,
eff they'll make me good offer"


"Do you mean that?" asked the pilot"


"Mean it? Yes,' was the dogged reply.
"Id sooner 60 to sea than 60 ashore now


Within an hour it was known at the office
of Messrs Wing & Co. that the second mate
of the Ajax was up for a berth at the shortest
notice. With the highest recommendations
from his captain, he was just the man wanted;
the offer was liberal one, for time was press
ing few hours sufficed to make up all his ar
rangements, and the next mornings sun saw
Reuben Winslow at his post between the
knight-heads of the Mogul, taking her anchor.


A change came over the whole man from
that day-a change for the better, however.
Though the wild exuberance of youthful spir-
its was suppressed, his well-balanced mind
was not one to give way to "green and-yellow
melancholy" Though his fondest hopes had
been wrecked by bottle, he had too much
selfrespect to put in practice the doctrine,
"like cures like" by rushing to the bottle for
relief. He turned deaf ear to the rough,
well.meant consultations of his quarterback
comrades, who often repeated to him the hack
neyed proverb, GAS good fish are left in the
sea as ever were caught" With keen sense
of his own wrong-doing, he lived for atone
ment; the reckless, impulsive boy was lost in
the sedate, thoughtful man.


In devotion to the active duties of his pro-
fession he had no superior. Throughout the
whaling fleet, whether ION Japan" or "otf
Shore" it was we'll known that no more ner-
vous arm or truer lance was to be found than
that of the Mogul's mate And when, by an
accident, he was raised to the supreme COM
mand, no young officer could have been bet
ter fitted for the position. Under his charge,
the voyage was prosecuted to successful end
in three years, and his employers were ready
to start him again, with his choice either of
the same ship or new one.


But new tumult of feeling was stirred
within him by a few words spoken by an old
acquaintance whom he met in Bristol. Jane
Morrison had returned, widow, to her old
home in the neighboring village. He could
give no definite reply to the Aattering propo-
sails of his owners until she had answered one
question for him. With the entire earning of
two good voyages standing due to him, with
health, strength, reputation as an officer, and
the high road to wealth open before him-was
the one great void in his heart to be filled or
not?


Sorrow and toll had written their marks
upon the pleasing features of the young widow,
who sat bending over her work, with bright
little girl of two years playing by her side.
Her union with Captain Morrison had proved
an uncongenial one; and her life, while under
the sway of his arbitrary temper, was little
less than continual martyrdom. But she
had faithfully done her duty to her husband
up to the day of his death, from brain fever.
Bitterly had she regretted the step she had
taken in becoming his wife, and the more so
since the hour when she learned of the safe
arrival of the missing ship, and the departure
of Winslow on another voyage, almost with
out setting his foot on Shore When left, as
she was in destitute circumstances, she had
naturally turned again to the home of her
girlhood, and had since labored early and
late for the support of herself and little So
phia.


She laid aside her work to answer knock
at the door and tall man stood before her,
who apparently made an effort to conceal his
face, as he asked, "Is Mrs. Morrison in ?"


The stranger entered, removed his hat threw
back his overcoat and turned his face full
toward her.


"Jane" said he, in a tremulous voice;
q"


Reuben Winslow" There was touch of
gladness in her tones, as she spoke his name
and offered her hand; then the old regret
came back that he could be nothing to her
now, and the unbidden tears started as she
resumed her seat.


Mamma cry" said the little prattler, climb
ing into her lap.


20, Reuben, that we should meet thus"
she went on. "But thought you were lost;
and if you knew all, you could not blame me
much"


Winslow was puzzled. At finding himself
face to face with her, he knew not how to begin
what he wished to say but here was a new
phase of the matter. "Blame her much"
indeed He had expected if not reproaches,