Year: 1870

now, anu IelJ Lnab COulu aUOru 10 lauBu
at the whole bloodthirsty pack, who, now
in full cry, were lowering in our wake.
The warps OF the two fully-manned
whale boats were skillfully thrown up to
me, and with those twelve resolute sea-
men on her deck, the Warsaw might bid
defiance to any number of piratical
canoes. The topsails were hointed at once,
and everything trimmed. We closed
rapidly with the other ship, and l soon
had the pleasure of shaking by the hand
my former shipmate, Bsylies, now in COM
rnand of the Calypso and of presenting
my heroic little lieutenant, Jessie.
n a gang of men were spared sufficient
TO work the Warsaw, and together the two
ships bore away for Sydney. Here the
damages were repaired, q crew shipped,
and the consul put me in charge of her to
take her home.


The little Scotch girl, thus left upon the
world, became member of Cur family.
My mother and Maria would have as
sented to any arrangement, II 1 had sug-
gested it; but their whole hearts were en-
listed in the orphans welfare, when they
learned the whole story OF the adventures
which she had shared with me- The
small sum of money found among her
fathers effects was carefully applied





bidding her tender farewell, / left her to
follow up my profession.


made two voyages after this, and at
each return found Jessie all that the
fondest and most careful guardian could
desire. In all respects she was equal, in
some superior, to my sister and, had they
been twins, they could not have loved
each other better.


Jessie was twenty years old at the time
l arrived homo in command of the Green
wich. know not at what particular time
during that voyage I began to think it
was possible that she and might love
each other. I think this feeling came
upon me very gradually. Perhaps 1t may
have been something in the tone of her
letters; for she always wrote to me much
as a sister might write to an elder brother
but her letters, on this voyage, were not
quite 10 affectionAte as at first. There was
little embarrassment in the manner and
style. Yet this was but natural when
reflected upor it. But it must have been
this very change that put me in the way
of rejecting. There was, after all, moth
ing very awkward or anomalous in our
position toward each other. She was
simply member of our family, an adopt.
ed daughter, as it were, of my mother.
But, wishing to support herself, she had
found employment as teacher, and in
sisted upon paying her board. This
had learned from the various letters re-
ceived and, of course, l admired her in
dependent spirit.


kept pondering the matter till 1t
formed the chief subject Of my thoughts
through many long night watch. / did
not know of any other woman whom 1
could love go well--I was only thirty-three,
even though had been a bearded second
mate when abe was wee sprite of q child.
After all, the disparity of age was not so
very great, and perhaps


But could not bear the thought of hay
ing her marry meas perhaps she might,
if asked her-from any feeling of graft
tude or obligation. Though am satisfied
since that l wronged her, even in think
ing she might do so.


She had developed into beautiful
woman when we next met. She was evil
IDENTITY as fond of me as ever, for the tears
came into her eyes at sight of me. But
she did not, of course, rush into mysarms
and kiss me with the old childish abandon.
AL Of which was natural enough, when 1
came to consider upon it.


took occasion very soon after my ar
rival to speak to my sister, alone, about
81
suitor. And perhaps was transparent
enough to betray the interest felt in
Maria's answer. At any rate she looked
at me very roguishly.
"No," said she, "none that know of
1 wish she might have-that is. an &C
copied or an acceptable one. didn't
mean to say that no suitors had applied
only that she had none now"
"Is she so hard to suit, thent" asked.
Every" said Maria. "Yet l think
know a man whom she would not re-
fuse"


"Indeeds Who is the favored one"
"You are the last person who ought
to ask the question. Go look In the
glass;" she added, az she rose to leave
me. -


"But I am too old Maria" This in
spite of having long ago argued myself
| into the belief that was not.


"Too old to look in the glass, do you
mean," asked my sister, innocently
"She doesn't think 3d." misohievously
again.


"Stay" said 1, OBTAINING her, and be,
coming very imperative and serious all al
once. az am your brother, Maria. Dc
not Jest or trifie with my feelings"
"Not for worlds! I" she returned, ever
more seriously than myself had spoken
"Neither with yours, Priam, nor with
hers, for is she not as my twin sister :"
20, the unreasonable inQuisitiveness Of
man To ask a woman how she knows
in a case like this There, let me go
now. But, Priam," added the dear girl
turning back, and striking q tragic atti
tude, "thou canst not say I did itp
OF course couldn't" but thought
might do it myself, on this hint. And
think was hardly happier myself thar
were Maria and our mother, when they
learned that Jessie and l were to sail the
voyage of life together. She doesn'
hand, at Whist particular time she founC
out she loved her old guardian. But WI
beth agree that it is of no great conse
| qrence.