Year: 1872

| "iU' "" OOuiu hhi hO IesJluB-plaCe IOr
your poor, weary, aching head, except
among the haunts of the low and vile,
where you found at least some sympathy
from the lost creatures who had half for
gotten memories of similar sorrow. Tell
me, had these things happened to you,
would you have borne them with more cou-
rage than I?'


" Is that your history?" asked the cap
tain, after moments silence.


sit is only a part of it," she replied.
"The worst blow Of all came to me last
night. Throughout the whole, had loved
the man who destroyed me. He had de-
serted me, left me heartlessly to meet the
discovery of my shame alone, but, though
he sailed for distant lands and knew he
would never come back to me, still every
chord of my nature clung to him with de-
spairing devotion such as woman whose
heart has been robbed of all its dearest ties
and racked with a hopeless misery, alone
can feel. Last night heard that he was
dead. She had known it long ago, but the
news came to me with the crushing force of
death-blow. What was left for me then,
but the dark and glistening river, that would
take me upon its soft and yielding bosom
and bear me gently away to my death ?'


She sank into her seat again and leaned
her head weariy against the mantel Cap
tain John, halffrightened at her passionate
eloquence, gazed wonderingly at her for
several moments before he ventured to
speak.


"Poor child - murmured the captain,
softly, as if to himself.


She started at the words and, rising from
her seat, came to his chair and dropped up
on her knees at his feet.


go sir" she cried, " know that you are
my friend. Save me from fate that can
not escape alone. Take me away from this
life that my sin has brought upon me and
give me one chance to become more worthy
of your goodness to me. can work if you
will help me find employment. I will do
anything to deserve your confidence in me,
and to regain any part Of what have lost.
Help me-"


She bowed ner head upon his knee and,
bursting into tears, sobbed as though her
heart would break and Captain John Bur-
rill, with tears in his own honest eyes, pas
sed his great, rough, kindly hand back
wards and forwards sOothingly over the soft
brown hair, and gently whispered to her
words of comfort. Then, bidding her bring
a cricket and sit by his side, he took her
hand in his own, and tried to lead her
thoughts away from her past life and direct
them towards the brighter and more hope
full future. And as she became more quiet
and the peaceful influence of the hickerng
freight enwrapt them both, lie ceased to
speak, lest he should disturb the reverie
into which she had fallen, and needless of
the fight of time, they sat thus before the
glowing GOALS while between them human
sympathy was cementing mute, invisible
bond which future events were destined to
bind more closely about them both. And
thus they were still sitting when the shin
ing fgure-head of Tom Saddler inserted it.
self at the door to inquire as to othenecessty
for more coal upon the fine. Then Captain
Buwill, warned of tho lateness of the hour,
and somewhat abashed at being discovered
thus by his nautical friend, quietly rose to
take his leave.


"You shall have the chance to redeem
yourself, Mary" he said, taking her hand.
81 will do what l can to find work for you
and for the present you can give me no bet
ter proof of your gratitude and sincerity,
than by making this your home and accept
ing and enjoying whatever poor little ar
rangements | may be able to make for your
comfort" l.t ar ..


And now, next to getting married. pro-
viding a means of rescue for Mary Marsh
became the chief concern of Captain Bur
rilPs daily life. Between the houses in
Frankfort street, his ship and the company
Of Marion Marshall, he divided his time
pretty equally. The more he Thought the
matter over, the more strongly he became
convinced chat there was no necessity for
mentioning his interest in the girl to be
his intended wife. A false construction
might be placed upon his relation of the
affair. His frequent visits might be viewed
uncharitably, and on the whole he was not
sure Marion would sympathize with his
feelings in the matter. She was IA proud
girl, and disposed in general to restrain
these little benevolent descents from dig
nifty on the captains part. Therefore
from fear lest his course might oilond,
Captain Burril resolved for the present to
keep his secret to himself Concluded next
! week. uf ra n Yra