Year: 1873

as II they doubted whether they under
stood what l said.


At last the little bird threw her arms
around my neck and cried like baby.


"But," said she, suddenly pausing.
you haven't looked at the letter with
the big red SEAL


Hang it !" exclaimed, 1T had slip
ped my mind entirely"


With a cold, dreadful sensation,
went to my ches: to see where we were.
| found that we had several days remain
ing before we should reach the proper
longitude for opening the letter.


Well there We stood, all three Of US
looking up at the letter as if it could have
spoken to Us. As it happened the sun
was shining full upon the great staring
led seal of the letter. 1 could not help
fancyins it looked something like a big
monster. an ogre's face, grinning from
the middle of the fire it looked hor-
rid.


Gould not one fancy said 1. to make
them laugh, "its great big eyes were
staring out of it's head p
"Ah, my love- said the wife, 1T looks
like Hood"


"Pooh, pooh = said her husband, tax
ing her arm under his, lit looks like a
letter Of invitation to wedding. Come
come, leave the letter alone if it troubles
you so. Let's go to our room and pre-
pare for bed"


And off they went. They went upon
deck and left me with that beast of a
letter. l remember that I kept looking
at it as l smoked my pipe it seemed to
fix its great red eye upon mine, fascinat-
ing like the eye of serpent. 1t was
red, wide, raw, staring Ike the nav Of a
fierce wolf. took my great coat and
hung it over both clock and letter and
went upon deck to finish nv pipe.


We were now in the vicinity of Cape
defVerde Islands-the Belle was run.
ming before a fair wind at the rate of ten
miles an hour. 1t was splendid tropi-
cal night, the stars large and shining
the moon rising above the horizon, as
large as sun Of silver, the line of ocean
parting it, and long streams of bare,
sh:mmer;ng light falling upon the waves,
which, as they broke. sparkled like jew
els i sat upon the deck smoking my
pipe, and looking at them.


All was still. excep: the football of the
officer of the watch, as lie paced the deck
gazing. as | was, upon the shadow of the
vessel, stealing over the silent water.


l love silence and order-I hate noise
and confusion. The lights should all
have been extinguished by this time ;
but when l looked upon the deck l
though. saw little red hue of light
beneath my feet. At another time ald
place this would have made me angry !;
but knowing that the light came from the
cabin of my little deportes. 1 determined
to see what they were about.


had only to look down. could see
into the cabin from the skylight.


The young girl was upon her knees.
she was saying her prayers. A lamp
swinging from the ceiling lighted her
room She had on long white night
dress, and her fair, golden hair aoated
over her shoulders, and almost touched
two little bare feet which were peeping
from under her white dress, so pretty
| turned away but pshaw ! said l, l
am an old sailor What matters it !! So
| stayed.


The husband was sitting upon a little
trunk, his head resting upon his hands,
looking at b er as she prayed. She rails
ed her face to heaven, and l then saw
that her eyes were filled with tears. She
looked like Magdalene. As she rose
he said


"Ah, my sweet Laurette, as we ap-
proach America, l cannot help being
anxious-I do not know why-but l feel
that this voyage has been the happiest
part of our lives"


$50 it seems to me-" she answered.
Il only wish it might last forever"


Suddenly clasping his hands in trans
port of love and affection, he said


"And yet, my little aegel, see you
cry when you say your prayers. and
that Ecannot stand, for / know what
causes it, and then fear you must re-
pent what you have done"


Repent" she said, in sad, rebuking
tone. Repent of having come with You.
Do think because l have been yours
only such a very short time, that should
not love you Was not your wife ?
How can you be sorry that should be
with you, to live with you if you live,
and to die with you if you are to die 7"


The young man began to sigh, strik
ing the floor impatiently with HE feet.
while he kissed repeatedly the little
hand and arm which che was holding
out.


"Ah, Laurette, Laureste +! When l
think if our marriage had been delayed
only FIVE days. that then l should have