AN UN FORGOTTEN KIS&
The rain in rattling on the pain, the
bid in BWeepillg by.
Now with diwordunt wbii-k. auou with
melancholy cry.
A lowly man, 1 sit ami rttd beside ihe
dying fire
The daily tale of love ami crime, of greed
sdJ vain desire.
The letters blur and fade, the room grows
dim and disappears.
And in its stead old si-enes come back
across the waste of years;
And set in the frame of golden hair a fair
young face I see.
Whose, two soft eyes of deepest blue look
wistfully on me.
Once, on a memorable eve, when heart
and hope were young,
Those luminous eyes upon my life a sud
den glory flung;
As she was then I see her now, my young,
my only choice.
The brightness on her sunny brow, the
music in her voice.
One question, and but one I ask, then for
an answer wait;
My very heart is motionless, expectant of
its fate!
A wondrous light the light of love glows
in the tender eyes
Her breath is warm upon my face oh,
sweetest of replies!
But bless my heart! The driving rain is
coming in, I fear
Or is that shining little drop upon the page
a tear?
Well, who would think an old grayhead
could be as soft as this,
When more than thirty years have fled
since that fond, foolish kiss?
Chambers' Journal.
INNOCENT OFFENDER.
The doctor, being young and enthu
siastic, had a theory which he believed
he could illustrate and support by mak
ing olrvatious of pupils and the
methods of teaching them. According
ly much of his spare time was spent
at the public school opposite his of
fice. There the neat, blonde doctor, his
eye-glasses often falling and as often
being replaced, would wander, silent
and observant, from room to roani. with
note-book and pencil in hand.
The teachers allowed him to come and
go without remark, and some few aid
ed him intelligently in his work in par
ticular Ms Hintou. a teacher in the
Intermediate department. In her room
he had spent sufficient time to become
somewhat acquainted with the pupils,
so that she, quite naturally, included
him in the conversation which he
found her holding, one midwinter day
at recess, with a slender, sweet-faced
visitor.
"Dortor," said Miss Ilinton, "I must j
Introduce you to Mrs. Hamilton. Mrs.
Hamilton its Richard Hamilton's moth
er." Now Richard was well known to the
doctor as a very trying pupil.
"You will be Interested, I know," con
tinued small, quick, gray-haired, alcrt
i;ed Mis Hintou, "you will be inter
t led in what Mrs. Hamilton tells me.
!..t is willing I shall tell you. I'm sure.
Perhaps you can throw some light on
the case, doctor; I confess I am puz
zled. Mm. Hamilton assures me that
Richard, in preparing his lessons with
her, shows loth quickness and intelli
gence, lie Ls her only child, and is
her companion in her botanizing and
in a course of history readings. And
yet Richard is ranked among the low
est in the class because hi recitations
are vague and unsatisfactory. Besides
that he te daily marked down in de
portment for inattention."
Mrs. Hamilton's fine, sensitive face
flushed, and she spoke in a clear, bell
like voice: "I am quite sure It is not
motherly blindness on my part At
home Richard is both quick in under
standing and In learning Ms lessons.
His father has been so mortified about
the bad school reports that I always
go over the next day's lessons with
Ricbard, and he seldom fails in a reci
tation. And yet he tells me himself,
for he is a very honest boy, that his
recitations at school are all poor. He
eays, too, that he dily fails In deport
ment because of seeming inattention,
though he fries to be attentive."
"That's queer," said the doctor.
"Another thing" said' Mrs. Hamil
ton. " I have noticed that when the
lesson turns on any rule explained at
school, bis memory of It ls always so
fauRy that we have to turn back to
the rule and go over If together."
Miss Mln ton showed much concern.
"What he tells you of his class stand
ing is true," she said, "yet he does
not always seem wilfully inattentive.
I have sometimes noticed him sudden
ly awake from his dreaminess, and give
a reply that startles me by Its clear
ness and accuracy. I cannot account
for it."
"Perhaps It may be diffidence," said
Mrs. Hamilton. "He has been so much
alone with me " But here the ring
ing of a bell Interrupted.
"Ant recess Is over," said Miss Ilin
ton. "Mrs. Hamilton, won't you stay
during a recitation and Judge for your
self r
"Thank yon, I think I will," said
lira. Hamilton, whereupon the doctor
nodded approval, and taking the third
Chair upon the platform, prepared him
self to listen also.
Aa the class of boys filed In, rosy and
breathless from play, Richard Hamil
ton, a slender little lad, with a aensl
tlvs mouth and worried brown eyes,
fare a quick smile of recognition to
ward his mother, and his . usually
dreamy, abaent faoa lighted up with
positive animation.
"He Is not diffident, anyway,"
thought the doctor, who had often no
ticed the cpriacioiwDCM and embarrass
mast displayed by children on the oc
ngjm of parental "-"arts to , their
Klqi Etat&la bef quick, alert
r " u4i tit claw tor a lesson
i . " 'yjtk n talked a
- - , rrir. and nr rouncia
J r ZZM, kt ate gave the
le..n wit1! a Itui'i jro-'s enthusiasm
that Inspired tlo- pupil to (.leasing at
tention. K ii- a while Richard Hamilton sat
erect, with aa air of attention so tense
that It seemed strained, smiling In a
forced, mirthless kind of fashion when
the class smiled. But soon his mother
and the doctor saw his erect form grad
ually relax. His eyes, while still lised
upon Mis Hinton's face, grew absent,
his manner listless.
"And yet," continued Miss Huron,
briskly, "Cornwallis must have had a
reason for his delay in crossing the
Delaware when so much depended on
it. What was it, Richard?"
As, raising her voice at the name.
Miss Ilinton uttered it with decided
emphasis, the little fellow started,
stumbled to his feet, and gave a dazed
look around. Then, meeting his moth
er's anxious gaze, a burning flush
spread over his face.
"I I ," he stammered.
"That blush shows sensitiveness,"
thought the doctor. "The boy is not
stupid nor doltish."
Now Mrs. Hamilton, turning impuls
ively to Miss Ilinton, spoke out iu her
clear, sweet voice: "I am quite sure
that he knows. Miss Hintou, if you will
let him try again. Richard, 1 am sure
you. can tell Miss Ilinton why it was
that Cornwallis delayed In crossing the
Delaware."
The harassed, worried little face in
stantly changed, and was lit up by
beaming intelligence. He turned to
ward his teacher. "Why, yes, I beg
your pardon. Miss Ilinton. You see,
our soldiers Washington ami his forc
es, I should say had taken every boat
they could find at Trenton, and had
moved them up out of the water after
crossing, and Cornwallis, instead of
constructing others at Howe's sugges
tion, waited for the river to freeze,
that his men might cross over oil the
Ice. Meanwhile Washington "
"Very good," said Miss Ilinton, in her
rapid way; "but why did you not an
swer me at first?"
Richard made no reply. His eyes
were fixed on his mother's face, as If
awaiting her glance of approval.
"Answer Miss Ilinton, Richard,"
said his mother. "Did you not hear?"
and she repeated the question.
The br TUt. look fj.:-d. the hunted,
harassed look, that promised shortly
to change to sullen, returned. "I -I
did not know she was talking to me
I didn't quite seem to to under
stand" he faltered, with an appeal
ing hs)k.
The doctor, feeling for his dangling
glasses, nodded his immaculate blonde
head, and fancied he was beginning to
understand. He listened attentively
throughout the history lesson and the
dictated lesson in spelling and senten
ces which followed.
After the written exercises were col
lected and brought up to the desk, the
doctor was seeking Richard's, when the
sound of ihe small boy's worried voice
arrested him. The dot-tor, elevating
his glasses, gazed at the hopeless little
face anew.
"But I did not know you gave us any
written work in grammar to prepare
at home." the boy was explaining. "I
knew you did in composition, and I
heard you say, 'Study the next two
pages in grammar ' "
The doctor, leaning toward Mrs.
Hamilton, pointed to the column of
words down Richard's paper. "The
'order as dictated here from the book,"
he explained, "was 'constrict, consist,
eonstringo, constitute,' and he has just
reversed their order here on his iaper.
Again here, below, where the words
read were 'infallible. Indelible, intelli
gible,' he has done the same thing
again. He has written them from a
memory of their order on the page,
not from the dictation "
A bell again Interrupted, and Miss
Ilinton announced: "As this is the
day for oral review by Professor
Strong, no boy is to take his arith
metic with him." She tapped her bell
for the class to pass out. then turned
to Mrs. Hamilton and said:
"The principal, Professor Strong, as
sembles all the pupils of each grade In
the chapel several times a month to
drill and review them In their work
in numbers."
Richard was among the last in the
line, and as he passed by the platform
his arithmetic wan plaJuly to be seen
tucked under his arm. So Miss Hin
ton's voice rose stern: "Richard Ham
ilton, remain behind the class!"
The boy, tnrning a startled face to
ward the group on the platform, drop
ped out of the line.
"Why have you your book?" she con
tinued; "did you not hear what I said?"
Richard nodded in a hopeless way.
The doctor spoke up quickly: "What
did she say?"
The child swallowed hard several
times before answering,"I I beard
her say 'Professor Strong and arith
metic, and sometimes some of us
forget to take them. and so I
thought she ws reminding us "
the sensitive mouth was trembling, the
little chin quivering.
Hoping to help him recover himself,
his mother laid her hand on his arm,
but that gentle, sympathetic touch end
ed the child's forlorn effort at self
control. He turned and hid his face
on his mother's shoulder and gave way
to the pent-up emotions of months of
failure, punishment and mortification.
With a nod toward mother and teach
er, the doctor laid his finger on his lips,
and drew out his watch. He stepped
behind the boy as he grew quieter, and
gradually advanced the watch nearer
and nearer Richard's ear. Even when
the ticking thing was almost touching
the lobe of the ear, the child gave no
sign of hearing it.
The doctor nodded toward Mrs. Ham
ilton add touched hla own ear signif
icantly. Then, aa Richard's bead mov
ed rWtleasty, exposing the ear until
bow hidden against hM mother's shoul
der, Ale doctor, moving arotrod.brooght
tbt wmti gradnalry mat that ear.
Wfcto M wii at aboat sight tnebaf
distance the b y raised his head hast
i!y. "What are you doing that for?"
he ad;ed, tirvi'ng.
"I am thinking." said the doctor,
"that I shall have to take you over
to my o.'tice ami have a look at you.
Cet your overcoat, my boy, provided
Miss Ilinton will permit."
"By all means-poor little boy," said
Miss Ilinton, sympathetically, and
Richard went out to get his overcoat.
"Mrs. Hamilton, I am convinced
your bright lioy's hearing is defective,"
said the doctor, placing his glasses
astride his nose. "He is partially deaf
and perfectly unconscious that he hears
less than those around him. He has
been following just about one-half that
you say. Miss Ilinton, and guessing at
the rest." ,
"But he hears me perfectly," said
Mrs. Hamilton.
"Madam, your voice is peculiarly res
onant and distinct. You also enunciate
more slowly than Miss Ilinton. And
the difference iu your, estimates of the
little fellow's abilities lies in the fact
that he hears his mother perfectly and
his teacher Imperfectly."
"Why this shocks me." said Mis
Ilinton. "I feel that I've been greatly
t blame. I should have discovered
this. Poor Richard all his school lift
he has been contending against my
seeming injustice as well as his own
partial comprehension of his duties.
No wonder he passed for backward and
inattentive. Strange that he should
Dot have known of his deafness."
"Well, perhaps so," said the doctor,
"but such cases are not unusual. 1
think that a large number of the so
called dull and backward children are
the victims of some unrecognized phys
ical imperfection. I know of a girl
who was thought backward, slow, fret
ful anil peevish she was always com
plaining of headache, too. She turns
out to have been near-sighted and no
one suspected It. Taney the nervous
strain that child has been under all her
school life, trying to see the black
board, for instance. If you will per
mit me, Mrs. Hamilton. I will take
Richard over to my office and have a
look at his ears for my own satisfac
tion; but I advise you to take him to a
first-class specialist at once."
"I will go with him." said Mrs. Ham
ilton, as Richard came in the door.
"Are you ready, Richard?" asked the
doctor, in a conversational tone. The
lad paid no attention, but walked on
to his desk to put his books away.
"Are you ready?" the doctor walked
toward Richard as he spoke.
No answer.
"Ready, Richard?" at about three
feet.
"Yes. sir," and the lad, looking up
in quick response, smiled a good-by
toward Miss Ilinton, then joined the
doctor and his mother, and the three
went out together.
The doctor was right. Richard was
found to be quite deaf, and yet from so
simple a cause that a few weeks of
treatment from a good uurist restored
his hearing to a normal condition.
After that the boy quickly recovered
his cheerful, boyish spirit and fearless
iM'aring.
Indeed, within a few weeks he was
telling his father, whose displeasure
had been one of his hardest trials:
"And. father, it is just wonderful
how easy it all seems to me now, and
how interesting school can le. I won
der why I did not know what the, trou
ble was myself. I can foilow every
word Miss Ilinton says now, and as
for the lecture on 'The Five Senses' the
doctor gave the school yesterday, I
followed him so closely I believe I
can almost repeat It for you. And,
oh, mummy," with a rub of his cheek
against his gentle mother's shoulder,
"it's so good not to be groping in the
dark, any more."
Now the pity of it ls, there are chil
dren in our schools, everywhere, to
day, just as handicapped as Richard
wa.s. How is it with youor yours?
Oeorge Madden Martin, in Youth's
Companion.
Vanity's Penalty.
In a well-known New York hostelry
there is a certain ebon-hued waiter
whose favorite recreation Iu leisure
hours consists of promenading the
"Avenue," attired in as close an imi- j
tation of the prevailing fashion as his
means and state of enlightenment per
mit. A cigar and a smart walking stick
are indispensable adjuncts of his street
toilette.
A guest of the hotel, having become
possessed of a box of perhaps the most
execrable cigars to which match was
ever applied, bestowed them by way of
a "tip" upon the delighted darky.
A few days later, in response to the
donor's friendly inquiry as to their mer
it, the colored dandy replied, with a du
bious shrug:
"Well, sah. you see, sah, dey Is pooty
bad cigars for a fac' but den, sah,"
he added more cheerfully, "I on'v
smokes 'em In de street day looks
mighty swell an' I hopes dey ain't no
lKxly but rrfe s'pects Just how bad dey
is, sah!"
The Very Reaaoo.
Fuddy So Kommuter wants to sell
Ms place out in Switehvllle?
Duddy That cannot lie. He la for
ever cracking It up and telling every
body what a beautiful place It Is;
Fuddy Yes; that la the reason why
I know be wa'nts to dispose of It Boa-,
ton Transcript.
Feasible to the Laat.
Nurse (preparing medicine for le
banker) Will you take thla draught,
air? i
Cashier (feebly) H'm. Can yon be
Identified?-Detroit Free Press.
F.very one needs to be told the plain
truth occasionally, regardleaa of the
hurt, to save him from being ridicu
lous. ;
There are few men wbo can look Im
pressed wben tbafr wives talk a boat
tbtlf economy.
THE CAPTAIN'S LOVE.
NO. I've never been shipwreck
ed, nor been In collision all the
time I've been to eea-a matter
of over forty years. But I've carried
some queer passengers in my time.
I'll tell you about two who exercised
a powerful influence over me; but
whether for good or evil you shall hear
presently.
It was in the fall of lS7- just when
on the eve of failing, that an old gen
tleman stepped on board, and hurried
ly approached inc. He was a tali,
spare man, with iron gray hair, and
had a slight stoop at the shoulders.
"Good day. Captain," said lie. "I
only heard this morning that you were
sailing for the United States, and I
hurried down to ascertain if you could
find accommodation for myself and
daughter at so short notice."
"Certainly," I replied. "I shall be
only too pleased to take you. As it
happens there are only three passen
gers booked this trip, and they are second-class,
so you can have the saloon
pretty much to yourselves."
He thanked me effusively and disap
peared into the saloon. I marveled at
his precipitancy, and wondered where
the daughter was to come from, as she
was not visible anywhere.
1 gave Instructions to the apprentices
to have their luggage conveyed on
board, and myself superintended the
stowing away of their trunks in the
two best appointed cabins iu the ship.
While so engaged I heard ft light foot
full behind me, and, turning round, I
beheld the fairest vision of loveliness
that ever brightened my saloon.
"My daughter Captain Harnott,"
said Mr. Brandon, Introducing us.
I was so taken aback by her exceed
ing beauty that I awkwardly touched
my cap, and. with the wind clean takMi
out of my sails, stammered:
"Clad to see you. Miss."
She placed her soft little white hand
in my big. sun-browned paw, and, look
ing me squarely in the face out of her
laughing blue eyes, said:
Tm sure we shall be good friends,
Captain, during the voyage."
She spoke with a charming coloninl
accent: from that moment I was her
most devoted, humble servant, slave,
anything you like. I went head over
ears Su love with her at first sight. You
may smile, but recollect I was i com
paratively young man then.
Leaving them to arrange their cabins
to their own satisfaction, I ascended
the companion steps and went on deck.
It certainly occupied them a considera
ble time, for neither father nor daugh
ter appeared on deck until the ship was
well outside the "Heads." and the tug
had returned to port.
That voyage I look back upon as the
happiest and saddest I ever made. Miss
Brandon was a splendid sailor. In fair
weather or foul she'd be on deck, de
lighting me with the admiration she ex
pressed for my handsome three-masted
clipper, and the childlike naivete
of her questions. I used to pace the
quarter deck in the morning, Impatient
for her first appearance. On the dull
est or dirtiest day It was like a ray of
sunshine suddenly bursting forth from
a lowering sky to see her emerge from
the companion hatch, looking as fresh
ns a daisy, and a thousand times more
lovely.
Of course, it was only natural that
my mates should fall In love with her
also, but she treated them with mark
ed indifference, if not absolute cold
ness. Her smiles were all reserved
for me, and she lavished them upon
me In no niggardly manner.
There was a piano In the saloon, and
often in the long evenings she would
sing and play for my sole delectation,
while I would sit on a settee alongside
and gaze rapturously Into her pretty
face. The song 1 liked best was 'Tom
Bowling," and she Infused such an
amount of pathos Into her expression
that the tears would sometimes trickle
down my weather-beaten cheeks as she
sang. Ah! those were happy days; it
was heaven while it lasted.
I have scarcely mentioned her father
yet. The fact Is, I was so engrossed
with his beautiful daughter that I
didn't pay so much attention to him
as perhaps I ought. At the best he was
an unsociable sort of person, who
seemed to prefer his own company to
other people's. When not In bis own
cabin, where hen)ent most of his time,
he was walking with his hands clasped
behind him, apparently deepln thought,
In the waist of the ship. Sometimes,
when standing Idly at the break of the
poop, I have caught myself wondering
If he had ever committed a crime, the
remembrance of which was weighing
on his conscience. I was destined soon
to learn more about blm.
One evening, when about nine weeks
out, I was sitting In the cbartbouse
alone with my-ldol. The second mate
was stepping the plank outside, old
Jotiaon was at the wheel away behind
us, and the watch on deck tm loung
ing about forward. Home daya pre
vious to thla I had had. the temerity to
confess my love for her, and asked her
to he my wife. Mia had mad me In
expressibly happy by promising, sub
ject to my obtaining her father's con
sent. Thla, after some demur, ha had
granted, and that nlgr k tha future ap
peared very bright fr me. .
We bad been sitting silent for some
Mm, too happy lor words, faring, on
the setting sua as it disappeared Into a
glowing mass of foUaavrlmssd clouds
on the horizon, when, to my infinite
amazement, she suddenly burst into
tears.
"Darling, what the matter?" 1 ex
claimed n an agony of apprehension.
"Oh, Alfred, I have Jut.t heard such
a dreadful-story from my father. I shall
never lie happy again. We can never
be married now."
"Never be married'." I ejaculated,
aghast. "Why?"
"Because my father is a a criminal,
oh. I feel so miserable. I think I shall
throw myself overboard."
"Alice, for heaven's sake don't talk
like that, or you'll drive me mad. What
lias he done?"
"Something dreadful. Oh, don't
speak to nie any more," and she sobbed
violently.
At that moment I was so mad I felt
half Inclined to go down and tear the
old scarecrow out of his berth by the
scuff of his neck and demand what the
deuce he hail done to cause my darling
such poignant grief. But I didn't. In
stead, I drew her to tny side and kissed
her tears away.
"Tell me all about It," I said, sooth
ingly. "Well, my father, as you are aware,
was an agent in one of the banks In
Arlington, Victoria, and it seems he
embezzled large sums of money belong
ing to the bank to speculate with. Of
course, he meant to replace it before
the audit, when the deficit would have
lieen discovered. But he lost It all, and
that it why he fled the country."
"Is that nil?" said I, with a sigh of
relief. "It's bad enough, certainly, but
I fail to see that In Itself it forms a
sufficient barrier to our union."
"But that Is not the worst. My fath
er is convinced that the polien may
have traced him to Melbourne and to
this ship. He declares he will be ar
rested on landing."
"Nothing more likely," I thought.
SHAM FUNERAL OF
But I asked: "Has he any plan to sug
gest?" "Yes, oh, yes, if you will only assist
him. But It seems too horrible to con
template. He says It Is bis only chance
to escape."
"What Is it. then?"
"That he should die and be burled at
sea !" she responded, with a perceptible
shiver. f
"I don't understand."
"He proposes to feign death. Then,
after he had been sewed up for burial
we must find the means to liberate him
and substitute something else."
The daring audacity of the proposal
fairly took my breath away. If discov-
'IN FAIR WE ATIIKB OB
roi'L sna'n na
OX DECK.
ered, the consequences to me In aiding
and abetting a felon to escape would
he disastrous. I resolved to have noth
ing to do with such a criminal proceed
ing, bat a look of entreaty from those
tearful eyes made me falter In my res
olution. , "For my sake," she murmured, plead
ingly, placing her fair whits hand on
mi arm. . Her tonch thrilled me, I baa-
Ibit. d i;o I. n :-r. bi.t ut " mi llling
coiiM'iit, .h. wlai folly Vil ""' ' "'aa
jti : i i l W hell ill love!
N! diy it wan rein ed thai Bran
don ua wrloiisly led! .,io...ed. 1 took
om the medicine chest, as In duty
iHiuiid, and ordered the cabin stewart
to attend him. Tbr... .lays later Mr.
Brandon was reported dead.
W hen 1 was informed or this I en
tered his cabin. He us lying on thrt
under Ik t tit, pale and motionless as
death. I felt the body; It was cold and
rigid. If this were not death, he simu
lated it to -rfe tion. I sent for the
sailmnkcr. who sewed the lody up In
my presence. When Ids task was com
pleted 1 dismissed him, and. seen ring
the cabin door Inside, with a sharp
knife ripped open the stitches. My
hand shook painfully. What if ho
were really dead?
I confess to experiencing a singular
feeling of relief when the man opened
his eyes, and the resusi itatiil Brandon
sat up. I administered some brandy,
which bellied to revive him. Then he
produced from nn American trunk a
dummy figure whic.l he had previously
prepare! and welg.Ved, and Inclosed It
in the shroud. This he sewed up with
his own hands. Not a word was spoken
by either of us. When all was com
pleted I stepped out to recomioiter.
In the first dog watch of the same
afternoon the bell commenced to toll
Its solemn knell for the funeral of An
thony Brandon. Officers and men and
passengers stood round me with heads
uncovered as I read from the Book of
Common Prayer the beautiful and im
pressive burial service.
After the funeral Brandon returned
to his own cabin, which was kept con
stantly locked, and the key of which
I retn.liM'd in my pirsscwdon. With my
conivanee. Aliv sinughHl food to him
from day to day. Several win-ks after
ward, while proceeding up the Atlantic
coast under all sail, we wen- hailed by
a tug. Anticipating danger. I slijqs'd
down the companion way and convey
ed Brandon to my own cabin for con
cealment. When I went on deck again
I was just In time to see a stout, well
groomed party clambering over the ves
xol's side. Without any preliinina ties
he brusquely demanded:
"Cot a passenger of the name of
Brandon on tswtrd?"
"I had, stranger; I liad."
He gazed at me inquiringly.
"Come Isdow, sir," said I.
As we di'scemh'd he explained that
he was a detective sent In pursuit of
Brandon, who had absconded from
ANTHONY Bit AX DON.
Austral la with a considerable sum of
money and valuable negotiable securi
ties. When he had produced his war
rant, 1 ordered the mate to fetch the
loglxtok. Under date of Jan. 15 lie
read this entry:
"Burled at sea In latitude 3o dTees
49 minutes north, longitude M degrees
10 minutes west, Anthony Brandon,
cabin passenger. Cause of death un
known." When we arrived at the docks at
New York I smuggled Mr. Brandon
ashore In one of his daughter's trunks
after they had been wirched by the
customs officer. No one in the whip
ever suspected the trl.li. Their scciet
remained alone with me.
It was arranged that Alice and I
should be married quietly before set
ting wit on my next voyage, and our
honeymoon was to lie spent on the
bosom of the deep. When we parted
that fright she promised to communi
cate with me when her father had se
cured some quWrt retreat In the coun
try. She kept her promUe. Here la
the letter. I have preserved It all these
yeirs. It has neither superscription
nor signature:
"Dear Old Captain Many, many
thanks for ail your kindnesses. My
husband and I for Mr. Brandon Is my
husband, though It was not known In
the Arlington will never forget them,
Pray forgive the deceit we found It
expedient to practice on you In order to
carry out our plans. We are In fairly
affluent circumstances, for my husband
did not lose the money In speculation,
as I thought It neceasary to tell you.,
Dear Captain, I know I can rely on
you, for your own sake, not to Inform
the authorities about my husband. As
he died st sea, we expect to live secure
ly, unmolested by the bank officials or
the police. Oood-by forever."
And that was the end of my ro
mance. No, I never beard anything
more about them. Whether they lived
to enjoy their Ill-gotten gains or wheth
er they didn't, I annot toll. But this
I do know, aba was the first woman
that ever' footed me, and, by heaven,
she wis tha but I nsrsr gave anotbar
tbs cbanca.
4 j
4V '
V4 Ci
S lib.
A '"'
