Jll'il '""
HU! Ill IpPp 'w
fife' llfl flit.
'31. JBilUPa ju-ju nr :OEW xvx
w "...
Fit A XK MOKTIMEIi,
Editor and Proprietor.
( Terms: IN
AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER.
cr Ycnr.
Vol. "V
IVoav Bloomfichl, J?ii., ITnoHcljry, October lO. 1871.
Wo. 11.
Js Published Weekly,
At New IJlooinflcId, renn'a.
J1Y
FRANK MORTIMER.
SUURCniPTION TKKMS.
l.VJ f 1 10 It A' 10 A. II !
75 Cents for G Months ; 40 Cents
for 3 Months,
IN ADVANCE.
nnnnninmiMHBiBHnHnnMran
Miss Foster's Lovers.
A Story of Circumstantial Evidence.
4 IiTIIOUGII still young, I had already
J.X. followed the occupation of a seagoing
engineer for several years, when in 18 , I
joined the Charles Edward ns "chief."
Sho was a new screw clipper, and had been
chartered by a party of nieichants who
wero going to mako the exporimont of
bringing in the early teas by steam. Wo
wero bound for Hong Kong with n general
cargo ; on discharging which we wore to
trade in tho Chinese waters till the new
teas were ready, when wo wero to tako in a
full cargo and mako tho run homo with all
possible Sliced. As wo carried four engi
neers, I had no watch to take ; but as en
gines, liko men, havo thosr individual pe
culiarities peculiarities with which it be
hooves a "chief" to ho acquainted I was
fully engaged in tho engino-room for tho
first threo or four days after wo left Liver
pool. By tho fifth day, I had got every
thing "shipshape," and in the afternoon
was taking a leisurely turn on deck with
tho captain, who was an old shipmate. Our
conversation at first turned upon matters
relating to the navigation of tho ship and
tho probable duration of tho voyago ;
and from these, by an oasy transition, wo
came to the crew.
"And who is that young swell?" I asked,
nodding towards a young fellow 1 had oc
casionally seen chatting with tho sailors,
and who, as he was dressed . as a landsman
I supposed was a friend of tho owners, or
making the run out with us as a passenger.
"Our supercargo," answered the captain.
"Supercargo !" I echoed in surprise, as
1 glanced at his fine clothes and soft white
hands.' " Well, I - should think that at
some time he had a much better berth."
" Well, I believe this is tho first berth ho
has ever had in tho way of work," said the
captain. " lie was brought up to spend
money, not to earn it, and considering that
such was tho caso, ho takes to the work
very kindly. It's a common story enough
now a-days," ho continued, seeing that 1
was interested. " Ilia father commenced
lifo as a shop boy, got on, turned specula
tor on a large scale, made a great deal . of
money, and was supposed to havo made
still moro. ' Having made a fortune, ho at
tempted to mako a social position by sheer
dint of ostentatious expenditure, and an
nounced that he was determined to mako a
gentleman of his son. Finally, in his old
ago, he over-sicculated, and died within a
mouth of tho time when the fact of his
being a bankrupt could no longer have been
concealed. When his affairs were over
hauled, some small pittance was saved from
the wreck, and in order that it might tho
better support his mother and sister, this
young fellow more honor to hiin for it !
determined to look out for employment. As.
ho wished first to clear right away from
his old associates, ho applied to one of our
charter party for his present berth ; and so,
here he is, and all things considered, a flue
young fellow. I proraisod to keep a
friendly eye on him," concluded , tho cap
tain, as I was about to return to the engino
room ; "but, you know, I cannot very
well bo hobnohbiug with him on board, and
as he knows no one else in the ship, I
should.be glad if you'd make friends with
him. You will find him a capital fellow."
As Harry Wallworth for that I found
was our supercargo's name was of a
frank cheery disposition, thero was no dif
ficulty In making friends with him j and
during the run he and I became quite . inti
mate, while bis pleasant manner and good'
humored conversation made him a favorite
with all on board. -
We reached Hong Kong in eighty-five
days; and having discharged our cargo,
commenced running In the Chinese waters
till the pew teas were ready, when we put
into Foo-Chow-Foo, and having taken in a
full shipment started on our homeward
voyage. " ' ' " ' : . : c
We were under steam during a groat part
of tho run home, and much of my time was
consequently passed in tho engine room.
Hut though I had now few opportunities of
conversation with Wallworth for any length
of time togcthor, I noticed that ho appear
ed to bo gloomy nnd anxious, and that his
uneasiness of mind seemed to increase as
wo approached home.
One evening, whon wo were within a few
days' sail of tho English coast, I went upon
deck and found him walking about in tho
abstracted mood that had now becomo ha
bitual to him. After watching him a few
minutes, I joined him in his promenade,
and began to rally him about his absent
manner ; but, as was always tho caso when
spoken to on tho subject, ho by an e libi t
threw off all appearance of uneasiness, and
rastled away in his former lively stylo.
Dcspito his efforts, however, to appear at
case, he soon relapsed into silenco, and
seemed to be scarcely conscious that I was
accompanying hiin. Finding that his si
lent fit was likely to last, I left him. Early
on tho following morning ho canio into my
berth, saying that ho had conio thus early
to apologizo for his apparent want of cour
tesy on tho preceding evening.
"Don't mention it, my dear fellow," I
said ; " it is I who ought to apologizo for
intrud ing upon you when your mind was
so evidently preoccupied."
" Well, at the time you spoko to mo,
Will," he answered, "I was thinking deep
ly upon a subject that, though a very ordi
nary one in itself, is at present, owing to
attendant circumstances, a very painful ono
to mo."
" Well, Harry, I have no wish to pry in
to your secrets, " I said, "but may I ask
if it is anything that has occurred on board
that has caused you to bo so thoughtful of
lato, for during tho run put you wero hap
py ond light-hearted enough." ,' ,
"Ono," ho replied; "tho subject on
which I was thinking has not tho remotest
connection with tho ship or any ono on
board of her. Tho fact of tho matter is,"
continued Wallworth after a pause, and
speaking abruptly, " it's tho old, old story.
I'm in lovo, and as I can see no prospect of
tho course of my lovo ever running smooth
I'm miserable. If it wont be a bore to you
to listen to my private afl'aus," ho rosuined
before I could sjieak' " I'll explain my po
sition to you. . I feel, that it would be a re
lief to my mind to tell it to some, friond,
and besides, you will perhaps ' be able ' to
give mo some advico." . .. ; ;;
I replied that if I could OsssUt him by
advice, or any other moans in my power, I
should be happy to do so. In a low hur
ried tone, he commenced to tell tho story
of his love. Briefly put, it was to the ef
fect that ho was engaged to a Miss Foster
the only daughter of a Liverpool morchant.
At tho time the engagement was made ho
was considered a good match for her but his
altered circumstances making a material
difference, he had offered to release her from
the engagement. To this she replied, that he
did her an injustice if ho supposed that the
change in his fortunes could make hor de
sirous of being freed from horengagement,
and that she would wait for him until he
could make such a position for himself as to
justify him in marrying a girl who, though
undomesticated and rather extravagantly
brought up, would, for his sako,' do all in
hor power to amend hor faults. '
"Well, Wallworth,'' I said, whon ho
had got thus far, " I seo nothing in this to
bo miserable about. I think tho young
lady spoko in a mannor honorable to her
self and encouraging to you." ' ,
" It is not what sho said that makes mo
miserable," ho answered. " She spoke like
the noble-hearted girl sho is. It's what I
said myself that causes my anxiety. I
spoke as if I was quite certain of realizing
a fortune in a few years, and that may
have had the effect in inducingher tospoak
as she did. But you know that, practical
ly speaking, the making of a fortune is an
extremely difficult affair ; and even if it is
accomplished, it generally requires many
years of patient toil to do it. I can hardly
expect a beautiful girl one who is constant
ly sought after by men of wealth and po
sitionto waste the best years of hor life
in waiting a contingency that must at the
best be distant, and is at present a very
doubtful one. In short, Will," he said,
rising from the box on which ho had been
seated, and speaking . moro passionately
than he iiad hitherto dono, " I think that I
shall lose her, and the thought of it makes
me wrotched and unhappy.','
' In this frame of mind he continued . to
the end of the Voyage, all my efforts to
show him that ho took an unnecessarily
despondent view of his position proving in
vain. . ' '
We reached Liverpool after a quick run,
and wero scarcely docked, when tho agent
of the owners camo on board and informed
tho ship's company that, as Boon ns our
cargo was discharged and another, then
ready for shipping, taken in, tho Charles
Edward would start on a trip to Bermuda
and back, and thoso of the crew who
would liko to do so could " take on" again.
Wallworth, who, in common with tho rest
of us, had supposed that wo should be paid
off and tho ship laid up for an indefinite pe
riod, had already determined to look out
for somothing on shore, but on hearing
this he was irresolute as to whether or not
ho should mako tho second run with us.
Finally, however, it was arranged that his
berth Bhould be kept open for his acceptance
to within two or threo days of tho timo
for sailing.
Wo had got into port on a Monday
morning, and during tho wholo of that day
Wallworth was engaged in the offices of
tho firm to whom our cargo was consigned ;
so that, till the next day, ho had no oppor
tunity of calling on tho tho Fosters, who
resided in a handsome villa a short dis
tance from tho town. On tho Tuesday
morning ho loft tho ship in tho best of
spirits, at tho prospect of seeing " Bella,"
about whom he had been talking most
rapturously the previous evening, having
effectually banished tho melancholy and
gloom which had affected him during tho
latter part of our homeward voyage. But
alas for human happiness! In tho evening
ho camo on hoard again a disappointed
man. Coming straight to the engine-room,
in which I happened to ho alono at tho
timo, ho abruptly exclaimed:
"The old story, Will
" 'Gold thrives more In a single hour
Than love In seven long years.' "
There's a fellow there, a flourishing hill-
discounter, who, if he is not already the
accepted lover of my truo lovo, has evident
ly only to speak to be so."
" I should hardly think that things had
como to that pass during tho short timo
you havo been away," I said, Boothingly ;
perhaps you havo misunderstood or taken
a wrong viow of something you have Been
or heard."
"No I haven't," ho replied toBtily.
"When I was shown in, this fellow was
seated beside her. After rising foi a min
ute to rccoivo mo in a stately manner, she
returned to his sido ; and as my presenco
was almost entirely ignored, I soon came
away."
Nothing further was said respecting his
reception by Bella ; but after his first in
dignant outbuist ho seemed anxious to
change tho conversation to other subjects,
while ho spoko with an affectation of gay
oty greatly at variance with' tho real state
of his feelings. While wo were talking,
tho captain entered the engine-room, and
Wallworth at once informed him that ho
would go with us on our next voyage.
" For you seo," he said, when the cap
tain had gone, "so far as I 'am concerned,
I like a seafaring life, and I have now Do
motivo for staying on shore, not being in
any particular hurry for a better position
than my present ono." '' .
On tho following afternoon,' Walhvorth
was informed that a gentleman was on
board inquiring for him, and on going on
deck ho found it was the fair but faithless
Bella's father, to whom ho introduced me.
Mr. Foster, a fine-looking iniddlo-agod man,
with a pleasant countenance and a cheery
manner, had evidently a warm personol re
gard for Wallworth, whatovor he might
think of the engagement with his daughter.
Wallworth was at first inclined to bo
sulky ; but Mr. Foster, who prohobly guess
ed how things had gono on the previous
day, would not notice his ill-humor, and
Harry was soon restored to good-temper.
Mr. Foster having laughingly told us of the
difficulties ho had exierienced in getting
on board the Charles Edward, Wallworth
and I accompanied hiin on shore. As we
were parting from him outside the docks,
he said t . '
" By tho way, Harry, wo have a little
party at our place on Friday; you'll come,
of course, and if Mr. Johnstono has no
other engagement I shall bo happy to see
him with yon." ' .
The invitation having been accepted af
ter a little hesitation, wo returned to the
ship. ,.;, i
Mr. Foster's littlo party turned out to be
a ball- We arrived just as the first dance
was finished, and found a tolerably large
number assembled, among whom were sev.
eral young ladies ; but with the glowing de
scriptlon of Miss Foster' beauty, which
Wallworth had given me during his love-fit
on the previous Monday' night, I had no
difficulty in alnglctug her out. On seeing
Wallworth she advanced toward him, and
as I had no wish to appear in the charaetor
of tho proverbial third person who makes
threo no company, I turned off to speak to
Mr. foster, who was standing near. Not
withstanding my charitable design to leave
tho lovers in such privacy as tho circum
stances would admit of, I was compelled,
owing to tho comparatively loud tone in
which they spoke, to overhear much of
their conversation.
" Well, Harry, how aro yon this even
ing?" said tho young lady, offering him
her hand as she spoke.
" I nm quite well, thank you," he replied
coldly, nnd affecting not to sco her proffer
ed hand. "I trust you aro well."
"Perfoctly well," answered she, speaking
with a contemptuous coldness that con
trasted harshly with tho sweet cheery tono
in which she had first addressed him.
At this point the conversation seemed
likely to terminate ; but after a somewhat
lengthy pause, Wallworth, in a low, sneer
ing tone, asked, "How is Mr, Marlow?"
"Ho was quite well when I parted from
him last night," sho answered; "by tho
way, hero is Mr. Marlow," she added, indi
cating by a glance a lumbcrsome, coarse-
featured, and heavy-bejewelled young man
who at that moment entered tho room,
" and as I want to speak to him particular
ly, I must leavo you."
Whereupon, with a supremely indiffer
ent air, she did leavo him, and joining tho
gold and gem-bedecked Mr. Marlow, was
presently engaged in a conversation which,
to judgo from her frequent smilo and ani
mated manner, appeared to bo of a lively
character.
While they wore still together, Mr. Fos
ter introduced mo to his daughter, adding
to tho usual form of introduction, that I
had been Harry's guide, philosopher and
friend during his maiden voyago. This
piece of information, though givon with a
kind intention, had by no moans the " de
sired effect." The mannor of my recep
tion was so excruciatingly civil as to bo de
cidedly unpleasant ; but as I ' had a great
desire to learn something concerning the
disposition of tho girl about whom I had
heard so much during the last fow days, I
affected not to notice the coolness with
which I had boon received. Finding that
I did not leavo hor, as sho had : probably
anticipated I Bhould do when the ordinary
civilities of ah introduction had passed be
tween us, sho motioned me to a vacant
chair beside the couch on which sho was
seated, and aftor making tho necessary In
troduction between Mr. Marlow and my
Bclf, entered Into conversation with the
former. I had expected to find Mr. Mar
low possessed of conversational powers tho
brilliancy of which' would mako a young
lady indifferent to his rather ropellant per
gonal appearance ; but I was astonished to
find ho was insufferably dull and stupid,
and that eithor he could not or would not
converse upon any topic but business. Out
of tho domain of tho "money article. " I
found it impossible to lead him, though I
made several attempts to do so, in ordor to
relievo tho visiblb erabrrnssmcnt of Miss
Foster, who saw that I had done her
tho justice of concluding that hor ap
parent gayety had been put on for tho
purpose of annoying Wallworth. , Tho
haughty roscrvo with which sho had receiv
ed me soon gavo way to tho natural amia
bility of her disposition, more especially as
I appeared to bo endeavoring to save her
from tho dlsagrceablo necessity of favoring
Mr. Marlow with hor views, regarding the
failure of Broker & Co., the rise in gold,'
and other stock exchange matters.
For a timo wo conversed upon a variety
of common-place topics, on which, howev
er, as they had no special bearing upon
tr ado, Mr. Marlow was unahlo to say any
thing. After ono or two attempts on his
part to ro-introduce business as a subject of
conversation had boen "put down" by
Miss Foster, lie relapsed into a sullen si
lenco, and shortly aftor left us to go into
an adjoining apartment, which had been
laid out as a card-room.
Our conversation now turned on tho sub
ject of my late voyago, ond the friendship
contracted between Harry Wallworth and
myself, and though nothing pointed was
said in referenco to Harry's conduct . since
his return from sea, I discovered that he
had, as lovers occasionally will do, ," made
a fool of himself, "j by entertaluing a
jealousy which had no real cause
After supper, not noticing Wallworth
among the d'weors, I presently went, into
the card-room, and to my. surprise found
him playing in the same set as M allow.
They were playing for Borne trifling stakes,
" merely by way of giving interest to the
game ;" and Harry, who had lost several
times in succession, was evidently irritated
by the swaggering manner in which Mar
low swept his winnings to a small pilo of
silver that lay at his elbow. At tho con
clusion of tho first hand that I saw played,
one of tho by-standers, pointing to a half
crown in Marlow's heap, observed :
" Tliero nro some figures on that which
will only show when you are looking at it
in a particular direction."
Tli is led to an examination of tho coin,
and it was then found that whon looked at
closely it was almost impossible to perceive
any marks upon it, but when placed in a
certain light a number of minuto lines, ap
parently making up some regular design,
becamo visible, and on a magnifying glass
being brought, those linos wero found to
bo a microscopic engraving of a hand hold
ing a pen, and surrounded by tho motto,
"I perpetuate."
"111 give you another half-crown for it."
said Wallworth, who was highly pleased
with this specimen of tho graver's art, and
who during tho interruption to tho card
playing, had been restored to something
liko his usual good-humor.
"No you wont," said Marlow, placing
tho coin in his pocket.
Wallworth mado no reply ; but seeing
that ho was greatly enraged by Marlow's
insulting tono, and as they were about to
resume their play, I whispored :
"Bo a good fellow, Harry, ami keep
your temper."
"I'll try," ho whispered back; "but I
should liko to give him a good thrashing
for nil that."
"I've no doubt you would," I said in
tho same low tone; "but as you cannot, in
your present circumstances, indulge in your
liking, try to curb yourself, nnd don't givo
him tho satisfaction of seeing that he can
annoy you."
Harry was about to say something in re
ply when wo weio startled by Marlow
throwing his cards on tho tablo and in a
fierce tono exclaiming:
"Como, we are not going to have any
confederates or cheating here."
For a momont Wallworth gazed at the
speaker in speechless Indignation, and then,
slowly rising and putting back his chair,
answered, in a tono tho lowuoss of which
only intensified its concentrated passion:
"That'll do; but mark me, you cur, if it
wero not for violating tho hospitality of tho
roof under which you are, I would chastise
you in such a mannor that you should re
member your insolence the longest day you
livo."
Though evidently frightened by iWall
worth's threatening tono and attitude,
Marlow affected to treat tho matter lightly,
and doubtless emboldened by the allusion
to bis being the guest of Mr. Foster and tho
presence of other visitors oven continued
his insulting language
"It's all very fine to talk about chastis
ing people," ho said, "but cheats are gen
erally bullies, and bullies aro always cow
ards." ,. .
. If be relied on tho checks spoken of to
restrain Wallworth from resenting this last
insult by violence, ho miscalculated their
strength ; for almost before ho had finished
speaking, Wallworth sprang at him and
levelled him by a crushing blow. When
the gentleman in the room had recovered
from the inaction of surprise,' they stepped
in to prevont further violence. But re
straint was no longer necessary, Wall
worth's superabundant passion having
found vent in the fierce though brief phys
ical exertion he had undergone.
" I require no watching now, gentlemen,"
ho said. " I shall ta ke no further uotico
of that fellow at present. I am very much
ashamed of myself for having allowed his
taunts to cause mo to so far forget tho
respect due to our host and yourselves as to
have acted in tho manner I have doue ;
bnt," he added, an angry Hush again suf
fusing his countenance, " the first time I
meet him whore I may give him the thrash
ing he dosorves, I will make him repent
his insults." .
An appearance of order was soon restored ;
but real enjoyment was at an end, and as
it was past midnight, I was juBt about to
ask Wallworth to at once accompany me to
our lodgings, when Mr. Foster came to tell
mo that a man from the Charles Edward
wished to see me immediately. .
On going into the hall I found ono of tho
firemen, who had been sent by our third
engineer to Inform mo that the men en
gaged in making some alterations In our
engines, and who were working at them
night aud day, would be ready at four
o'clock that morning to put in a certain