The Boy Captain of the Black Swallow — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

8 THE BOY CAPTAIN OF THE *“ BLACK SWALLOW,” Luey was highly vexed and ashamed that he wou'd have the audacity to address her. She bitterly asked herself what she had erred in in her life that one so base as he should dare to seek an alliance with her-—as if he found in her congenial guilt! But when she reflected —for tins idea came to her mind—that Satan tempts even the holiest she was comforted; bat she liked not Talbert Thurrel, neverthe- This refusal of the proffer of Thurrel’s hand had occurred only three days prior to the time when she saw Arthur passing the inn with ine model beneath his arm. She had seen him Jand and approach the inn, and was struck with his: manly air, free tread, and the bold, generous character of his fine countenance. She recognised him at once as the Arthur Den- wood she had seen in her girlhood. She saw Len Bly approach and assail him, and when she heard his reply to him, her generous feelings were instantly enlisted in Arthur's behalf. ‘* Letty, then,” said he, gladly repeating the name, and happy enough to be permitted to address her thus familiarly. “Why did you make a pretty toy like this for your mother and then bring it to Bath ?” she asked, significantly. ‘Nay, now don’t blush so handsomely. You have done a good act, as I know from some words I overheard you say. You have come hither to sell it, Avthur !” “ Yet, it is true.” ‘Then don’t fear to sayso. I know, in these times, money is hard to obtain, and every honest means to gain a little is excusable, and indeed necessary,” * You are very kind.” “Kind for what? I have done nothing.” “But your words are so gentle that it seems like a kindness done me to hear you talk.” “Finely said, Master Arthur. But about your schooner. I suppose you expected to get five dollars for it, so——” “Five dollars! not five shillings. ‘To tell you the truth—for you are so good I ean keep nothing cohcealed from you—l was in hopes by the sale of ii to purchase for my mother a pound of tea, a little snuff, and a few other articles, such as she is much in need of. But now that it is broken, [ must do something else to get the money. But I am by no means sorry that it is ruined, for by it 1 have seen and talked with you.” Letty.coloured with gentle pleasure at hear- ing these words—words spoken with fervour, and from the heart’s depths. She knew by them that he was moved towards, her with kindly—nay, more than kindly emotions, and that the interest she felt for him had awakened a kindred and perhaps lasting sentiment to- wards her in his breast. = +f, § a Glu | ee | CHAPTER IV. THE RESOLUTION. PPA\\HE young and fair innkeeper now blush- T ingly took out a well-filied purse, which she carried in a little embroidered pocket in her coquettish apron, and said, with a gay air, assumed to divert her generous act of all formality or the soberness of mere charity: “Here, Arthur,is a golden sovereign to pay for your schooner, for you see I have resolved to be its purchaser.” ‘‘Tt is not worth a sixpence, Letty. Besides, I would not sell it to you were it uninjured, I will make you a new one, andif you wiil honour me by accepting it, 1 will make you a present of it.” “Well, that is for by-and-by. But TI insist on paying for this now, and giving my own price. So unless you take the money 1 shall be very angry.” “ Angry ?” “Yes. I shall be very angry. Now, if you wish me ever to speak civilly to you again, take the sovereign and I wili take the broken schooner. You know your mother will want her tea and snuff quite as much now as if Ben Fly had not stamped on the model.” Arthur saw through the motive of her generous Offer, and his grateful heart appreci- ated, and deeply felt, the delicacy which dic- tated it. He was too frank and open in his character, too ignorant of duphecity and de- ficient of false pride, to show avy false feeling. “ Letty,’ he said, with emotion, taking her hand In his and pressing it with gratitude, “I understand all your kindness. J will sell you the schooner for my mother’s sake. and take from you this gold; but I will make you a much finer vessel than this--a ship of war—to set over your parlour mantelpiece !” “JT will get some old sailor to repair the schooner, and that shall grace the mantelpiece, Don’t make me anything else. The schooner will be more valuable to me than anything you ean give me beside. It will always remind me of this day.” “It is a day I shall ever remember,” an- swered. Arthur, casting down his eyes as though he feared they would betray tco much to her, For a full minute both stood silent, each look- ing upon the floor. Arthur had nothing to say, for his heart was too full for words. Letty would have spoken to break the silence, which each instant grew more embarrassing and difficult to be broken, but her lips refused utterance. At length she burst ontinto a merry laugh, and said, blushing: “How very social we both are, Master Arthur! When do you come up again to the town ?” “ { will come up every day if you will permit me to see you.” “Well, that depends on your good be- haviour.” “T assure you I shall do nothing to—— “There! don’t look so sober, as if I thought ? ” Comichoo S (©)