The Lady of the Aroostook

the wharf at which the Aroostook lay. The expressman civilly offered to take their small parcels without charge, and deliver them with the trunk and large bag; bu

d forth with the motion of the car and threatened to break loose from its hand-straps and dash its bloated bulk to the ground. The old man called out to the conductor to be sure and stop in Scollay's Square, and the people, who had a

the neighborhood to a stand-still by the thoroughness of their inability and confusion. They wandered down the wrong wharf amidst the slime cast up by the fishing craft moored in the dock below, and made their way over heaps of chains and cordage, and through the hand-carts pushed hither and thither with their loads of fish, and so struggled back to the avenue which ran along the top of all the wharves. The water of the docks was of a livid turbidity, which teemed with the gelatinous globes of the sun-fish; and people were rowing about there in pleasure-boats, and sailors on floats were painting the hulls of the black ships. The faces of the men they met were red and sunburned mostly,-not with the sunburn of the fields, but of the sea; these men lurched in their gait with an uncouth heaviness, yet gave them way kindly enough; but certain dull-eyed, frowzy-headed women seemed to push purposely against her grandfather, and one of them swore at Lydia for taking up all the sidew

nt in the shade. I'm almost worn out." She pointed to the open and quiet

trade, "I don't believe but what it would have be'n about as cheap in the end to come down in a hack. But I acted for what I thought was the best. I supposed we'd be'n there before now, and the idea of givin' a dollar for ridin' about ten minutes did seem sin

feet going by, but she did not open her eyes till the feet paused in a hesitating way, and a voice asked her grandfather, in the firm, neat tone which she had heard

that's all. We've been trying to find Lucas Whar

and in which he held a cigar; he put the cigar into his mouth as he turned from them, and the smoke drifted fragra

the building at the base of which they had been sitting. "Why, I might known it by this buildin'! But where's the Aroostook, if

said the girl,

ered the old man, simply. "

she demanded, "to s

pale, as you set there with your head l

mps!" she exclaimed, "sitting here w

th puckered to a whistle, but made no sound, and retired a step or two farther from the building and looked up at it again. Then he went toward the dock and looked down into its turbid waters,

nd shapely, and across his ample waistcoat stretched a gold watch chain; in his left hand he carried a white Panama hat. He was short and stout; his round florid face was full of a sort of prompt kindness; his small blue eyes twinkled under shaggy brows who

ckly from the girl to the old man, and then at their bundles. "Can you tell me where a ship n

uizzical smile, offering one of his stout hands to Lydia's grandfa

if it ain't Captain Jenness! I be'n so turned about, I declare for't, I don't believe I'd ever k

that's natural, too. But we're not going to have any homesickness on the Aroostook, because we're going to make her home to you." At this speech all the girl's gathering forlornness broke in a sob. "That's right!" said Captain Jenness. "Bless you, I've got a girl just about your age up at Deer Isle, myself!" He dropped her hand, and put his arm across her shoulders. "Good land, I know what girls are, I hope! These your things?" He caught up the greater part of them into his capacious hands, and started off down the wharf

the distance to the boat with his eye, and then he bade the men work round outside a schooner which lay near; and jumping on board this vessel, he helped Lydia and her grandfather down, and easily transferred them to the small boat. The men bent to their oars, and pulled swiftly out toward a ship that lay at anchor a little way off. A light breeze crept

ess. "Yes, Miss Blood," said he, "one difference between an American ship and any other sort is dirt. I wish I could take you aboard an English vessel, so you could appreciate the Aroostook. But I guess you don't need it," he added, with a proud satisfaction in his laugh. "The Aroostook ain't in order yet; wait till we've been a few days at sea." The captain swept the deck with a loving eye. It was spacious and handsome, with a stretch of some forty or fifty feet between the house at the stern and the forecastle, which rose considerably higher; a

were four or five narrow doors, which gave into as many tiny state-rooms. The boy came with Lydia's things, and set them inside one of these doors; and when he came out again the captain pushed it open, and called them in. "Here!" said he. "Here's where my girls made themselves at home the last voyage, and I expect you'll find it pretty comfortable. They say you don't feel the motion so much,-I don't know anything about the motion,-and in smooth weather you can have that window open sometimes, and change the air. It's light and it's large. Well, I had it fitted up

than I thought it could be, eve

. "I like your way of speaking up. I wish y

teen," sa

I went to see any of them Spaniards he'd say, 'This house is yours.' Well, that's what I say: This ship is yours as long as you stay in her. And I mean it, and that's more than they did!" Captain Jenness laughed mightily, took some of Lydia's fingers in his left hand and squeezed

on the six o'clock train. My aunt expects him.

ning at it with his head aslant. "Well!" he burst out. "He hasn't got any too much time on his hands." The old ma

id Lydia, anxiously. "And grandfather doesn't know the way bac

thing like resolution, "if I could find a carriage anywheres near that wharf, I'd take it, just as sure! I wouldn't miss th

your grandfather back. I've got to go up town again, any way, for some last things, w

said the ol

tell you what, my little girl," he added, turning to Lydia: "if it'll be a comfort to you to ride up with

e any comfort. I thought that out before I left hom

towards the gangway so as to leave them alo

here's yo

er breath in dismay, "where can

up without I get the trunks. They'd ought to had 'em down here long ago;

l we do?"

aiting palm, the latter endeavored to get them in focus. "What does it say on 'em?" he asked, handing them to Lydia. "My eyes never did amount to anything on shore." She read aloud the name of the express stamped on them. The captain g

ence, suddenly started out of his daze, and following the captain too alertly up the gangw

teously asked, trying to pull up the ha

for,-without I can get it pressed over; an

shape it, while the old man fidgeted anxiously, and protested that he would be sure to be left. It was like a

stood waiting to descend into the small boat. The old man ran towards him

girl in a breaking voice, full

Don't cry, Lyddy, don't cry!" she pressed her face tighter into his withered neck, and tried to muffle her homesick sobs. The sympathies as well as the sensibilities often seem dulled by age. They have both perhaps been wrought upon too much in the course of the years, and can no longer respond to

ther was handed carefully down to a seat by the two sailors in the boat, and the captain noted her resolute counterfeit of cheerfulness. "That's right!" he shouted up to her. "Just like my girls when their mother left 'em. But bless you, they soon got over it, and so'll you. Give way, men,"

keness of a half-shut accordion from which Lydia

t the belated baggage which the latter put off. Then she saw the captain help her grandfather to the seat between himself and the driver, and the wagon rattle