The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 08, 8 October 1908, Page 3

The Storyteller

MAID MARIAN

Never shall I forget that" day of the twelfth of July, in the year of our Lord 1704, and the adventures which then befe.ll. I had taken passage on a homeward-bound vessel, the Phoenix, Captain Stolton, master, having with me my daughter, Marian. This latter had been finishing her education with the Cloistered Ladies outside of Dublin, and was now looking forward with pleasurable anticipations to life in Manhattan, where, being motherless, she was to preside over my household, which was situated' at that time upon Wall street. Our voyage was, for the most part, of the most agreeable character, and we were fortimate in having on board three gentlemen passengers, the younger of whom, Mr. Philip French, was of a more particular interest. From the very outset he distinguished my daughter by attentions which under other circumstances than those offered by our restricted life on shipboard I had deemed too personal. Not that there was any objection to the young gentleman, who came of an honorable family, long established in the colonies of New Netherlands, and who was of a pleasing person, a handsome and open countenance, and a manly bearing. He had, moreover, the signal advantage, rare enough among persons of our own quality in those days in New York, to be of the Catholic faith. My reasons, then, for regarding with disfavor his unremitting attentions to my daughter were her extreme youth, being barely turned eighteen, and the hope that I had cherished of keeping her with me for some, time longer to preside over my establishment. To return to my story— that is to say, of what befell ,uporr. that twelfth day of July, with a high sea running and a wind blowing sharply from the north. We were standing alongside of Sandy Hook, hoping for the speedy termination of our five weeks' voyage, when our ship's master caught sight of acraft which he took to be an outward-bound vessel under Ehg-^ Hsh colors, and so at the first felt but little anxiety. Nevertheless, there wore points about the vessel, or, as they termed it in nautical phraseology, about ' the cut of her jib,' which awakened apprehensions in certain old sea-dogs among the crew, and these they made bold to communicate to the captain. He being open-minded and of excellent judgment, so far heeded their warnings as to head his vessel shorewards, hoping to run her in upon that low strip of sand which was called 'the Hook.' No sooner had the strange craft become* aware of his design than she sent two shots whizzing over the water. I confess that this was far from being an agreeable surprise to me, I being too advanced in years to desire adventure, even if my mind had ever run in that direction. Moreover, I had to consider my motherless girl and the dreadful straits to which she might be reduced in the event of our capture by this vessel, or of the loss of my own life. While I- was revolving in my mind as to what course I should pursue, I espied Marian herself coming up the companion ladder wrapped in a tarpaulin, with a seaman's cap drawn down over her curls. Her eyes— such beautiful eyes they were— gleamed with mischief; her complexion was fresh and rosy from the salt air, and she made a bewitching picture in that uncouth attire, which at another time I should have held to be something unbecoming. -. But this was not a moment for over-niceness in such details. Immediately in her wake came our gallant young colonial, and even in my actual perplexity and suspense I "could not choose but regard ; him as a fine specimen of manhood and no mean protector for any damsel in the emergency that was like to confront us. The other two passengers on board, who were of middle age and of the unadventurous merchant class, displayed visible uneasiness at the present juncture. Together we all stood while the captain conferred with his first officer, and orders were given, -sharp and imperative, whereat the seamen "ran hither and • thither, climbing into the shrouds, putting on all sail with much .creaking, and straining of ropes. The wind continued to blow in , short, sharp gusts, which would have been most grateful to .-relieve the .fiery heat of that July day had it not hindered our progress shorewards. . . . My" daughter's eyes sparkled with interest, and the pinkcolor "in her cheeks - was rather heightened than abated 'by the perils of the- hour.- Philip French was likewise unconcerned, exchanging- merry jests and quips with her^ whom he had" elected to call ' Maid Marian,' because of her fancy for a kirtle of Lincoln green which she had very commonly worn during the voyage. This badinage was varied by occasional glances of

tenderness which I perceived the young gentleman to exchange with my little one and a murmured word or two which were not meant for my old ears. I also was aware that the youth cast frojn time to time a keen glance in the direction of that vessel which had already given us abundant food for distrust. While we stood thus, my alarm and anxiety grew with every moment, as I recounted in my own mind all those harrowing tales of privateers and. pirates, and other evil-disposed searovers, which made the lives of seafaring folk at that period a continual menace. The captain, though plainly anxious, strove to put a good face upon the matter, declaring that no privateer, howsoever audacious, would venture to attack a vessel almost within hail of New York. But even as he spoke he was apprised by the lookout that some one was signalling from shore. We all made a forward movement to the ship's side, gazing in the direction indicated. Our young gentleman, Philip French, levelled a pair of powerful glasses, which, after having taken a look, he handed to me without a word. I beheld a figure outlined against the ragged sky, that had grown dark in the interim. The figure seemed disproportionately tall as it danced to and fro, to and fro, waving a white cloth, and having so wild and uncanny an appearance that one was led to suspect a supernatural apparition. Our captain, however, understood, though in what manner I know not, that he was being warned against the strange vessel as a most dangerous privateer, which he must seek to avoid. ' I knew it for a Frenchman,' burst forth an old salt, who was leaning over the rail, his weather-beaten countenance screwed up into innumerable wrinkles, and his bleared eyes gazing out over the water, ' and that's what I sez, from the minit I clapped eyes on yonder craft. ' And,' put in a younger man who swung in the shrouds beside him, ' she is like enough now to send us to Davy Jones, or tow us after her for a prize.' To which he added an oath which need not here be set down. I will confess that I trembled from head to foot as I overheard a remark that fitted in 'so precisely with my own surmises. Every countenance was overshadowed by the gravity of the hour, though Mr. French strove to keep up a light heart and to support my daughter's courage. As our captain and crew bent to the work of running us ashore, the strange ship, standing toward us at a moderate rate of speed, suddenly senf a shot which fell harmlessly into the brine, followed 'by a second that slightly grazed our side. It was evident that she stcove rather to alarm than to injure us, since no doubt it was her hope to take the Phcenix intact as a prize. Endeavoring to conceal my fears, I stood conversing with the two merchants, who were at no pains to hide their dismay. They openly bewailed the impending loss of their merchandise, having on board one hundred pipes of fine Canary brandy, fifty pipes of palm wine, a dozen bales of rich silk, and the like; and to their lamentations I made answer : ' Such losses, gentlemen, be indeed deplorable, but infinitely preferable to the loss of our lives or our personal liberty.' I perceived at this juncture that Philip had left my daughter's side and stood in close colloquy with the captain. I strained my ears to catch the matter of their discourse, which was presently borne to me by a sharp gust of wind. 'There is but one course for you to pursue,' the young man was saying, ' and that is to lower the ship's boat, so that the young lady and her father,, with yonder gentlemen, may be carried ashore, if they be so minded. For myself, I will most readily remain to abide by the ship's fortunes, and peradventure, to render some .assistance. ' These latter words, as I could see, had reached my daughter, who became of a deadly pallor, with a nervous clasping of her hands. I felt of a sudden old and weary, so fully was it borne in upon me that those two young things thenceforward belonged to each other, and that I should but be the spectator whatsoever might betide. The captain .made some demur to these proposals, declaring that he could not leave the brigantine short-handed when a fight was imminent. But the younger man, strong-willed and of a temper that is most certain in all .circumstances to dominate, finally prevailed. He represented that it was the master's first duty to place in safety those passengers who were entrusted to his care, and especially that one of the gentler sex who might be in the most imminent peril. Meantime the situation grew each instant more alarming, the storm that had been, hovering about the north-eastern heavens crept momentarily nearer, and darkness was approaching. There was not an instantto be lost. The- boat was lowered, .and at the urgent insistence of my daughter, the - elderly merchants

were lowered first. She would have had me descend next, but that -I stoutly refused to stir from the deck until she was in safety. What a look was that which I beheld upon her face, and I likewise heard Philip's whispered words, as he held her hand, the whichvhe only relinquished when she had descended several rungs of the ladder and was received by two stout mariners. 'At worst,' he said, ' our parting will be but for a brief space, Maid Marian.' -To which the girl responded faintly : ' Pray Heaven that it may be so.' Once my daughter was seated in the boat I made ready to follow her, and as for my child's sake appeared best. The descent was sufficiently perilous for one of my build, and the waves rose angrily as the little craft tossed upon their crest. I cast a longing look backwards, toward where Philip stood beside the master. Sore was my heart, for I had learned to value the lad, and his courage and manly bearing would have been as a sheet anchor in the difficulties by which we were confronted. And, moreover, there was my daughter, who, I knew, was greatly perturbed for his safety. But the seamen who accompanied U5 had declared that the boat was heavy enough in such a sea, since but two of them could be spared to convey us shorewards, and Philip had passed his word to remain and lend such assistance as he might to the captain. The mariners set to their oars, and presently we were as a speck upon those angry waters, being propelled shorewards Jby all the strength of their sinewy arms. I caught a last glance, in the gathering darkness, of the gallant figure of Philip erect beside the captain, his curled periwig flowing in the breeze,' and a smile upon his lips, as he waved his hat in farewell. My daughter, meanwhile, sat still as death, her face ashen pale, her eyes fixed upon the vanishing brigantine. As for the merchants, they did but bewail the loss of their fine wines and rich silks, which would of a certainty go to enrich the coffers of the Frenchman, so that at length I was moved to reproach them with such manifest ingratitude to a watchful Providence who had saved us from a worse fate. And in truth we had presently ample cause for anxiety as to our bodily safety. Both wind and wave were against us, the light had all but faded from the sky, and the booming of the surge on the store made us tremble for the possibility of reaching there. This, however, we. did through the mercy of God and the protection of His heavenly Mother, which my little girl did not cease to invoke for us and those left behind, from the time of our leaving the vessel. She even prevailed upon me to join with her in reciting aloud the prayers of the Rosary, despite the amazement of our companions and the seamen, who were of the Calvinistic persuasion. > It was many a day before we had tidings of the good ship Phoenix or of those whom we had left therein. Rumors of many sorts in truth were plentiful, some averring that she had gone down with every soul on board, and others that after a desperate fight she, with her crew and the sole passenger, had been carried away as a prize by that most audacious privateer. It was during this interval of suspense that I had reason to refiVct upon the power of love when once it seizes upon the heart of man or maid. For my merry child, so lately singing and dandng down the garden paths of the conventional enclosure, was now pale and anxious-eyed. Quiet and demure in bearing, she spent hours upon the shore, gazing seawards as though- she would have questioned the very gulls or the petrels, who, with omens of storm on their white wings, came shorewards. It was pitiful to hear the poor child seeking from the ship-masters, or others concerned in navigation, every scrap of marine intelligence. The family of Philip French had made prodigious efforts to discover his whereabouts, offering a prize for the intelligence, and making application to each ship-master who sailed into the bay. At last they- received news that the young gentleman himself and Captain Stolten had been grievously wounded — a knowledge which I strove to - keep from Marian until it was revealed to her by a meddlesome goodwife of our neighborhood— and that the ship with her crew had been despatched to Martinico as prize to the French. * So the weeks wore on, until v one dark night in mid-winter. It was vastly unpleasant weather, with sleet falling outside, and a chill within, and Marian took such poor comfort as she might from a blazing fire upon our capacious hearth. She sat upon a settle at one side thereof, to which she had drawn up her .embroid«ry-frame. Her little fingers worked to and' fro, and she sorted with rigorous care the bright colors of her silks.

She roused herself likewise to converse, striving to .conceal from me the lowness of her spirits and the agonising fear which weighed upon her. While we sat thus the gun at the Fort caused. Marian to start. and shiver, telling of vessels that had" arrived. Had it not been for my presence, I verily believe that despite the inclement weather she would have stolen forth,' "pursuing her inquiries. She sat still, however, with head lowered over her frame, and I perceived that 'the silks grew tangled and that she tugged at them nervously.. It was wearing late when the double knocker sounded. It was an unwonted hour, and our negro boy went to answer the summons with some apprehension,, for the times were unsettled evil-disposed persons had been observed about the town, and robberies had of late been frequent. Marian stood up from her place at the fire, and before I could so much as speak she had slipped into the hall. The negro- boy came back, with eyes rolling in their sockets, to apprise me that a tall man in a cloak stood without. Hastily seizing upon-a blunderbuss which hung upon the wall, I hurried out, and there I beheld a tall man, in truth, holding Marian's two hands and gazing into her face. As I made a hasty movement forward I heard these words, and the tone in which they were uttered will never leave my memory. 'Maid Marian,' the stranger murmured, 'Maid Marian, Maid Marian ! ' : - ' Just two words and no more, but they went to my heart old and battered as it was. The stranger, whom I knew from that to be Philip, spoke as a famished man who beholds bread or one perishing of thirst to whom water was vouchsafed I stole away softly, but Marian did not for very long forget me She came flying into the room, and it was as though she had. suddenly grown joung and was a child again in the convent garden. 'Philip has come back!' she cried. 'Philip has come back ! ' . „ And in another instant she was dragging the big figure into the room and planting him in a chair beside me The hat and cloak were thrown aside, and there were the same honest eyes looking into mine, the same smile, and no change in the countenance save that it had grown pallid from a residence in unhealthy climates. Well, we sat up half the night, there was so much to tell • nor did ,t seem as if we could ever get tired of asking questions and hearing what had befallen after we had left the ship. There had, m truth, been a fight, wherein Philip and the captain had alien wounded. The strange vessel, which had been standing to the northward, after our departure grew momentarily bolder She sent shot after shot, so that presently the mainmast was sprung and there was a leak in the. gunroom. The captain would not give up, however, and continued the struggle, though he had lost the topmast and the vessel was much shattered Fhihp stood at his side throughout until he was disabled by a shot which carried him off Kis feet, and in another instant the < captain s leg vras gone. There was nothing for it then but to haul down the flag, the privateer sending a pinnace under the" quarters and conveying the wounded men and the rest of the crew to the attacking vessel. Philip had likewise to tell of his sojourn in Martinico and other outlandish places and all that transpired there While his tongue talked his eyes likewise maintained another language with my little Marian, and I had to shut my own once or twice or be taken with a fit of coughing, when the lad's hand sought hers, holding it close and warm. " Well, there were wedding-bells very soon after this event and a merry-making that stirred up the good city of New York at which assisted his Excellency, my Lord Cornbury, who was then the Governor; the Lady Katherine, his wife, and other notables But all that took place among long years ago, and my grandchidren, the young rascals, laugh when I forget that their father is no longer a boy, or that their comely an! senate mother was my little sprite, Maid Marian.-B««fc er ', Magazine.