1859
Part 3 ( the conclusion of the story)
THE ANST’ER LAUNCH. BY J. B CELLARDYKE
A few minutes elapsed before he could disentangle himself during which the suspense of the vast multitudes was unsupportable. In a little he rose to the surface with her gently upborne with one of his hands. Upon this a burst of acclamation brought relief to the pent up feelings of the whole assembly, amidst which the two were taken on board the boat. Miss Clifton was speedily conveyed to the Inn In lifeless state but by judicious treatment was soon restored to hopeful consciousness, and in the evening was removed to Kellie castle, their temporary residence.
The launch bell was kept with unabated hilarity; perhaps, with all the more fervour, that the stirring of the day had produced no fatal catastrophe; but Strang retired to his home, oppressed with his exertions, and though, to himself unacknowledged, under a tumult of conflicting emotions – the image of the fair creature whom he had rescued from an untimely fate had rested upon him like a spell in the early part of the day, and would not leave him and its unearthly loveliness in the hues of death while in his arms, absorbed his entire being. The hopelessness and apparent absurdity of any tender sentiments regarding her, the disparity of their circumstances, combined with the doubt and obscurity of his origins, filled his mind with torturing suspense and despondency, from which he vainly sought an asylum in rest and repose.
Meanwhile, the observation of Captain Clifton had not omitted a single incident connected with him throughout the whole day; his unassuming attentions to his daughter were noticed with secret, undefined satisfaction; his easy, respectful deportment with his superiors, and his family features, not to mention his native activity and promptitude, all confirmed him in an idea he had long entertained, though not disclosed, but now the favourable opportunity appeared to have arrived for its investigation.
Accordingly, next day, the carpenter who had saved the life of Miss Clifton was sent for to the inn, to receive the acknowledgements of her father. When brought into his presence, he entertained into easy, familiar conversation with him, questioned him as to his circumstances, education, and prospects, and commending him for his activity and forethought – expatiating upon the signal service he had done to him, in the presence of his daughter, and presenting him with a purse of money, promising that he would be happy to forward his interests, upon application, when his indenture was expired.
In reply, Strang thanked him for his proffered assistance, but respectfully declined the purse, hinting that a donation was the easiest of all acknowledgements on the part of wealth towards those in a humble condition, and that he had no immediate need of it.
Struck with his spirit and independence, the Captain dismissed him saying that he would see his father, and find out a more congenial method of testifying his sense of obligation.
A night’s repose restored Miss Clinton to her wonted strength, but she awoke only to think of the noble carpenter, who had saved her life, and who had been as a guardian angel to her throughout the day. Her father’s recital of their interview, glowing with enthusiasm and admiration, heightened her already feverish desire to see her deliverer, and to thank him personally.
On the following day. Captain Clifton, udder pretence of gratitude for his daughter’s preservation, visited Strang’s foster father while he was at work, and obtained from him an account of his wonderful exposure and escape twenty years ago, together with an outline history of the 20 years since.
The Captain seemed intensely interested in the recital, with ill-concealed emotion, whether there were no marks on his clothing when found by him, or on any of the things found with him, that could lead to his identification, since it seems likely been the child must have been of some important personages.
Reid replied that he had never examined them; for he found that the secrecy he was anxious to maintain, prevented him from entrusting himself to any other witness to whatever might be revealed in the two casks; that from the transactions he had been engaged in with the master of the vessel, whence the gin, as he supposed was thrown away, he had no doubt that he would cast up, in some way or other, and clear up the mystery if in life; but if not his foster son, at the age of twenty one, would be the first witness to his integrity, although that it might, at the same time, turn out that he had been a sufferer by his too rigid abherence to his not lightly formed resolution.
Captain Clifton then enquired, ‘What was the Master’s name? would you know him again, at this distance of time, if you saw him?’
Reid replied, ‘ His name was Charles Chassuers; I think I should know him; He had the initials .C. C. C.’ neatly stained on the beck of his hand, in sea fashion, with an intertwining wreath chastely stained encircling them, and (taking a broader look of his visitant), he added, hesitatingly, making allowance for the effect of years, I have never since seen a person who in stature, manner, and appearance, so much resembles him as yourself.’
Upon receiving this description, the Captain pulled off his glove, and presenting the back of his hand to Reid, asked him whether the marks he described resembled those on his hand. This immediately led to a recognition, and the Captain proceeded-
‘My old friend and shipmate, your long tried faithfulness entitles you to an explanation which, from want of time, I confine to the following outline:—
‘I am a younger branch of the family of Clifton, in Devonshire, who, from an early attachment to worth and beauty, in humble life, forfeited the wealth and influence of my connections. Disowned by them, I selected the sea as a profession, and to save their aristocratic feelings, changed my name, in order to escape notice. For a time I engaged in privateering with a considerable degree of success, but abandoned it, partly from the risk of being discovered by the exploits into which we were perpetually falling, but more from the constant terror of my angel of a wife, at the dangers to which I was exposed. I next commenced the smuggling, in which you accompanied me so long, and which you know was then looked upon as an as an honest though unlawful pursuit. Previous to the trip in question, so fruitful of anxiety to me these many years back. I had met with my elder brother, then Lieutenant now Admiral Clifton, in the Dutch seas, and was reconciled to him. He had fallen into nearly the same error as myself, only with a lady of rank, though poor as my own. The fruit of this attachment was your foster son, whom, with his mother, my brother wished secretly conveyed to England. This enterprise I took in hand, first with the child and its nurse, and then if successful, was to return for the mother.
‘In the interval, my brother hoped to secure for me a situation in the British navy, becoming my rank and abilities, upon which I was to retire from the somewhat discreditable employment of smuggling.
‘In the pursuance of this agreement, I had come as far as the Firth of Forth, and was dodging under the cover of the Isle of May until, as you are aware, our cargo was to be landed; but what was our surprise, at perceiving a ship of war to windward, bearing down upon us with all sail spread, rendering escape apparently impossible. We lost not a moment in getting under weigh, gave the enemy a wide berth; but our craft was not in trim for a run, so there was no alternative but to throw away our cargo. Even when was done, if we were taken with the child – an account of whom I dare not give – it were better for us all to perish. You know the stratagem I adopted for its preservation, not doubting his ultimate safety if only observed. The tempest came on; we dashed down into St Andrews Bay, where we knew the enemy dare not follow us in such a storm, and thus escaped.
‘The mother was conveyed to England by other means, and in due time I entered the navy under my true name.
‘Although his parents have long despaired of ever again seeing their son, I never could relinquish the hope of discovering him somewhere about this coast. My periods of liberty were of short duration, and allowed no time for personal inquiry.
‘I, however, obtained leave of absence some time ago and traversed the whole eastern coast in the disguise of a piper, travailing on a wager, and, learning something of your adopted son that appeared to constitute a clue to my long cherished hope, It was managed to get that vessel built here, which does honour your district, and has brought long years of perplexity to a successful termination.
‘ The two parcels of clothing were then produced almost useless from mildew, but containing full proof of Strang’s identity, as the son of Lieutenant Clifton, besides the means of providing for him amply, should his parents never be discovered. It was agreed to conceal this discovery from Strang as well as from the young lady, until such time as the parents were apprised and prepared for the cheering intelligence. In the meantime his indenture to Bailie Paton was cancelled, and an invitation left him to attend at Kettle Castle on the following day.
He arrived at the appointed hour, neatly clad in his suit of holiday blue, so admirably becoming on the back of the true ‘British Sailor,’ the very personification of masculine beauty and calm self-respect, and was cordially greeted by the Captain, who drew him into a disclosure of his knowledge, acquirements, and capabilities, and told him that since he had declined a pecuniary acknowledgement for the invaluable services he had rendered him, which he supposed might be of use to a poor young man about to enter the world, he hoped that he would not be so sensitive regarding the only other way left him of expressing his gratitude for the preservation of an only child. That way was to promote his views in the profession be had chosen, and with that object in view, he requested him, as he was to leave for England to-morrow, to prepare for embarkation in his new ship, to meet him in Plymouth ten days hence, informing him at the same time, that he would find his way clear with Mr Paton, and that as his daughter wished to thank him personally before his departure for the life he had at each eminent risk preserved, he would retire in the confidence that a person of so much integrity would not take undue advantage of the ascendency with which Providence had invested him.
The sudden transition from hopeless despair to an interview with the cause of all his emotion – an emotion which he felt he must crush for ever – nearly overwhelmed him, but by a desperate effort he mastered his agitation, and awaited the approach of his fair enslaver with well-affected composure, while a sense of womanly propriety, and peerless worth with which she invested him, alone prevented her from rushing into his arms.
They met as love – But we are no eaves dropper and we would not, though we could reveal how the irrepressible emotions that agitated to suffocation the bosoms of each burst like a liberated fountain, to find a reservoir in the sensibilities of the other, and at the same time with what hopeless decision Strang stated and enforced the impossibility of their further intercourse. They separated under the impression that it was for ever – she to be carried insensible to her chamber, he in stupefaction to find his way home he never knew how.
The captain drove off next day with his stricken flower. Hearing that the effects of her exposure were only beginning to appear, he posted direct for Plymouth, and placed her under the care of her aunt, who nursed her with the greatest tenderness, with but little beneficial results.
On the tenth day after their departure from Scotland, she had retired to her own room in the afternoon to ruminate without interruption over her secret sorrows. While her father was at ceaseless task, describing to his brother and his lady the appearance, features and complexion of their long lost son, a card was handed in by the servant with the name Andrew Strang chastely written upon it. Both the brothers looked at it, and then significantly at each other. Lady Clifton, true to a woman’s instinct, rushed past them to the door, and when she met Andrew, and rushed to his arms exclaiming, ‘Oh! My son, why have you been so long away?’
He replied ‘I beg your pardon, Madam, I am Andrew Strang, come’- ‘You are not Strang, you are Chasseur Clifton, my son, I know those eyes, and that mouth, and that brow, and that whole countenance. It is was these, and the noble truthfulness which I see in every lineament, to which I gave my young heart 20 years ago’
Here the father and uncle arrived to the rescue of poor Andrew Strang, who in a tumult of amazement was brought into the room.
Miss Clifton had come down during the scene at the door, having been aroused from her reverie by the unusual commotion. The captain, seeing her,excliaimed. Come, Maria, I am truly delighted to Introduce year late preserver to you, as your cousin, Chasseur Clifton.’
Restraint was impossible. While clasping her to his bosom, he whispered in her ear, ‘And more than a cousin,’ to which she murmured in reply, ‘Yee, more than a cousin.’
It required many days to confirm all the parties respectively in the reality of their new-found happiness, and to reconcile Andrew Reid with his bereavement, and it required some years of stern service in the heat of the French war, before young Clifton could, upon his own principles, claim either his epaulets or his bride. These were patiently and heroically discharged, when both were frankly awarded to him, and he thereafter had ample time to wonder at the results of the Anst’er Launch.