Part 26 (1/2)

”What news, Ragnar?”

”Captain Hanson, who has been master of the brig Sarah Christiana ever since I have been her mate, has latterly become very much reduced in health, and he has concluded not to go to sea again.”

”Well, that cannot be joyful news. He was a better captain than perhaps you will ever sail under again.”

”I shall never sail under another captain. I shall be captain myself, hereafter. The owners of the vessel have tendered the captaincy to me.”

”Is it possible?”

”It will soon be more than possible, for my old captain has so well recommended me, that Mr. Lund has advanced me a sufficient sum of money to pay the charges of my examination, and as soon as Christmas is over--for until then I shall study at home--I will take a journey to prepare myself, and after the examination you will be the wife of a captain. Then you and Nanna can go with me to Goteborg, that you may see the vessel before I go to sea.”

Magde quietly clasped her hands. Her pious grat.i.tude was evinced in her every expression. She thanked her G.o.d for having thus favored them with fortune.

Ragnar silently embraced her. ”I did not say anything about it yesterday, for I wished to tell you here near Carl, who always placed his pleasures aside that they might not interfere with yours.”

”Bless you, bless you, Ragnar! I now know why I found so many four leaved clovers last summer--only think, a captain's wife!--and still you love me as before?”

”Now and forever, my Magde. You shall have a bonnet as magnificent as any other lady; you shall have a cashmere shawl, and a black silk dress.

Yes, I promise you all this, and more.”

”Let us return home quickly, that I may rejoice father and Nanna.”

And Nanna and her father were as much rejoiced at the glad tidings as was Magde herself.

A few days afterwards, Magde and her father were seated together in the parlor consulting about the future.

”The Lord thus distributes joys and sorrows. One year ago our prospects were much different.”

”Have I forgotten that time? No! And if I should live a hundred years, I would never forget the day you were taken from us to prison, nor the day you were released by Mr. Gottlieb. This year Ragnar must send him the balance still due him.”

”We can repay him the money; but we can never reward him for his kindness and love. He has not returned to Almvik, and perhaps it is for the best, and as Nanna under any circ.u.mstance--”

The old man was suddenly interrupted by a shrill blast from the outside, which blast was produced by some one blowing upon a blade of gra.s.s.

”Well, well,” exclaimed Magde glancing through the window, and then rus.h.i.+ng to the door, ”the old proverb is true, 'talk of--'”

”A certain gentleman and he is here,” interrupted Gottlieb, entering the door with his face beaming with his usual cheerfulness. He presented one hand to Magde, and the other to old Mr. Lonner, who exclaimed with glistening eyes:

”Welcome, welcome, Mr. Gottlieb. Ragnar intended to write you to-day, and I just told Magde we are able to discharge one part of our debt, but the other can never be repaid.”

”Enough, enough, good father Lonner, I too was influenced by a selfish motive--but pardon me, where is Nanna?”

”She has gone to fish with Ragnar and little Conrad,” said Magde, who had already manufactured an urn of coffee, ”but they will soon return.”

”Aha! is Mate Lonner at home. Then I can become acquainted with him.”

”_Captain_ Lonner, next spring at least, Mr. Gottlieb,” said Magde, proudly.