Young Captain Jack | Page 5

sailor.
When they were about halfway across the bay he ceased rowing and
looked earnestly at the girl before him.
"Marion, I want to find out--that is, I've got some questions to ask," he
blurted out. "I don't know how to go at it."
"Why, what in the world is the matter, Jack? You were red a moment
ago. Now you are as pale as a sheet."
"I want to know about something awfully important."
"I'm sure I cannot imagine what it is."
"Marion, aren't we real sister and brother?"
The question was out at last, and as he asked it his eyes dropped, for he
had not the courage to look into her face. He felt her start and give a
shiver.
"Oh, Jack! what put that in your head," she said slowly.
"Never mind that. Tell me, are we real sister and brother or not?"
"Jack, we are not."
"Oh, Marion!" The words almost choked him, and for the moment he
could say no more.
"We are not real sister and brother, Jack, but to me you will always be
as a real brother," and Marion caught his hand and held it tightly.

"And--and mother isn't my--my real mother?" he faltered.
"No, Jack; she is only your foster mother. But she thinks just as much
of you as if you were her real son. She has told me that over and over
again."
"You are sure of this?"
"Yes, Jack."
"Sure I am a--a nobody." His voice sunk to a mere whisper.
"Yon are not a nobody, Jack. When you were a mere boy of three or
four my father and mother adopted you, and you are now John Ruthven,
my own brother," and she gave his brown hand another tight squeeze.
He was too confused and bewildered to answer at once. The dreadful
news was true, he was not really a Ruthven. He was a nobody--no, he
must be somebody. But who was he?
CHAPTER III.
A MYSTERY OF THE PAST.
"I do not know that I have done just right by telling you this," went on
Marion. "Mother may not approve of it."
"I am glad you told me. I was bound to find out about it, sooner or
later."
"That is true, Jack. But both mother and I dreaded that time. We were
afraid you might turn from us. And we both love you so much!"
"It is kind of you to say that, Marion." Jack's face flushed. "You
couldn't be nicer if you were my real sister."
"And mother loves you so much."
"I know that, too--otherwise she wouldn't have taken me in as she did."

"What put it in your head to ask me this to-day?"
"Something St. John Ruthven said to Darcy Gilbert. St. John said I was
an upstart, a nobody."
"St. John had better mind his own business! It was not cousinly for him
to interfere!" And Marion's face flushed.
"I suppose he doesn't look at me in the light of a cousin. He considers
me an intruder."
"Well, if he won't count you a cousin he need not count me one
either--so there!"
"But you must not hurt yourself by standing up for me," cried Jack
hastily.
"I will not hurt myself--in the eyes of those whose respect is worth
considering. In the eyes of the law you are my real brother, for my
parents adopted you. St. John must not forget that."
"But tell me of the past, Marion. Where did I come from, and how did I
get here?"
"It's a long story, Jack. Do you see yonder wreck, on Hemlock Bluff
rocks?"
"To be sure I do."
"Well, when that wreck came ashore, between ten and eleven years ago,
you had been one of the passengers on the boat."
"Me!"
"Yes. I have heard mother tell of it several times. It was a fearful night
and Old Ben, he was our slave then, was out on the bluff watching.
Presently there was the booming of a signal gun--showing the ship was
in distress--and soon the ship came in sight, rocking to and fro, with the
wild waves running over her deck. Not a soul was left on board, captain

and crew having all gone down in the ocean beyond."
"But where did they find me?"
"On the beach. Old Ben heard a cry of pain and ran in the direction of
the sound. Soon he made out the form of a woman, your mother. She
had been hurt by being hit with some wreckage. You were in her arms,
and as Old Ben came up you cried out: 'Jack is hungry. Give Jack some
bread and butter, please.'"
"Yes, yes! I remember something of a storm and of the awful waves.
But it's all dreamy-like."
"You were only three