It seemed news too good to be true to Mrs. Merrill to feel that her son
was going to have the advantages of a naval education.
He had enjoyed several years of schooling before they had moved to
their coast home, and all else he knew she had taught him.
Fortunately for the lonely woman, who possessed a superior education,
the library at Cliff Castle was well stocked with books, and from these
had Mark been taught by her.
There were maps, histories and all that he could wish, while the
postmasters to whom he delivered mails were wont to give him each
week papers which they had read and finished with, for though late in
coming, it was all news to the lad, his mother, and old Peggy.
In fact, for the latter’s benefit, Mark had to read even the
advertisements in the papers.
Some weeks after the departure of the yacht, Mark sailed up to B---- on
business he had in view.
He had an idea of selling the vessel he had picked up, abandoned at
sea, and fitting himself out for the naval school with part, leaving
the balance for his mother’s use.
He decided to place the matter before good Judge Miller, as to his
claim to the craft, and, perhaps, to consult Dr. Stone, who had seemed
most friendly disposed to him.
He was skimming swiftly along in his surf-skiff when he beheld a small
sailboat coming toward him.
There were two persons in it, and it did not take Mark long to
recognize in one of them pretty Virgene Rich, and she held the tiller.
The other was a half-witted youth who hung about the dock, making odd
pennies as best he could, and whom Mark had once rescued from a crowd
of boys who were persecuting him, thus winning the undying friendship
of poor Silly Sam, as he was called.
As a proof that they wished to speak to him, instead of standing away
upon a tack when discovering his boat, Virgene brought her boat to and
lay in the course of the surf-skiff.
“Ahoy, Master Mark, and come alongside, for Miss Virgie wishes to speak
to you,” called out Silly Sam.
Mark obeyed promptly, doffing his tarpaulin respectfully with one
hand, while with the other he jammed his tiller down and brought the
surf-skiff alongside so easily that the blow would not have crushed an
egg.
“I am glad to see you, Miss Virgene, for I intended stopping at the
tavern to thank you for your great kindness to me the other day when I
got into trouble. Hello, Sam, how are you?”
“I’m O. K., Master Mark, and I only wish I’d a been ’round ’tother day
to punish them fellers for you,” answered Sam.
“Master Mark seemed fully capable of taking care of himself, Sam,”
answered Virgene with a smile, and then she continued:
“Are you not expecting a letter of importance, Master Mark?”
“No, miss, no one writes to me.”
“Strange, for I have two for you--for, you know, father is postmaster
at B----, and I help him with the mails, and these arrived some days
ago, so I determined to take them to you, as Sam offered to sail me
there.’
“I’m sorry I started from home, miss, for my mother would like to thank
you for your kindness to me; but I am obliged for the letters--ah! I
know what they are now,” and the lad’s face flushed as he beheld a
large official envelope bearing the stamp upon it:
“Navy Department.”
The other was a smaller letter, and had a flag in one corner.
“I gave B---- as my address, Miss Virgene, and I’ll tell you a secret,
if you and Sam will keep it.”
“A girl never tells a secret,” said Virgene archly, while Sam responded:
“Ef I telled what I know’d there would be a hundred fights up in town;
but I keeps my mouth shet, I does.”
“Well, I’ll tell you that this is an order for me to report for
examination at the United States Naval Academy, to be examined for an
appointment to a cadetship in the navy,” said Mark, with pardonable
pride, as he handed over his orders to Virgene.
There was a note enclosed, which read:
“MY YOUNG FRIEND: I hereby redeem my promise and forward the
necessary papers for your cadetship. I shall regard you as my
_protégé_, and watch your career with the greatest of interest, for I
have no doubt of your ability to go through.
“If you need aid--a loan, consider it, for you are self-confessedly
poor--do not hesitate to call upon me, as I shall be more than
pleased to respond. You can repay it at your leisure.
“Yours faithfully,
THE SECRETARY.”
The other letter bore the flag of Commodore Lucien upon envelope and
paper head, and was as follows:
“MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND: I saw the Secretary to-day, and he told me the
President was pleased to appoint you to a cadetship-at-large, and
that your papers would be forwarded immediately.
“I congratulate you with all my heart, and as there will be some
necessary expenses falling upon you, I send herewith my check for
one hundred dollars, which please consider a loan until convenient
for you to repay it. I also take the liberty of ordering your
kit, containing your outfit complete, for I have no idea of your
failing to pass, and the amount I expend you can also return at your
convenience. Present my compliments to your good mother, and regard
me ever as
“Your friend,
DAVID LUCIEN.”
“Will you let me sail back in your boat, Miss Virgene, and tow my own?”
asked Mark, when he had read the letters; and promptly came the answer:
“Yes, indeed, and I’m glad to have you.”
So the prow of the sailboat was pointed back for B----.