[Illustration: WHY DON’T HE COME.] Engraved expressly for Graham’s Magazine GRAHAM’S MAGAZINE. VOL. XXXIV. March, 1849. No. 3. Table of Contents The Naval Officer Florence The Dial-Plate Unequal Marriages The Icebergs Love Doctor Sian Seng A Billet-Doux Western Recollections Extract The Unfinished Picture The Heart’s Confession Christ Weeping Over Jerusalem Human Influence Honor to Whom Honor is Due Egeria History of the Costume of Men The Adventures of a Man Summer’s Bacchanal The Plantation of General Taylor Fancies About a Lock of Hair The Precious Rest Wild-Birds of America The Pine-Tree Gems From Late Readings To My Little Boy Review of New Books Editor’s Table Oh Have I Not Been True To Thee Transcriber’s Notes can be found at the end of this eBook. GRAHAM’S MAGAZINE. * * * * * VOL. XXXIV. March, 1849. No. 3. * * * * * THE NAVAL OFFICER. BY WM. F. LYNCH. CHAPTER I. It was just daybreak; the air was calm, and the whole face of nature was shrouded in a light and silvery mist. Presently the mist became agitated by a fitful breeze; rays of light, faint at first, but every moment becoming brighter in their hue, penetrated it from the eastern horizon, and at length gathering its folds, it prepared to follow the path of the ascending sun. As it lifted, it disclosed a scene upon which the eye of man delights to dwell.