Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-05-27

SIlc VIII uC 81 Sldu " SSS JONi OA
how wish that William was at home
too. But Mary, what is the matter?
how pale you look-do you feel unwell?
Come we had better go. L don't think
the air agrees with you"
"Oh, it was nothing but little faint
luess--I i--oyer~~it--now, said Mury,
and taking her cousin s arm, the two
girls started for the house, accompanied
by Harry Sanford. There was strange
misgiving at Mary's heart, for which
she could not account, whenever Will
liam's namo was mentioned. He had
been absent for nearly four years, and
no tidipgs had been heard of him during
that time, although he had promised
Mary, before leaving that he would
write to her as often as he could.
Harry and the two girls had now
reached the low, old fashioned house,
which the former previously had pointed
out to his sister. and pushing open the
little gate that led to 1t, they crossed
the garden and entered.
Seated in a chair, reading an old vol
ume, was j matron of some hity years,
who instantly arose on perceiving the
Young sailor, and looked inquiringly ly at
the two girls.
Il SEQ that you do not recognize him,
mother-it is our brother Harry, just re-
turned from the sea, said Ellen laugh
ing.
My son!-my long absent son!' ex-
claimed Mrs. Sanford, folding him in
her arms.
Harry strove to speak, but a terrible
vision passed before his eyes, and, SINK
ing upon u chair, he buried his face IN
his hands.
His mother anxiously inquired if he
felt unwell, and Ellen stole gently up
to her brothers side and offered him Il
glass of watcf He drank it off, and
then, turning to his mother, said:
1t is nothing, L am better now; 1t
was merely little taintness caused by
excitemcut;' and then turning to his
sister, he made few remarks. IN tone
of assumed gaity, and strove to appear
cheerful.
Bat there was dark light in his eye
| occasionally, and ii shadow upon his brow,
which could not escape his mother; and
now and then he would relapse into
IA more melancholy tit of abstraction, and
sometimes glance uncasily at Mary, as
though his thoughts had reference to
her
Suddenly a slow. heavy step was
heard approaching, and moment after
there came Il knock at the door. Ellen
arose and opened it. \ tall, dark look
ing stranger, whom Harry instantly re-
coYnized as a native of the Sandwich
| Islands, entered the room, and standing
| in the center of it fixed his coal black
eyes on the face of the young sailor
who started and turned deadly pale.
:. hat.do YOU want here? said Harry,
in hollow voice.
"What me want? pretty ting for white
man ask me: you tink you get clear: ha!
ha! Me see you kill do man; ME hide
behind de bread fruit tree; me sec white
man come long; you seem glad to
see him, and call him brudder; den you
fight and you stick knife in white mans
breast and-'
..ViIlian y exclaimed Sanford, ''leave
this house instantly, don'tyou see you re
frio htening these ladies'" then turning
to his mother, who had stood like one
horror stricken during his the Kama
ka's) recital.
This man il crazy Kanaka, whom
we shipped for the passage home IN the
! Sandwich Islands, aud
'Me no crazy, white man no make
him blieve me crazy. Me see dis man
kill de udder--"
Leave the house. cried Sanford, in
a husky voice, and seeing that the Kan
aka stood immovable, he arose from his
seat, and was going over towards him to
j ejoct him from the house by force, when
some thing dropped from his bosom.-
The quick eye of the kanaka perceived
it, and he snatched it up from the floor;
it was a small m immature. and was stained
: with several dark spots resembling blood
The Kanaka held it up before all pres
! ent. and Harry sunk down on chair
, with deep groan. AS soon as Mary
t perceived the miniature, she shrieked
and bounding up to the Kanaka, snatch
f ed it from his hand.
sMy God where did you get thi,
, miniature Sec, Ellen, it is my own
the one gave to y iiliam on his depar.
y ture-and these dark spots of blood
A oh. heaven what does it mean? She
cried, claspimg her hands and looking
up imploringly into the face OF the tai
e Sandwich Islander.
"Well, me tell you," said the Kanaka
" 'dat man dere lied the white man, anc
den he tole dis from his bosom, and der
run away-me follow him-he ship IL
e ship and me ship too
Harry could stand it no longer. lie
; sprung from his seat, and with one blow
! he felled the kanaka to the floor. Mary
fell fainting into chair, and Mrs. San
, ford was so bewldered and horror strick
/ en- as to be nearly deprived of her sen
ses.
; Harry seized his hat, and turning tt
e his mother, exclaimed:
n Il fly from hence forever The word
of the kanaka are true! William and
: met at SanGwi h Islands, we quarrelled
and 1 killed him Yes, mother, l muir
t dered my own brother -
al "Oh, Harry, you do not, cannot meal