Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-11-18
Snow about two years after thew had

and several vessels had been lOSt on the
coast, there was a report that several
crews had been paid of, and then Ellen
made up her mind more than ever. that
William would return, when one day
a neighbor comes in and says he has
heard that vessel like the .Spitfire--
that was the one that William went in :
had gone down off the Scillys, and ii
was feared that all hands had persisted;
he had it, he said, from a party who
was told so by Paul, who had learnt ii
when he went over to Davenport the
day before on some matter of business.
This was bad news for the poor lass,
but / believe she still hoped and prayed
for her sailor sweetheart, and all along
kept on telling the Captain that he
would live to see her and Will Randall
bride and bridegroom yet; but about a
fortnight after this Paul comes in, in a
great taking, and shows the Captain a
bottle, which he said had been picked
up on the Coroish coast, no doubt hav-
ing drifted in; and in il was paper say
ing the Spitfire couldn't live the night
through, and praying that whoever
found the bottle would, for heavens
sake, send it on to Captain Cawsend,
with the last prayers of poor Will.
This was dated back, and was about
square with the day when the Spitfire
was said to have gone down; and so now
there seemed no hope at all, and so
poor Ellen seemed to think at last, for
she got paler and weaker, every day,
and moved about like one who had moth
ing to live for. To make the matter
worse, the captain got into debt, and
difficulties got bigger and bigger. Well,
one day, all on sudden, the doctor
goes to him and offers to marry Ellen,
out of hand. promising to discharge all
the captains obligations, and stating
MS long and strong attachment had
induced him to make the proposal The
captain, as you may believe, didn't
much fancy Paul for son-in-law, but
at last he relented, and, pressed by his
debts and his troubles, he urged Ellen
to accept him. The poor lass refused tor
a long time; but when she found her IA
theirs welfare and liberty depended on
it, and lost all hope of ever seeing Will
lam Randall, again, at last she con-
sented."
But you don't mean to say they
were married at last 2" 1 interrupted.
Elm two or three months they were,
and pretty couple they must have
made; she with her tall figure and pale
face, and he with his red head and his
bow legs stumbling along by her side.
They we're married at Millbrook Church
Ton the hill SIR and Will Randall's old
master read the service. They said Ell
l., 1,1,,5& For. nr.h aun Onx
sense of that kind, but went through
her share quietly and calmly enough,
while the doctor seemed all abroad
Now, it seems this very evening, just
about dark when the captain had gone
out to smoke his pipe, that Paul who
had gone up stairs. heard a terrible
loud scream and rushing back into the
room where he had left Ellen, he finds
her tainted dead away on the floor, and
William Randall himself kneeling by
her side.
William used to say afterwards,
that he could not forget Paul's face
when they saw one another for the first
time; he used to dream of it, he said,
and he had many and many a time seen
the faces of strong men who had been
struck down in the heat and passion of
battle, or who had died violent deaths
in various ways; but Pauls face, he
said, reminded him of a picture he had
once seen, when quite a little lad, of
the Devil, which he remembered had
frightened him then, but which he had
forgotten till their eyes met that night.
When Paul had recovered his surprise
he said not word about the marriage;
but when William said he had but Just
left Plymouth, and hadn't seen a soul
in the village yet, he suddenly seemed
delighted at meeting him again, and in
sisted on their drinking together. He
led Ellen into another room, where, he
told VIII, his mother would attend to
her, and shortly after returned with two
glasses of stiff grog, which he put on
the table between them. Now, Bill,
old mate said he, we'll drink to your
return home he says. But what
about Nelly, my poor girl p says VIII.
Never mind her, says Paul, mother
will soon bring her round, and mean
while let's drink the grog; and first of
all let's shut the door and be snug
So Paul shut the door, and coming
back to the table, says, Now, Bill,
here's your jolly good health and no
heel-taps 7 and they both emptied their
glasses. William, says Paul, after a
while, 'how doyou feel? quite well,
Paul, my hearty, thankye,' says WILL
Do you, says Paul, grinning, then
you won't for long-Wllliam Randall
says he, getting white and trembling;
we've long account to settle, and now
it's done What dye mean 2
asks Will, in surprise, as you
may be sure. I've never in
iured you = Yes you have + said Paul.
Didn't you step in between me and the
girl had set my heart on? Didn't the
jeer and mock me and drive
me almost mad? And didn't swear TO
be even with you, come what might?
and am! am ! When you were
pressed said he, getting worse and
worse, Il put the gang upon you'll l
brought the account that made them
think you were deadl and now that you
have -eturned alive, you fi2d the woman
you loved the wife of the man you both
Its a shameful lie,' cries
VIII, and I cant believe it Its true
says Paul, for we were married this
but true or false its all the
same to You, for / tell you Will Randall,
and Paul turns very pale, and rubs his
hands, you are poisoned. You drank
the brandy, and in an hours time your
are dead man. Paul Penbyrn,' says
Will, speaking calm and low, you have
played deep game, but you've made
one mistake; heard of your trick with
the press gang, and / knew. you tosbe a
rival of mine and Won We owned TO 9TH