Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-07-24

almost everything before IL, Dul hau
strange feeling shoot through my heart, and
something seemed TO say Keep BACK
but the next minute was fighting with the
waves with the moose of rope round my
body. and plenty of stout mates ashore
fast hold of the end while, after strong
battle. L got hold of Penellyn, and we were
drawn ashore. and both of us carried up to
INV cottage. though tried hard to get upon
NV feet and walk. but might have known
that our fellows would not let me on any
account.
Well. Harry Penellyn lay at our place
three or four davs, and Mary tended HIM,
and all that time | had to fight against a
strange. ungenerous, eowardly feeling that
would creep over me, and seemed at times
| TO make me mad, till / got myselfin cor
ner and asked myself questions, to all OF
which / could only answer the same word
nothing. Then Penellyn got better, and
went to his mothers house; and time went
on, till I grew bitter, and harsh, and mo-
rose. and was always haunted by suspi-
e;on that l would not put into words,
though now he question came again and
again-''Why doesn't Harry Penellyn go
to seaY'
But no answer come to my question;
and. though he seemed now to be well and
strong as ever, he always kept at home
while we went ont; and, III my state Of
mind, this troubled me, and / kept feeling
glad that we were only out now on the
short trips OF few days IN length l grew
angry with myself and with all around.
Ave, and / grow angry even now, when
think that few earnest words OF explana-
tion-a few questions that l know would
have been answered freely-would have set
ali right and perhaps saved the life OF as
good and loving woman as ever hVed IN
the light.
But it was not to be so; and went On
willfully binding my eyes to everything
placing a wrong construction upon every
look and word, and making those true eyes
gaze at me again and again In wonder;
whilst Harry Penellyn, who had never be
fore shown me much good will, now that /
had saved his life, would have been friends,
only 1 met his every advance with black
scowl, when he always turned on and
avoided me
One evening 1t had come TO the lot of my
I boat to run into harboI with the fish OF
several other boats; for the takes had been
very light and somehow or another felt
more light and happy that night than /
had been for weeks. L got ashore left my
mates tending the mackerel, and ran up to
our cottage to find my wife ont
This did not trouble me at first; but, af-
ter few Minutes idgeting about, 1 felt
flush come IN my face, and. nurryinS Out,
made an excuse at Mrs. Penellyn's, and
got to know that Harry was out too.
The hot blood rose from my cheeks to
my forehead, and seemed to blind me,
while q strange singing sensation came N
my ears; but the next minute / was tear
ing along the cove in the dark OF the even
ing. so as TO get away where | might be
alone with my thoughts, for that vile sus-
picion that was struggling with me before
had now conquered and beaten me down,
so that / was ifs slave, and for the time
<Segular mailman
- nan about half mile, when l stopped,
hitting, and began TO walk slowly along
seneath the trees close beside the fern
hung rocky bank, while 1t was now too
dark to see far before me. But the next
( instant was standing with my breath held
and one hand resting on my side, for, as
/ crouched close TO the bank, heard Pencil
/ lyn's voice. talking earnestly as he passed
a few yards from me, with his arm tightly
claspinCa voman's waist, and there was
/ light enough for me TO see him bend over
+ her, and their lips met III n long, clinglng
kiss-a kiss which sent the MAD Gico! Dub
I bling through my veins, as without stop
ping 10 think. / leaped from where / vas
! hid, and as the woman snrieked ami fed,
had Penellyn by the throat, and we join
ed in fierce struggle.
If an angel had told me WAS deceived,
should not have believed him then, IN my
blind fury; and it was not until having
dashed his head against the ground again
and again, felt my ~enemy's hold relax,
and leaped up, kicked him savagely, and
then ran back
4 l01
ing hot and flushed; but she jumped up
with a smile, and hurried to me, saying:
Il was down at Mr.. Trevere's dear, but
heard your boat had come, and"
She stopped short, half frightened at my
wild looks and disordered clothes, and half
by the savage curse CRASHED out at her as
/ sliced her arm; while, as the truth fash
ed upon her, she was the next moment at
my feet appealing to me, uttering vow at
ter VOW, clasping her hands, and seeming
half cTazed with horror; while /, poor mad
fool, glaTed on her, and thought her anguish
was caused by guilt All, me that could
turn from those true, appealing eyes, and
rush from the place, meaning never to re-
turn, and feeling savagely glad as saw her
fall senseless upon the floor.
Would weeping blood for my folly have
recalled all that, would giving up my life
have crushed 1t out, would have done it
hundred times; but it was done-it was
one of the hard things OF fate. and I rush
ed from the room and from the village,
needless that the girl who had been Harry
Penellyns companion had spread the
alarm that he had been attacked, and that
he he'd been brought in nearly dead. /
knew nothing, saw nothing except my own
mad misery, and at times was wild that /
had not slain the wife who had lain in my
bosom, till something rose up whispering
me of the past
1 found my way to Bristol and then to
London, and after a time learned from
one from my own part that Harry Penellyn
had recovered and was married and that
my wife was i'll.
1 fought with myself one week-two
weeks--a month-and then 1 went, getting
taken around the coast on a fishing boat. l
landed and went up the old slip, on to the
cliff in the dusk of the evening; Just as L
had walked up year before, aud 1 reused
myself up to my task, saying / would go
and forgive her and then see her no more.
Forgive her What had / to forgive
Had she forgiven me before her eyes closed
in that long sleep, and her pure spirit fed?
| asked myself that again and again when
her mother led me into the room, dared
not enter alone, and, with the few words
she had uttered, made the black veil of mad
jealousy drop from before my eyes.
But it was too late-too late-and could
not see those eyes look their forgiveness,
for they were sealed close, and l was alone
Her mother left me there for awhile, and
then fetched me away; and / followed her
like child, listening to herlong tale of her
child's sorrow, and the upbraidings she