The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-09-17
CHAPTER III.
MORE yILLIANY.

Captain Hiley, verify believing that Ally
was drowned, went ashore to inform Col:
Nichols Of the fact. He found the Colonel
lust coming from Mrs. Testers cottage,
where he had gone an hour before, and
stunned Amy by informing her that Ally
Bell. her lover and hero, was being car
ricd off to sea in tho Qdcksfep, ana that
she would never see him again.
The Colonel heard Hiley's story about
Alleys disappearance with breathless in
terest, rs they walked along the beach ;
after which the two Williams congratulated
themselves upon the boy's being thus COM
pletely taken out of their path.
While discussing the matter. they heard
tho sound of oars, and soon saw boat ap-
preaching the shore opposite cottage be-
longing to an old retired sailor named
Nicholas Collins. which was situated mt
the foot of Mrs. Testers garden. In the
boat was man. and along with him was
female, sobbing convulsively, Colonel
Nichols. with surprise and alarm, recog..
nized the voice Of the weeper rs that OF
Amy Lester. She and her companion left
the boat and entered the cottage, from the
windows of which light soon shonc.
Colonel Nichols and Captain Hiley crcpt
beneath window, To spy and listen.
They soon learned that Collins had rowed
ANY off to the brig in search of Ally, and
that she had there heard of his attempt to
. escape and his consequent death by drown
ing.
Amy was vehement in her denunciations
, of Col. Nichols. and declared that II Ally
was really dead. she would raise tho whole
country against his uncle who had COM
passed his death.
On attempting to rise TO go home. Amy
found she was too weak to walk, and sent
Collins for her mother to come to her.
As soon rs the old sailor left the cottage,
Colonel Nichols proposed to Hiley that
he should carry Amy of instead of Ally,
and leave her on n plantation OF his on
the coast, down by Cape Henry, so rs to
silence her dangerous tongue, and also to
give him hold on her mother. The Cap
tain agreed TO this, and they entered the
cottage, coming upon Amy so suddenly
that, in her weak state, she was so COM
pletely overcome that she tainted away.
$50 much the bctter!" said Nichols.
STOPPING and gathering her in his arms
snow lead the way to your boat, Hiley
On your way you must overset Collins
boat, to make him think she did 1t herself
In wild mood"
He hurried out of the cottage bearing
his frail burden. Hiley followed hastily,
and the two made their way to the spo,
where Collins boat lay. II was but the
work of moment for Hiley to push of
the little craft and overset it.
There. they'll think the girl got wild
with grief and was drowned in an attempt
to search for Ally again ~ said the Colonel
exultantly, tossing Amy's white apron up.
on the beach. THAT apron will fix the
matter beyond n doubt The wind Is ris.
ing, Hiley. You had better take advan-
tage of itm
| The two hurried to the waiting boat
IIiley laid the unconcious Amy in the bot.
tom, and then seised the oars and rowed
rapidly towards the brig.
Nichols, full of exultation, looked after
the boat until II was lost to view.
envy first plan was successful ~ he NUT.
tered. "Ally is dead | am rich man
And my second plan promises like sue
cess When Margaret Testers heart Is
nearly broken at Amy's loss, will offer
to restore her child on condition that she
will marry me The day ofmy full tri'
umph Is near"
He looked with gloating eyes scawar,l,
cxulting in his evil success, until mt last,
nearly an hour later, the sails of the Quick
step filed, and the brig moved swiftly to
ward the sea, taking with her Margare,
Testers only comfort-thc distant father;
star of hope !