Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-09-15

set to catch the rising breeze, and not half a
mile away.
yes, there she is" he shouted. {" She
is coming this way. L am saved-savedl"
He raised his arms to heaven in a mute
thanksgiving and sobbed aloud, the glad
tears streaming down his worn land haggard
cheeks.
The ship came nearer and nearer.
He redoubled his wild shouts his heart
and soul in his voice.
An answering cry came suddenly from the
ships deck, and she drew steadily nearer
swerved from her course slightly, and a rope
was thrown from her deck, falling into his
canOe.
lie seized the rope in desperate eagerhess,
and q group of sailors leaning over the ships
side drew him aboard.
In an instant more the ship had resumed
her course, and was moving in stately fash
ion before the breeze.
"Safe at last - murmured Lester, leaning
against the bulwarks, weak and nerverless
as an infant. "0h, the gladness OF tins
hour -
Poor man lie did not dream at that mo-
ment that his adverse fate was even then re-
lentlessly closing around him that he was
on one Of his own ships-the Cyclone; that
that ship was commanded by a bitter foe in
league with Colonel Nichols, who, on recog-
nizing him, would without remorse consign
him again to the mereies of the Pacific in
his Indian canoe.
On inquiry, Lester learned that the vessel
was the Cyclone, and in the light of the cabin
lamp recognized her Captain. Tearing of
his priestly robe. and wiping the stain from
his face with its coarse folds, he exclaimed :;
~"Captain Sales, don't you know me !"
David Lester - cried the Captain, turn
ing ashy pale, and grasping his stationary
seat as though he had received a shock.
Lester wiped his brows and sat down, the
Captain taking a seat opposite him.
He had 50 much to ask, that his emotions
checked his utterance, and prevented him
from observing the look of deadly hatred
with which the Captain regarded him. But
he finally piled his questions fast, and learned
that his wife yet lived, that his daughter
Amy had grown into a lovely girl, and that
both wife and daughter had long mourned
him as dead. He also learned of his Wits
poverty.
" Colonel Nichols settled up the firm af
fairs said the Captain, reservedly, "and
there was nothing left for Mrs. Lester She
has been living on his bounty these two or
three years When your interest in this
ship was sold, | bought in The Colonel
owns the other half :"
:" But this is a base fraud " exclaimed
Lester. "The Colonel has been untrue to
the trust | reposed in him. have had sus-
picions of his integrity during my long exile,
but | have never dared toentertain them. I'll
make matters straight on my return. | can
prove my claims and bring him to Justice
the dastardly villain My poor Margaret -
and he sroaned.
Testers threat concerning Nichols seemed
to stir up all the malice of the Captains ma
ture. He beheld his interest in the ship,
frauduently acquired, threatened, and he ha-
ted still more the lawful owner whose right
in the Cyclone he had usurped.
" If report speaks truly he said, Mrs
Lester need not be called poor Colonel
Nichols has long been paying her attentions,
and when | left port. five months ago, the
story was that they were engaged, The
Colonel told me himself that he loved her,
and meant to marry her. No doubt by this
time they are married -
This cruel thrust struck home to the poor
husbands heart, and uttering a great cry, he
lie fell forward with his face upon the table
while the Captain regarded him with a look
of mingled hatred and cxultation. The New
York Ledger containing the continuation of
this story is forsale at all the bookstores
and news dcpots. Ask for the number dated
Sept Is, and in 1t you viii get the next in
stlllment. The Ledger has the best stories
of any paper in the world.