Mower County transcript., 1869-12-09

II thought she always seemed very fond
Of John, she contented herself with say
ing, as Mrs. Danforth rose to take her
leave.
''Seemed!' echoed Widow Danforth with
her deepest sigh: ''let me tell you, Mrs.
Gray, when you have lived in this wicked
world as long as have, you will find that
things are not by any means all that they
seem.
And with this unintentional parody Of
the sublime song Of the poet. Mrs. Dan.
forth went her lugubrious way homeward.
So the summers came and went in frag-
rance and song to the little cottage on the
Crag; and the white ships sailed stately
and grand, or few like frightened birds to
their ''haven under the hills" and the
Ocean Bird. commanded by Captain John
Danforth, touching now at this port, now
at that sometimes driven by prosperous
gales, sometimes buheting adverse winds,
cot sail for home.
And in the heart of the brave man, who
| sometimes in shine, sometimes in storm,
always oheerfully and hopefully pace her
deck, there dwelt D picture of q face which,
whether bright with piquant smiles or sad
with April tears, had always been eloquent
with love for / i'm. and which was fairer
and dearer to his eyes than all the world
beside. ) ..'.. IT, -
Dream on, honest Captain Danforth. For
you the joy and the brightness Of love are
over-for you storm is gathering which
will scatter your love dreams as easily as
the wind which sweeps over tho deck of
| the Ocean Bird scatters the foam that crests
| the wave whereon she rides.
The Dutch clock ticks merrily away, sur
1
tie room with face shining with approba-
ton. The fire burns cheerily in the fire.
place, the canary dozes sleepily on his perch,
and tho old cat purrs loudly in the corner.
Meanwhile, the little mistress. daintiIy. at
tired inn merino dress, with lace at the
throat and wrists, sits before the sparkling
| IRE and gazes dreamily into it: {..7 :
Her work lies idly upon her lap; the ball
of worsted has rolled, unnoticed, upon the
| floor; 80 deeply is she immersed in her re-
yerie that she heeds not the fact that Hans
has gone to sleep in his chair in his usual
fashion, and sits with his round head bob
bing up and down like Chinese mandarin
in o toy.shop. Without, the wind whistles
drearily, as only the November wind knows
how, and the mean of the surf upon the
shore chants its monotonous dirge.
Outside the cottage, close to the win
dow, stands man needless of the bitter
wind, deaf to the roar of the angry sea, gaz-
ing, gazing. with hungry heart and a hap
py smile, upon the picture within. -
himself, and proud and loving look comes
! over the bronzed face, as he gazes on the
little figure in the merino dress.
1t was thus that ne had pictured her,
many time-the bright fire, the shining
little clock, even the pattern of the 'chintz
curtain, had blended together in harmon
ious whole, labeled in his mental picture
gallery, '.Home."
But the slight girliah figure bent little
forward, the falling brown hair, the shin
ing, truthful eyes, this had been the bright
est. because the dearestof all
\ She was thinking of him, perhaps, little
dreaminGof the happy surprise in store
for b her IN his nns1peesed return. What is
Ay! start, John Danforth, and reel as if
struck By assudden blow. 70 this the wife
you have seen in doting dreams, for whom
you have kept your soul pure and uLstain-
ed, that it might hold enshrined her sacred
image? = '!9@ s:'T ''*E ,2:"i 50: - IL -, e .
An inner-door is opened, quick, manly
with coats ana wfappings Of fur, is beside
Robins chair. She looks up in his face
How well John Danforth knows that low
ing smile! and though the wind prevents
their words from reaching him, she seems
from their gestures to be urging remon-
stofm. Z ~. FEsRsaE
He shakes his head laughingly, the boy.
ish curls glancing to the 6re-light, and
stoops down beside her. She Aings both
arms round his neck, presses his lips to the
smooth cheek, innocent of beard or razor,
aud he lays his hand upon the latch, slowly
o. ems the door, and III moment more is
out in the stormy night
The heart of Captain ,Danforth sinking
down, down like lead in his bosom with the
weight of his loss, leaps and burns with all
the fury of a savage as he hears the footsteps
of his rival beside him, SO close that ifs he
shotH s1rste6 out his hand he could lhrds-
tle him in moment.
He looks at the darkening sky and starts
on the road to the village.
The village road! That way is long and
rugged; few trayelerg eyer tread the lonely
way. Revenge nyenga
It is said there is q drop Of tigers blood
in every human heart. think it must have
been alive in Mr.. Danforth's heart then, and
prompted the stealthy, creeping, pace with
which he followed his victim on, on, over
rugged paths, Watching the boyish form, till
the sudden, blind impulse of revenge grew
into . settled purpose till thesure, relent-
lesa hand. seconded the murderous plans
Of the heart. - : - '1'~ = " '-A-o -
Halfway down the winding, rocky road
deep chasm runs parallel with it for lit.
tie distance, then. with an abrupt turn,
takes another directions toward the coast.
John, breathlessly dogging the footsteps
of the boy-he is but little more than that
|-chuckled with savage delight at the
thought of misstep,s which might plunge
his unconscions enemy headlong down the
abyss to frightfu1 death on the sharp jag
ged rocks below.
As he reaches this point in his journey,
the youth pauses a moment, turning his
back to the fierce blast, which has been
blowing steadily in his face all the way
John il beside him in moment
4 "Villain!"s He grasps the boy by the
| shoulder fiercely, with an oath hissed be-.
tween his shut teeth, and there is strue-
| gle-unequal. short, decisive.
| Unequal, for the youth is but as a babe
in that fierce, strong grasp, and overpower-
ed he shouts With Ill his might for help.
"Robinsr' %-- !"
That name, wrung from him in his agon-
izing tear, is his death warrant. A thou
sand demons rage in the heart of Danforth,
as he holds him q moment over the abyss
The moon, shining through rift in the
clouds, show him two blue eyes gazing
with wild, beseeching fear into his two
white hands tossed haplessly in the air; q
flutter of yellow curls, and then something
goes crashing over jagged points of rocks
and rolling stones below.
ssMurder!'
!. The bowling winds as they sweep, p ct,
shrek theswords in his ear, then away to
boar the cry still further on, leaving him
sitting, helplessly alone and weak, staring
vacantly around and listening to the rush
and roar of the increasing tide, as it mur-
pours in hollow tones s.Murder!"
Gone now the blind rage and madness
of the moment before. only the anguish and
remorseful despair remain.
His brain is in confused whirl; only
halt conscious of what he is doing, he rises
to his feet and endeavors to stagger on
ward, in vain. A yawning abyss opens be-
meath his feet; . roaring sound is in his
ears; lighted flashed before his eyes; he
sinks in utter unconsciousness.
4+A million OF devils caught him into their
strong arms and were forcing him over =
prscipice. He fought, he struggled, he
prayed for mercy, but only dersive laugh
ter answered him and the torment was re-
doubled. They picked his flesh with sharp
! needles; they burned his brains with hot
irons. At one moment lie seemed plunged
into q burning lake; the next, he wandered
through interminable fields of ice and snow
nothing but the fierce glare of the sun