The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-04-15
EBENsBURG, PA. THURSDAY, APRIL IS, 1869


friends, only l met his every advance
with a black scowI, when he always
turned off and avoided me.
One evening it had come to the lot of
my boat to run into the harbor with the fish
of several other boats; for the takes had
been very light, and somehow or other /
felt more light and happy that night than
| had done for weeks. got ashore, left
my mates tending the mackerel, and ran
to our cottage, to find my wife out.
This did not trouble me at first, but af-
ter few minutes of idgetlng about felt
flush come into my face; and hurrying
out l 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 strange singing sensation came in
TO my ear /; but the next moment / was
tearing along the cove In the dark of the
evening, so as to get away where might
be alone with my thoughts, for that vile
suspicion that was struggling with me be-
fore had now conquered and beaten me
down, in that was its slave and, for the
time, a regular madman
had run about half mile when
stopped, painting, and began to walk slow
ly along while beneath tue trees, close
beside the fern-hupg, rocky bank, while
it 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 l heard Penellyn's voice talking
earnestly as he passed few yards ON
me, with his arm tightly clasping a wo-
mans waist, while just as they had pass
ed they stopped, and there was also light
enough for me TO see him bend over her,
and their lips met in long, clinging kiss
"a kiss which sent The mad blood bub-
bling through my veins as, without stop
ping to think, l leaped from where was
hid, and as the woman shrieked and fled,
| had Penellyn by the throat and we join
ed in a fierce struggle.
Ii an angel had told me that was de-
ceived, should not have believed him
then in my blind fury and it was not
until, having dashed his head against the
ground again aud again, felt my enemy's
grasp relax, that leaped up, kicked him
6RVagely, ana (neO ran OaCk.
Just as expected, Mary was al home,
looking hot and flushed, but she jumped
up with a smile, and hurried to me, say
ing
Il was down at Mrs. Trevere's, dear
but heard your boat had come, aud
She stopped short, half frightened by
my wild looks and disordered clothes, and
half by the savage curse l gnashed out at
her as seized her arms while, as the
truth flashed upon her, she was the mex
moment at my feet, appealing to me, ut.
tering VOW after VOW, clasping her hands,
and seeming half crazed with horror
while |, poor mad fool, glared on her and
thought her anguish was caused by guilt.
All, me! that could have been such a
fooI-so blind, mad-that 1 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 on the floor.
Would weeping blood for my folly have
recalled all that, would giving up my life
have crushed it out l would have done it a
hundred times but it was done-it was
one Of the hard things of fate, and rushed
from the room and from the village, heed
less that the girl who had been Harry Pc
nellyn's companion had spread the alarm
that he had been attacked and that he bad
been brought in nearly dead. l 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 bo>
som, till something rose up whispering me
Of the past.
1 found my way to Bristol, and to Lon
don and after time | learned from ono
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 l went, get
ting taken round the coast in q fishing
boat. landed and went up the old slip,
on to the cliff in the dusk of evening, just
az had walked year before, and / reused
myself up to my task, saying would 60
and forgive her, and see her no more.
Forgive her! What had l to forgive.
Had she forgiven me before her eyes
closed in that long sleep, and her pure
spirit fled ? asked myself that again and
again, when her mother led me to the
room I dare net enter alone, and, with
the few words she had uttered, made the
black vail of mad jealousy drop from be-
fore my eyes.
But it was too late-too late-and
could not see those eyes look their forgive
ness, for they were sealed close and | was
alone.
Her mother left me there for while,
and then fetched me away and l followed
her like child, listening to her long tale
of her child's sorrow, and the upbraidmgs
she heaped upon my head.
What could do but groan and bear it
bear it as part of my punishment
here for my folly! 1t was mistake
the act of fool-but have suffered for
it; while with me ever, seeming, too at
times, even to smile upon me-upon me,