Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-07-26


| exclaimed
Why. Esther, darling, what is the
matter?'
" So, Dave Pearson, you have come at
last was all the answer she gave me-
'''Come at last r. l said ''and why
shouldn't l come? What is the meaning
of that black dress p
/ soon understood it. During my alb
sence her mother had died, and she thought
| had kept away from the funer,l on ac-
count of my dislike for her.
. If you,' said Esther, her eyes flashing,
had no respect for my poor mother, you
might have shown some for me.
1t was no use my telling her had heard
not word about it. At this 1 got mad,
like great fool; for my experience tells
me it is never any good arguing with wo-
man. When two people are mad and quar-
reling, you know, they don't say exactly
what they think. L suppose said many
things l ought not to have done, when, all
of sudden, Esther clenched her fist, and
brought it down violently upon the gate
post-for though she favored her father. she
still had spice of her mother in her-and
saiC
L tell you, Dave Pearson, you shall
never call me wire |"
with this she turned round, and walked
up the garden path toward the house.
Ny heart relented | opened the gate. and
followed, calling upon her to hear me ex-
plain. She paid not the least attention, en-
tered the door, gave me look, that | don't
like to think of even now. and she slammed
it in my face
Dave refreshed himself with glass of
apple-ja and continued
We'll, that got my dander up, SO | jest
turned round anl walked away, vowing ven,
gcance against all womankind, and Esther
in particular. l swore in my rage, that
wonld never go near her house again, and
that | would kill Abner Sanford the first
opportunity, for somehow or other, | laid
all the blame on him, and hugged in the
belief to my heart that he had been pois
oniIg ESthcr's mind against me.
said l, knocking the ashes out of my pipe,
and refiling it.
Il neglected my work, and | ddn care
darn whether school kept or not, and kept
on drinking more than was good for me-
The Sparkling Foam lay idle at her moor
ings, aud both me and my belongings were
gong to rust and decay. l tried to pick a
fuss with Abner but he told me plainly
that he was sorry tor me, aud would not
quarrel with man in misfortune
"A magnanimous fellow =! L exclaimed.
There came Sunday, rcmen- ber-one
of those cold, loaden kind Of days, you Of
ten see at the commencement of winter,
when everything looks dull and grey, and
objects, both on ocean and shore, oppress
you with sense of great desolation. Such
a day, need not tell you, did not make me
feel particularly cheerful, so, to pluck up
my spirits and drown care, few to that
which, like fire, is very good servant, but
bad master.
Dave gave the bottle little FLIP with
his thumb and forefinger, and resumed:
''As | was wandering about the village,
nursing my wrath and hatred against all
mankind, who should see but Esther re-
turning from church, with Abuer walking
by her side That was enough. A feeling
that has long been slumbering in my breast
awoke with renewed energy, and my whole
nature was filed with hate, revenge aud
murder | resolved to waylay Abner on his
return, and kill him.
why, Dave" said l, Il had no idea
you were such desperate fellow.
Il watched them enter the house, and
then went to the back, where | knew old
Obadiah kept his nets, and, picking up the
handle of broken oar, went down the road
and waited 1t was getting night now, and
the snow that had been threatening for some
time began falling very fast. The wind had
also risen, and it was blowing perfect hur
ricane The drifting and binding snow
prevented my seeing the sea, but L knew
how angry it was, for heard it breaking
and roaring on the beach with fury thai
threatened to swallow up the land. Though
had murder in my heart, / pitied the poor
fellows off the coast, and wished they haG
plenty Of sea-room, as the wind was blow
ing dead on shore. u
Dave paused a moment, gave sigh o
contrition, and then went on with his story
How long L waited for Abuer, don
KNOW had sense Of being bitter cold
but if it had been ten times colder, my hat,
would have kept me there till morning
| all of a sudden, heard, nign on shore, th
boom of a cannon | knew what that mean
some vessel in distress-and it was fol
/ lowed by another and another in rapid sue
cession In moment Abner was forgotten
and my only idea was to hurry to the beach
and give what aid | could to the vessel
which, if not already on shore. would 500
be driven there by the wild, tempestuou
! wind
when | arrived on the beach, | foun
many there before NE, all intent upon tn
same errand as myself-tor you must knoI
none of US lose much time in fastening to
ships cry of distress. We had no life boa
down on this part of the coast then, an
even if we had. it wouldn't have been G