The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-02-19

shawl, with a bundle in her hand
waiting, 1 have no doubt, for q signal
from within. She started upon seeing
me; but the man immediately called to
her by the name of Jane, telling her to
come in.
She passed by me as she did SO !; and
whispered, ''Oh, Emily, how could
You betray me %
She manifested no shame or sorrow,
though know she must have heard the
whispered words her face was hard
and unwomanly, and it's expression was
sullen. And I could not doubt that she
had played the spy upon my husband
and myself, and had betrayed us to this
man.
% I've very few words to say to you,
ma'am, F" said theman and all the bold
ness and inso1ence had gone out of his
voice, leaving it gentle and sorrowful.
just few words to ask you to forgive
us for what we meant to do, and to tell
you what has happened to change my
mind SO suddenly, and why we can't
rob you as we meant to dc"
He took the package from his pocket
with the words, and tossed it into my
lap.
''That money belongs to the man
that love and honor more than any
other on earth. I'm hard customer,
ma'am; we live by dark ways and do
believed when she let me in here to-day
and hid me that could have left the
house without that money but if I'd
known whom it belonged to, I'd sooner
held out my right hand to be cut off
than come here as have, and for what [
came. fused to bea sailor, and Twas with
Captain Croly in the Calvert. Hewas the
very kindest and best master that ever
handled speaking trumpet, and there
wasn't man aboard the bark but loved
him. One night off Hatteras all hands
were sent aloft to reef in heavy gale;
and when they came down again was
missing. where is he P the captain
asked bat none of them knew. They
hadn't noticed me since we all sprang
into the shrouds together. Over
board, I'm afraid, said the mate and
the men all seemed fearful that I was
lost The captain hailed me through his
speaking trumpet; and there came
back faint, despairing cry, only just
heard above the piping of the storm.
Captain Croly never ordered any one
else up: he cast off his coat, and threw
down his trumpet, and went aloft be-
He found me hanging with one elbow
over the foreyard, and just about ready
to fall from weakness and pain, for my
other arm was twisted out of joint at
the elbow by a turn of the ropes. He
caught me, and held me there till help
came up from below, and then they
carried me down. 1t was Captain Croly
that saved me from a grave in the sea
and I would have robbed him tonight
Forgive uk, madam, If You can. We
will leave you in peace. Come Jane ]!
T The two passed out of my chamber,
and from the house, leaving me like one
in dream. The woman never saw
again; and I have little hope that she
ever reformed. She was one of the
crafty, hypocritical kind, whose hearts
are entirely bad, and who generally
come to bad ends. But / am very
hopeful that the man entered upon
new life after this occurrence. He made
no promises, not even an intimation that
he meant to do so but I have faith to
think that the heart that could treasure
up debt of gratitude, and stay the ex-
ecution of crime, as in this case, must
have something in it strong enough to
turn it to virtuous ways.
We'll" said Elijah, in his joking
way, when he came home next day af.
ter this eventful night, you've not
been murdered for that money, I see.
Where's Emily? Has she run off with
it ?"
handed him the package, merely re-
marking that the woman had unexpect-
ly left me. for reasons which were best
known to herself. This was all the con-
versation that had with him upon the
subject he never knew what I have
now been telling. Perhaps did wrong;
but was always reluctant to tell him
all about it, and he died before could
make up my mind. But I never had
any other secret from Elijah and be-
lieve I never had an adventure that
made such an impression upon me as
this.