The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-09-14

and gone with the crew to enjoy some |
deep sea fishing. Every boat that came
into the little ports adjacent was eagerly |
inquired of no one, however, had seen |
anything of the missing man. Day by |
day the suspicion of foul play grew more |
definite.
When ten days had elapsed, and no |
letters or tidings came, tho proper au-
thorities took charge OF Philips person
al effects, and John Taggert was arrest
ed on suspicion, but the rebeing no pos
tive evidence to confirm the vague
suspicious regarding him, he was reluc-
tantly acquitted.
But now began the worst of his pun
ishment. The severity of the old laws
of Man had made the pcasantry look up
on crime as something altogether dread
full murder was q thing nearly unknown
and beyond the pale of excuse or par
don /; its very suspicion was frightful
thing. John Taggert found himself in
pretty much the same condition as the
excommunicated man in the Dark Ages.
| He could get no work if he lad not
had money saved, he must have starved
or left Castletown. About Christmas
time, he met on the sea-shore the rector
of the church he had once SO regularly
attended. Ho would have passed him
with dark, averted face, but the good
man would rot let him he put out his
hand, and looked John steadily and
kindly in the face.
"John," he said, edo you think l am
going to eat my Christmas dinner with
your dark, stubborn face haunting me !?
Why have you not como to sec me IN
your trouble p
ssYour servants, sir, would have said
I left bloody step at tho door-stone !;
3 would you have let me stand upon your
hearth 2"
'sDid you ever try me, John ! Turn
now with me and come to my study, for
1 have something to say to you.
Then the good man led him on to tell
all the petty insults whose tremendous
cumulative power were fast turning him
into fierce, bitter hnter of his kind !;
and the poor fellow found comfort even
in this unburdening of his grief, as well
as in the nnspolken sympathy that glis-
! tened in hislistener's eyes. At last, when
the heavy heart had unburiened all its
agony, the rector said
'tJohn, why don't you go away from
Castletown ?"
ssNo, sir" he answered. passionately
ssI have done nothing to run away for
if there is any justice in Heaven, it will
clear me in sight of my neighbors and
> kinfolk I can wait, but I want to be
here on the spot when God is ready tt
> hear my cause"
.Are you suffering for money Or nee
essaries p
s'Not much, sir since your reverence
. has been SO kind to me, will trust yol
u with my one secret. Mary Boyd bring
. me many bowl of bread and milk t.
the old Druid stones. Our people dom
e venture there after night, but Mar.
ii loves me, and love is not afraid o
% ghosts
s'I am glad to hear this, John. The
Mary, as well as I, believes you to b
III innocent 2?
of For O moment John could not speak
then with full eyes he answered
le eFor them words, sir, God bless yor
r. If you and Mary believe me innocent,
he am not quite hopeless. Mary has neve
Lit doubted me she sought me out at ono
Ill in nv trouble and lonliness. 1 shoul
It. have gone mad or died the last few weel
10 but for her"
m eff I should give you work and Ii
I'd tie cottage, would Mary marry you an
Id thus enable you to live down in yol
IS home, these suspicious 2"
to eyes, sir, she would leave Ell her pc
m pie and come to me but that is THU
lit l would not let her do. I would II
stain my Marys name, and, perhap
TO the unborn innocent, with my misfo
tune. When am proved guiltless it
o. time enough for me to marry
or After this John was sullen and sile
enough, but he did the work the rect
gaYe him, and the support of man
=. respected began, i'll some slight degre
, to change public sentiment.
But if there was any change In
neighbors, John took no notice OF
lp, He spoke to no one, he did what wo
ng the rector gave him, or spent whole da
I'd on the winter sea, comforted at RAJ
happy moments by stolen visit Ire
aid Mary. And so the weeks crept on un
pre- the middle of February. There
he been heavy wind all day, and the
ds. and wind rose together as the day
Zip vanced. Going up Malew street, he Il
lir, an old man who had once been his he
vas ty admirer and friend. The man had
at spoken to him since his trouble, but t
red time he said, timidiy
the s.Going TO be bad, dirty mig
eo- John %
Of Eyes," replied John, curtly.
ON s'Small craft pretty near Quig
in Point Hope she may not get too n
hill them Scarlet Rocks"
bod IF she was worth her sails, she wo
of have put into harbor early to-day.
oks It was tho longest conversation J'
md had held with any of his comrades
Of months. He suddenly remembered
MIRO fact, and walked hurriedly away.