The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-11-15
HER OATH.

night, a night Of cloud wrack and pale,
intermittent moonlight. The high west
erly wind seemed like demon let loose
over sea and land. In cities houses were
unroofed and chimney pots fell with the
and confusion, ships staggered blndly,
with far more chance of going down than
of making port. Through forests the wind
roared and raved in its fierce on-rushing.
One could hear great boughs snapped
short from the trees and hurled about in
blind fury.
At seven O'clock in the evening post
carriage, with smoking post horses and
shouting post boys, drew up before the
principal inn at Deal. The carriage was
occupied by two persons, a man and a
woman, who, having heard that they
could obtain good nights shelter, dis
mounted.
Seen by the bright light of the inn par
lor, the two travellers showed strange
contrast. The woman, or girl rather
for she could not have been more than
twenty presented striking type of vii
lage beauty. She was tall and straight
with a firm, shapely figure. She had
brown hair thick and curling. There
was wisttu look in the dark, deep eyes,
whose abundant lashes fell on rounded,
warmly tinted checks. The lips, ripe
and red, might have excused any man
for longing to kiss them.
Her companion. who was at least ten
years Older, was evidently i'll a very diff
terent position of life. He must have had
good blood in his veins at least you could
have guessed it from the long slender fin
gers, terminating in the exquisite filbert-
shaped nails. He was tall and slightly
fashioned. The face would have been
called a handsome one, but it was too
pale and too delicate in outline to sug-
gest the idea of complete manly beauty.
''Well, Mary, my darling, he said, hold
ing the girl in his arms, Chow do you think
you shall like being Mrs. Oldworth, and a
painters wife? Would YOU rather have
stayed only a farmers daughter"
II suppose | could have remained so
had wished or | could have been far
mer's wife. There were plenty of lads
who wanted me- There was Bob Tur-
ner. son Of one of the richest farmers in
Kent, and Tom Miller, who fought Joe
Martin because | walked home from
church one Sunday evening with Joe,
when | had promised to walk with Tom.'
''And you prefer me to Bob, Joe, Tomw
returned the man.
"Yes, or why should have married
you!"
He drew her head down upon his shoul-
hair They had the room to themselves;
and so wrapped up We're they in each
other that they failed to notice face
from outside, which, pressed close against
the blindless window, WAS watching them
with bright, strained, sinister eyes. But
when the girl, changing her position, did
catch sight of the face, the blood sudden
ly forsook her cheeks and lips, and utter
inc a short, sharp cry, she hid her face
again on her husbands shoulder.
"Oh, my God, it cannot be" she eX-
claimed. " We are watched, Arthur.
Don't you sece'
But the face had vanished: and so Old
worth replied quietly:
"My darling, | see nothing. 1t was
only a nervous fancy y adding, as she
was shivering in his arms, the long,
windy drive has been too much for you /;
you nave taken chill"
Yes, | think | have. Let us 60"
OldwOrth was about to ring the bell,
when a door opened and closed, and a
man came up to where they were stand
ing-a man about the middle height, but
powerfully built. His face, beaten by
wind and tanned by sun, was one which,
having seen, you could not easily forget.
The eyes, which looked straight out at
you, from under the heavy, overhanging
brows, had in them a strange and indie
scribable fascination. He was man, you
could tell, who meant to have his own
own-a sort of mastiff, dangerous when
reused.
"I have come to offer my congratula-
tions, he said, addressing himself to Old
worth's wife, and holding out his hand,
which she did not appear to see. 81 have
heard all about it from the boys-all
about the grand wedding down at farmer
Grants this morning. 1t is lucky my
meeting you here. was on my way t.
give you important news which | have
brought from over the sea with me. It's
| not a night when a man travels further
than he needs. But | can't say you seem
glad to see an old acquaintance"
"My friend" put in Oldworth, "this
lady is my wife. She has had long and
fatiguing drive, and is tonight quite un-
| fit for conversation but tomorrow, be-
fore resuming our journey, she will, | an
sure, be happy to exchange the warmest
wishes with you"
Oldworth had spoken in a tone of sweet
patronage, but the other man never looked
in his direction, only saying to Mary
''That's your choice, is it Why, he
looks as if a breath of wind would blow
him away. But you must hear my news
| alone. Get rid of him, will you - Ol
must 2"
zone word," exclaimed Oldworth, the
color rising in his face, though he strovt
to control his voice. "You come from {
journey, the night is stormy, and this is
your excuse for having drank too freely
but if you cannot behave yourself, it vii
| be my duty to have you removed"
"Look here" returned the other, fixing
now for the first time his eyes upon Old,
worth's face. "My names Mark Shaw
| am first mate of the ship Annie, brought
drunk than you are, and when you say
that / am you know that you are telling
a lie. You call yourself a fine gentleman
well, in the matter of words you beat me
but you wouldn't like to havea go-in with
me. No. she wouldn't like it. Yol
wouldn't care to go sprawling at he1
feet; the floors here are dusty. Keep 6
civil tongue in your head, and | have NJ
wish to interfere with you" His large
strong hands were clenched, but they
hung down heavily "The sooner yol
go, you know" he went on, "the bette
it will be for all three"