The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-07-13
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THE UNSEEN WITNESS.

The good ship Anericus, engaged in
the East India merchant service, was on
her homeward passage. Her crew were
jubilant at the prospect ofsoon reaching
home; but probably no one aboard the
ship was in better spirits than the skip
per's pretty daughter, Mabel Stanford,
who had accompanied her father on this
voyage.
When, suddenly, like thunderbolt
from a clear sky, dark cloud of wrongs
and suferings, which had been hanging
over the ship, broke upon them in all its
terrible power, sending broken hearts
and death into their midst, chilling the
hopes of the crew and driving the cap
tain and his daughter nearly distracted
with grief
Mabel Stanford was the general favor
ite of that ships company. None could
help liking and admiring her pleasant
ways; and she, all unconscious of the
fearful web she was so innocentiy weav-
ing, did her best to make the voyage
pleasant.
Among Miss Stanford's most ardent
admirers, and one whom she seemed
especially to favor, was the second mate,
young Frank Haywood, who loved her
with all his heart.
1t was whispered among thecrew that
they would make a fine match; but the
skipper did not look upon the would-be
union in that light; and it was generally
knewn that he would prefer the first
mate, Warren Gregg, who was also a
sultor for his daughters hand.
Warren Gregg, the first mate, was a
man not Ear from thirty, who had fol-
lowed the sea from his boyhood, and was
considered first-class seaman. He was
little below medium height, with a
stout, thick set frame, and frank, open
features, which greatly belied his true
disposition.
This was his second trip as mate of the
Americas, and though he had succeeded
in winning the good will of the captain,
he was generally disliked by the crew
for his naughty and oyerbearing ways.
That he loved Miss Stanford with all the
ardor of which his nature was capable,
there was no doubt; and it is perhaps
needless to say that he looked upon the
attention the manly handsome Haywood
paid her with anything but pleasure. In
fact he was mad with jealousy, and the
opportunity only was wanting for his
pent-up passion to break forth into a
torrent of hatred and vengence.
However, he had so managed to
govern his actions that no one dream
ed of the fierce mental conflict which
was racking his brain.
Affairs were at this state-Miss Mabel
openly receiving the attentions OF
Haywood, while her father and broth
er, the supercargo, was silently work
ing to bring about different result,
and Gregg still trying to win her from
his rival, his passion growing fiercer
and fiercer as bis case grew more hope
less, till plans Of revengeful triumph
went fitting through his brain, ready
to be tried in case fair means should
fail, when an incident occurred which
tended to bring about an estrangement
between the captain and bis daughters
lover.
It had been the aim of the unscru-
pulous Gregg from the first to bring
about a quarrel between the captain,
or his son Lewis. and Haywood Thus
he was continually embittering the
minds of both against the young and
handsome mate, until at last bis object
was accomplished.
Haywood and young Stanford had
an open quarrel, brought about by the