Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-08-10
THE UNSEEN WITNESS.

we East India merchant service, was on
her homeward passage. Her crew were
jubilant at the prospect Of soon reaching
home but probably no one aboard the
ship was in better spirits than the skip
pcr's daughter, Mabel Stanford, who had
accompanied her father on this voyage.
When, suddenly, like a thunderbol.
from clear sky dark cloud Of wrongs
and sufferings which had been hanging
over them, broke upon them in all its
terrible power. sending broken hearts into
their midst, chilling the hopes OF the
crew and driving the captain and his
daughter nearly distracted with grief.
Mabel Stanford was the general favor
ito OF that ships company. None could
help liking her pleasant ways ; and she,
all unconscious Of the fearful web shs
was so innoeently weaving, did her best
to make tho voyage pleasant.
Among Miss Stantord's most ardent
admirers, and one whom she seemed es-
pecially to favor, was the second mate,
young Frank Haywood, who loved her
with all his heart.
IL was whispered among the crew 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
known that he would prefer tho hrst mate.
Warren Gregg, who Was also suitor for
his daughters hand.
Warren Gregg, the nrst mate, was
man not far from thirty, who had fol-
lowed the sea from his boyhood, and was
considered first. class seaman. He was
little below medium heighth, with
stout, thick set frame, and frank, open
features, which greatly belied his true
disposition.
This was his second trip as mate Of the
Amsricus and though he had succeeded
in winning the good will Of the captain,
he was generally disliked by the crew for
his naughty and overbearing ways. That
he loved Miss Stanford with all the srdor
OF which his human 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 tor
rent OF hatred and vengeance.
However, he had so managed to gov
ern his actions that no ono dreamed Of the
fierce mental conflict which was raking
his brain.
Affairs were ut this state-Mabel open
ly receiving the attentions of Haywood,
while her father and brother, the super
cargo, were silently working to bring
about different result, and Gregg still
trying to win her from bis rival, his pas
sion growing Rercor and fercer as his case
grew more hopeless, till plans for re
vengeful triumph went fitting through
his brain, ready to bs tried in case fair
means should fail-when an incident oc-
Cured which tended to bring about an
arrangement between the captain and
his daughters lover.
1t had beOn the aim Of the unscrupu-
lous Gregg from tho first to bring about
q quarrel between tho captain, or his son
Lewis and Haywood. Thus he was con
tinually embttering the minds Of both
against the young man, until at last his
object was accomplished.
Haywood and young Stanford had an
open quarrel, brought about by the shrewd
Vaccinations of the first mate, who had
caused the hot-hsaded supercargo to nc
cuse the other Of stealing ring he had
mysteriously lost, which Of course quick
ly aroused the temper of the latter, when
hot discussion followed that would have
no doubt ended in blows il some of the
crew had not interfered.
The sympsthies Of the csptan in this
quarrel were with his son and those Of
Mabel with her lover, whom she did not
consider al all to blame.
1t was not far from the middle Of the
night following tho quarrel between Hey
wood and Stanford ; and, save the gentle
moaning of the wind through the rigging,
and the rippling of the water as the ship
ploughed on her course, all was silent as
death, when the helmsman, peering out
with strslning eyes into the impenstrable
gloom OF the black eTpsnss beyond, was
suddenly aroused from the drowsiness
that was stealing over him, by hearing q
cry tor help, and then splash in the
water from of the lee bow.
He quickly turned 10 ask the supercsr-
20, who but moment before had been
standing by his side, the cause Of the
noise, when he saw that the Young man
was gone.
Then the truth instantly flashed through
his mind and he shouted in a startling,
excited tone
Man overheard ~
1t seemed but an instant from the civ
ing OF the alarm, before the captain and
crew we're on deck-and lights bsin
quickly brought they rushed to the place
whence the helmsman had heard the cry,
when to their surprise they discovered
the second mate, wild and haggard
look upon his face, holding in his hand
heavy, murderous looking club.
What means this p Numbered the
skipper, as thoughts of foul play flashed
upon bis brain.
But, amazed and startled, Heywoed
was silent.
who is lost 2" cried the captain, in
the next instant.
But before any ons had time to answer
him, his own eyes told him.
| HNv God tia awis and that rad