Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-07-11
THE UNSEEN WITNESS.

The Good ship Americas, engaged IN
the East Indian mcrchant service, was
on her honeward 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 shippers pretty daughter Ma
bel Stanford, who had accompanied her
father on this voyage.
When, suddenly, like a thunderbolt
from a clear sky, dark cloud Of wrongs
and sufIcrngs, 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 aud driyins the cap
tain and his daughter nearly distracted
with griet.
Mabel Stanford was the general ia
voritc of tina. ships company. None
could help liking and admiring herpleas-
| ant WAYS: and she, all unconscious Of
the fearful web she was 50 innoceniiy
wcaS ing, dad her best 10 make the voy-
age pleasant.
Among Miss Stan!ord'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.
II was whispered among the crew
that he would make fine match; but
the skipper did not look upon The would
be union in that light; and it was gener-
ally known that be would prefer the
first mate, Warran Gregg, who was also
a sutton for his daughters hand.
Warran Gregg, the first mate, was a
man not far from Thirty, who had fol-
lowed the sea from his boyhood, and
was considered first-Class scaman.-
He was a little below medium height,
with stout, thick-sct 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 sue
cecded in winning the good will of the
captain, he was generally disliked by
the crew for his naughty and overbcaring
WAYS. That he loved Miss Stanford
with all The ardor of which his nature
was capable, there was no doubt: and il
upon the attention the manly, hand
some 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 gov
l l.: Al L. a
the fierce mental conflict which was
racking his brain.
Affairs were at this state-Miss Ma
bel openly receiving the attentions OF
Hcywook, while her father and, broth
er, the supercargo, were silently work
ing TO bring about different result, and
Gregg still trying to win her from his
rival, his passion growing fercer and
fercer as his case grew more hopeless,
till plans for revengeful triumph went
fitting through his brain, ready to be
tried in case fair means should fail
when an accident occurred which tended
To bring about an estrange mcnt between
the captain and his daughter lover.
II had been the aim of the unscrupu-
lous Gregg from the first TO bring about
a quarrel between the cap tain, or his
son Lewis and Haywood. Thus he
was continually emblttering the minds
of both against the young mate, until at
last his object was accomplished.
HeywQok and young Stanford had an
open quarrel, brought about by the
shrewd Vaccinations of the first mate
l. L. l. L.
cargo to accuse the other of stealing 4
ring he had mysteriousIy lost, which of
course quickly aroused the temper OF
the latter, when hot discussion FOL
lowed that would have no doubt ended
IN blows If some OF the crew had not
| interfered.
The sympathies OF the captain in this
quarrel were with his son; and those oil
Mabel with her lover, whom she did
| not consider at all TO blame.
1t was not far from the middle of the
night following the quarrel between
| Haywood and Stanford; and, save the
gentle moaning OF the wind through the
rigging, and the ripping of the water as
the ship ploughed on her course, all wa:
silent as death, when the helmsman
peerlng out with straining eyes into the
impenetrable gloom ofihe black eXpanse
beyond, was suddenly aroused from
the drowsiness that was stealing over
him, by hearing cry for help, and then
a splash in the water from of the lee
bow.
He quickly turned to ask the super
cargo, who but a moment before had
been standing by his side, the cause Of
the noise, when he saw that the young
man was gone.