The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-02-22
JIM HANNA'S REVENGE.

A stiff southeast trade wind wa,
sending our ship along at the rate ol
ten knots an hour. We had left Cape
Town behind, and were bound fol
New York, and there was but ono
cloudcd face in the vessel.
1t was that of jim Hanna, one of the
Youngest and best men in the ship.
l noticed, that whereas he lad al
ways been friendly with Jack Ward,
talking with him about old friends and
times at home, now he seemed TO shun
him more than anyone.
asked Jack the reason of this, but
he proicssed to be unable to tell, and
said that Jim's acts were as strange to
him us they were to me. AT first
thought would talk to Jim, and try to
bring him to be more sociable, but
gave it up after few unsuccessful tri-
ais.
lie did not go on shore at Cape
Town, but letter came to him and
made him more dark and still. |
watched him as he read it, and my soul
was chilled by the hard look that came
to his eyes.
time, and he also had letter from
home, and Jim's darkest looks were
directed towards HIM. l determined
to watch affairs more closely now; for
felt sure there was trouble for Jack
ahead, and l might be able to prevent
| it.
jim, Jack Ward and were in the
mates watch, and the night after this
occurred, Jim came over to the star
board side, where l was walking, and
joined me; Jack was aft at the wheel.
For time he said nothing, but | did
not think strange of this, for he had
been SO silent lately l could expect
nothing else. What surprised me was
his coming to walk with me. We pas
sed the deck together for an hour be-
fore he spoke, and when he did, his
voice was so full of passion it startled
me.
"Bill, l think you are friend of
mine, and l would like to say a few
words in confidence to you."
II am your friend, Jim, and am
willing to hear what you wish to say"
"All right, old fellow, you know
how happy and free was when | join
ed this ship, and you know | remained
so until we struck the Trades in the In
dian Ocean. Then one night / saw a
vision"
"a vision?'
eyes. 1t was no dream, for was
at the wheel. The moon was shining
like it is now. There was just enough
wind to keep the sails full, and the sea
was scarcely ripplcd. l had not been
at the wheel an hour; all was quiet on
deck, when suddenly | heard my name
whispered close to me.
"You have heard me talk of Lille
Clarke, my schoolmate, whom liked
so much. Well, we love each other,
and were to be married when this voy-
age was finished, and it was her voice ]
heard.
81 looked round but could see moth
ing strange at first. The moonlight
flashed and sparkled among the rip
Piles in the ships wake, and crowned
them with silver glow. Then vapor,
shapeless and white, rose above the
bulwarks and clung to the iron railing
that guards it. The moonlight shone
through it, revealing no form or sem
blance; yet could hear voice, low
but distinct, issue from it.
"1t said, Jim, you have been untrue,
and am dying because of it,
"Bill, have not been untrue, and
the man who told her so lied. But the
worst thing is, she is dying, and can
not say word to stop it. No, she is
dead long ago."
"But, Jim, this may be all an halluci-
nation."
"No. fl had not received that let
ter at Cape Town | might have thought
so, but the letter told me it was true.
thought to get letter from her, but
none came, but my brother wrote me,
saying Lille had grown thin and pale
lately, and was very cold and distant
with him. Bill, some one from this
ship sent that word home."
"From this ship? What makes you
think sop
"This. Just before began to court
Lille with the notion of getting splic-
ed, Jack Ward wished to be her beau"
"You don't think he wrote to her?"
"I do, and if Lille dies or is estrang-
ed from me, and | find that he did it,
will deal hardly with him."
GLOW do you know that this myste-
rious revelation came from Lille
ClarkeY
"Because ii was her voice that spoke.
and before the vapor went away, it
parted and showed me Lilies face, so
white and deathlike that to look at il
chilled me-"
"Still there may be no foundation for
your thinking that Jack has done
wrong"
81 shall not act before know. but if
he has, he shall feel what wronged
mans revenge can do"
He left me without saying ANYTHING
more, and / was too much astonished
to detain him. He had been SO gener-
GUS and kind, that to hear him utter
such words surprised me. / had no
idea love could so change a man.
lie came to me the next day when
the pilot-boat was sighted, and said,
"Bill, will you go with me to Sanford
when we are clear from this ship? |
may need your assistance"
"Certainly, jim; and be glad to 60"
"We will start then as soon as we
are paid off,"
al will be ready"
was single man, with no home
ties, and thus able TO grant Jim's
request without loss of pleasure or
comfort. The day the pilot came
aboard we We're towcd up through the
Narrow, and the next day were on the
way TO Sanford. II was like one clear
September afternoon when we arrived
there. The sunlight was warm and
golden, and the earth still retained
enough of its summer beauty 10 be
charming.
Sanford Is a quiet Connecticut vii
lage, with no noisy factory or smoky
chimnys 10 deface its rural beauty. x
iaW of foil and so.aoaG.l ol.... .....-