The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-08-16


traffikced in slaves at times, an,
frequently ran up the red fagl [ di,
my best to make her comfortable. Sh
was absolutely queen of my craft an,
crew. lavished upon her person m,
share OF the plumber which we took
For while she seemed happy, and
grew to love her as warmly as l feignet
to at first. But she wearied of me a
length, or become disguised at a sayag,
disposition | did not always care to con
zeal. She grew cold. laughed at tina
at first, and expected it would pass away
by-and-bye.
Ny hrst mate was young and good
looking. He was ambitious, too, and
had my utmost confidence. We hac
broken from an English prison together
and then we joined our fortunes. We
had sailed together for ten years,
WOULD have trusted him with my very
life. / did trust him with too much.
He paused. l heard the suppressed
breathing of both for few seconds. The
Senior Tompson said, in low and gentle
voice:
go on. partly guessed what fol
owed. He and she both proved false ?''
They did. But they paid for it.
branded him with his perfdy before
the crew. Relying on his popu-
larlty with my men, he ac-
knowledged all and defed me. But
he mistook his strength. Ny men were
true as steel; and he paid a visit that
night to the sharks, well weighted with
cannon shot. AS for her"
He paused again. The voice of Temp
son, calm, soft, and low, interrupted the
| silence.
You did not forgive herr" said he.
Forgive her! exclaimed Brenton.
"The devil rose in me and had full
swing. beat her till she died; died
cursing me as Der betrayer, and then
trampled her dead body beneath my feet.
My crew applauded the deed. They had
grown jealous of her, for her influence
had kept me back from plumber time and
again; and they held carouse that night
to drink her free passage to the other
world"
Tompson rose and paced the room
with an air of agony. The sick man
gave an inquiring look"
at is nothing" said the senior. GA
neuralgia pain across my forehead. 1t
has gone. And what became of the
boy?"
took some interest in him. He is
a fine, lively and promising youth. I
have placed him at a school in Virginia,
where l am informed he makes great
progress. l saw him about year since,
and he pestered me with questions as to
who and what he was, which I promised
he should know sometime. If | die, |
wish him taken care Of"
Rest easy on that point. 1t shall be
done, and well. He shall be my heir.
promise that, " said the senior.
"You dol Thank you. Here are
papers and letters which will gain you
his confidence" And the captain
handed him package, which the senior
carefully placed on the table, at a short
distance from the bed. "Here," con-
tinued the sick man, is paper which
secures him my property at my death,
for | have accumulated some, and
He was interrupted by a strange
action Of Tompson, who took the paper
in his hands, and tore it into fragments.
he then seated himself quietly in the
chair by the sick man. The latter
grasped him by the wrist, and examined
the countenance of the senior in terror.
What does that meanY' asked he.
The Senior Tompson evaded the ques-
ton.
odd it not occur to you," he asked
that you would one day have to render
an account for all these fine things? Has
the figure of that murdered woman never
come to you at the dead of night, and
bid you beware of the future? Did you
think you could always brave the conse-
quences Of your acts with impunityT"
The sick man rose halfway in the bed,
and looked alarmed, but said not word
The other went on.
1t is no matter. You will recover
yet. You have strong will, though
you are weak in body. Be calm. Be
easy. Let me give you some soothing
draught.
So saying, he handed :Brenton a cup
of liquid.
The captain drank it painfully slow,
and then returned the vessel. The
senior rose.
"Have you any other thing to tell
me?"
Nothing" was the reply.
81 ask, since any little arrangements
will have to be speedy. You would
have recovered, but l preferred you should
not. Do not start so; it annoys me. l
gave you slow poison every day in your
medicine, which has been destroying
you gradually. The draught you took
just now is quicker in its nature. AS
near as l can judge, you have just five
minutes to live. In five minutes you
will be in the other world"
The terror of the sick man was at its
height. With a spasmodic effort he
sprang from the bed, and clutched at
the senior, who fell before ne reached
him.
Who in Gods name are your" he
gasped rather than spoke.
The senior drew himself up to his full
height, and said:
an her husband and her avenger."
Brenton gazed at him as though
fascinated. The perspiration stood upon
his forehead in big drops; his features
became contorted with pain; he gave
one shrill cry of agony and fell forward.
The senior laughed.
/ flew rather than ran from the plade
nor did | stop until | reached my dwell
ling. The feelings which l had pent up
| during that conversation revenged them
selves upon me, and was Frustrated for
days with burning fever. When /
recovered learned that Tompson and
Pompeyo had departed, none knew with
err; and that the dead body of the SLAYER
captain, horribly mutilated, had been
found, seated in the chair by the side of
the bed where he had received the fatal
draught.
Neither the senior nor his servant were
ever afterward seen in Spain.