The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-10-17
A MURDER.

Ihad many a time wondered what there
could have been IN the past history ofmy
shiprnste, Robert Kendall, that made him
such a strange being. There were occa-
sional CLEANS of sunshine which showed
him 70 be a genial companion, and again
he would grow melancholy when the
song, laugh and Jest were at the high
est.
We grew very friendly on the voyage,
and one night when We were on watch
together, he said TO me: q ] suppose you
have wondered many a time at my seem
ingly strange conduct, but if you knew
all you would nave no cause TO won
der"
Expressed a hope that il was nothing
very serious, and asked if l could be of
service to him.
The case is serious enough" said he,
" but you can judge for yourself, as am
going to tell you the whole story.
give years ago I shipped as second
mate on the bark Kathleen, bound for
l Cape Town
had formed an attachment for a
country girl named Jennie Leavitt, who
lived near Liverpool. She was perfection
in my eyes, and l believed her to be as
true as she Was fair. We we're not for
mally engaged-the most could extort
from her was a promise not Il marry any
one else fer a year.
The first mate of the Kathleen was a
young man named Armstrong with whom
| was slightly acquainted, and who lived
in the same town that Jennie did, but |
did not know that he was acquainted
with her until two days u TO sea, when
Armstrong, who was overhauling his
chest, handed me a small picture, saying
proudly
How do you like the looks of this girl,
Mr.. Kendallg
Il held the picture carelessly TO the
light and saw the well-known features of
Jennie Leagitt. controlled myself, and
remarked quietly
a very pretty girl. Is she any rela-
ton Of yours2"
"'Oh, no, he replied. Not yet, though
I hope she may be very near to me, in
time
Z" hastily hurried on deck lest my feel
iugs should betray me, and went about
my duties ike an insane person, giving
contradictory and laundering orders. All
my eloquence had failed to get a picture
from Jennie, she claiming that it would
not be right, as We were not engaged, but
she had given me TO understand that |
possessed her heart, alone, and | had
rested my hopes upon that, and doubtless
Armstrong was doing the same.
Through the remainder OF the long
voyage | was tossed by conflicting emo
tions, and was feeling very wretchedly
when we came 10 anchor again in the
Mersey.
AS We lay at anchor q letter from
Jennie was brought out to me, in which
she said tina; she would like to see me
that evening, as she w&s going away the
next day TO visit some friends up the
country.
An my old ~infatnation returned. and
/ took the train that e evening, determined
to have al explanation in full. but once
in my presence l forgot it in my mad
love, more 80 after | had exacted 4 sly
promise from her TO be my wife.
Il returned to Liverpool to settle up
the voyage and make preparations for out
union, and al the lojging-house / met
Armstrong, who was earnestly perusing a
letter"
five heard from my little girl, Jennie
said he, and she wants to see me TO-
morrow evening
HIS words fell on my ear like a thun-
der-bOlt. She had told me that she was
going away the next morning, and YET
had made an engagement for the mex
eyesing-
"Stifing my emotion, I asked q What
is her last Manner
Lsaviu, said he Jennie Leavitt
and she is TO meet me under the elm a
the foot Of the lane, where We sat the
night before the kathleen sailed
There could be no mistake, and ]
left the house with feelings Of stern, un-
r~elenting hatred to my promised wife.
= brooded over it all that night and
the K evening. when Armstrong pre-
pared te start ! went to the stationt to 80
him of. as he thought, but / stepped int
an adjoining car and was borne away in