The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-07-12
RHOOA,s ENCOUNTER

Da211y
RHOOA,S ENCOUNTER.
1t was beautiful evening in June
The fresh breeze brought with il de
licious, healthy smell of the sea, an,
| just over the road might be seen the lon
expanse of wet sand left bare by the re
'treating tide. The sun was setting will
a glorious glow, crimsoning nature witt
a brilliant sheen. Out az sea were few
smaoks, while, two miles or so up tn
road, Ouseport iHarbor was dead in it,
mud, and the four or five vessels which
Elay In it at all sorts OF angles would no
be showing the remotest sign of life un
til the return of the tide at midnight.
OuespOrt, as a rule, retired, and con-
sequently this two miles of road skirtIDe
the crimson shore was altogether desert
ed. Above the road was garden, raised
| some eight or ten feet over our heads
and there sat old Captain Russell, known
to all Ouseport as the most inveteratt
sea dog in existence.
He was in an outlook he had built on
the wall overhanging the road, and
forming a sort of tower to a spacious
old fashioned snuggery, half summer
house and half smoking room, where he
loved to while away his existence with
his pipe, his telescope and his grog,
Here he was to be found the livelong
day, enjoying his growl. And here he
sat on the evening in question amidst a
pile of old sea charts and newspapers.
1t was quiet evening. Not sound
could be heard, except the rustling OF
hn mind tho laaynp Whath..r
it was the influence of nature or memo
ry, or both combined Captain Russell
was in melancholy mood. He seemed
scarcely TO have enough courage left to
keep his pipe alight, while his grog stood
on the table untasted. One OF the sea-
charts-the coast round Bombay-lay
across his knee, where it dropped from
his hand, and his telescope was on a
chair just as he had laid it aside after
watching brig drop out to sea. He
was altogether in a melancholy mood,
but even that he enjoyed. there was in
a pleasant dellrium which at the moment
he would not have changed for the best
company which had ever crowded round
his table when he was captain of the old
Travancore East Indiaman.
That evening was the 25th anniversary
of an event which was the turning point
in his life. 1t was just such another
evening, tOo-quiet, fragrant with the
sea breeze. and The darkness just gather
ing, 1t was in this very spot, too where
he had sat; but it was in his fathers 3
days, and instead of the old sea dogs
look out there was only the summer
house. There had been garden party,
ana Rhoda Mainwaring had just accept
ell rose from his hand. He had long
loved Rhotla as the sweetest, prettiest
girl in all OusepoTt, and he thought that
he was right in supposing that he had
made some progress in her affections.
He was then handsome, dashiDg lieu
tenant, much sought for by all the
mothers of the district. He was the very
soul of Every company in which he
found himself; he was dotted on by the
fair sex, and the model whom all the
young fellows did their best to initiate.
RhUda took the rose from his hand
with so sweet smile, that the brave,
dashing sailor at once suggested that she
should take his hand too. Directly he
had uttered the words, he discovered
from the young lady's expression OF
alarm, that he had miscalculated his
position. She had at once declared she
did not love him, never could loYe him,
and then, bursting into food of tears,
fulliof passion and repentance, she had
prayed him to forgive her for thus mis-
leading him.
Alas! Mr.. Russell, have loved you as
my fathers benefactor and friend. You
saved him from bankruptcy, and wor-
SHIPPED you for it, for knew that the
disgrace would have killed him Oh,
forgive me; l never could love you as a
husband You have preserved my faith.
er's honor and his life; for that / am
entirely grateful to you; but believe me,
any feeling of love or feelings which
have been mistaken by you for love, is
only gratitude-or, if 1t he love, then l
can. only describe il as that which girl
may feel for her fathers brother her
uncle
All these thoughts had returned to
Capt Russell's heart this evening, and
he had altogether forgotten his sur
roundings-tIme and space were not for
him in existence. Only once had he
broken the silence, and then it was to
smack his leg with his broad palm, and
to exclaim: L.a ,fH"t .' f
By Jove She was right. She was
only 10 and l was "a. What could such
an old tar do with such young wife?
And then his reyerie had followed up
his life's course. He had gone to sea
again at the earliest possible date, and
though he was wealthy man, he had
stuck to it even after his fathers death.
Rhoda had altogether vanished from
his path, and it was only on such even
ings as this that the old man ever re-
that there was such mis-
chievous little imp as the blind god in
existence.
By Jovei The giIl was right. am
nearly so now, but Indian climates have
made me feel like so. I'm worn out, fit
for nothing-but my last voyagel -
In this way were the old salts
thoughts drifting along, when he was
aroused from his dream, or reverie, by a
scream from the road.
Captain Russell was on his feet in a
Just as he would have been on
the alert II he had been summoned by
the watch at soa. He went hurriedly to
the wall and looked over into the road.
About hundred yards off he could see
a young girl struggling in the hands Of
a tramp. .
The tramp was swearing md saying
Give me your watch and your money,
and be hanged to youH I'll cut your head
off II you make such a row, confound
you ... .t.tr .r lr
Help; Murderl Oh, don't hurt me
Let that girl alone you villiainl shout
ed the Captain. I'll break every bone
in your body II catch you'll
The Captains voice had lost none of
that ancient strength which had made
it heard above the storm. The tramp
fully expected that a vigorous young
man was about to attack him and there
fore, after making savage, but unsuc-
cessful wrench at his victims waist
pocket, he threw her violently from him
on to the hard road and made his es-
cape.
The next minute Captain Russell had
arrived on the scene, and was gratified
to learn from the villains curses that he
had altogether failed in his attempt at
robbery. .-..
The girl, however, lay gasping in the
road. .
He at once knelt down by the pros
trate form, and there seemed TO him
something which practically attracted