The Opelousas courier., 1890-11-01
DICK RODNEY'S REVENGE

sIord, let me have a chance to be re
venged at lastl''
That was what Dick Rodney said as he
turned from the door of the sweetheart
be had been thinking of during all the
long voyage just ended, with the news
that she was married to another burning
in his heart like a red hot iron.
She was a light, foolish thing, not
worthy of a true mans love.
But he had worshiped her, and she had
Tilted Kim and married Ralph Holloway.
1t was not a tale to tell, a sorrow te
seek sympathy for.
Dick went back to sea q moodier man
than be had been. and now and then he
would say to some mate:
There's q fellow I'm bound TO be even
with some day.
But he never said why.
He felt himself bitterly and shameful
ly injured, and he felt sure that God
would cast his enemy into his hands in
the end.
It seemed to him that it was not neces-
sary for him to seek it, but only TO- bide
his time.
Five years passed, and still he said:
~ watt And one morning he looked
up and saw Ralph Holloway standing OPP
posite him, and said to himself:
1.-THE time is coming"
Il had been very hard for Captain
Palmer to find hands for that voyage.
The Betsy Belle had met with many dis.
aeters and was counted unlucky. And
the Captain was not liked.
The crew wal d rough one when it was
made up, bur mere was Ralph Holloway
coming to add himself to it. It was a
curious fact, and one of which Dick
Rodney was not aware, that Ralph had
never known anything Of Efie's engage
ment to him. He had come home from
q voyage, met q pretty girl at q party,
spent his money in giving her presents,
and offered himself.
He was a handsomer man than Dick,
and being less prudent, seemed more
generous. Ehfe accepted him, and left
it TO her mother to tell Dick the news on
his return, quite conscience free. Ralph
walked up TO Dick, holding out his
hand.
eve seen you BEFORE, he said.
stYnusve forgotten me, ! guess. I'm
Ralph Holloway, Of your own town"
.sOh, / know you well enough" said
Dick, without taking his hand.
Odd ways are not uncommon amongst
sailors. Ralph said to himself that Dick
was cruaty, and put his hand away in his
pocket.
81 SHOULDN'T wonder If you didn't
know me- he said. ssl'm run down and
mighty low in pocket, or wouldn't have
shipped with Captain Palmer. I've had
pretty bad luck.
tsHave you2'' said Dick ftAnd yet
they shy Old Nick never deserts his
friends"
II amt made friends with him rs I
knows of said Ralph. About tbs
time ! married, | got . bit of money from
grandfather, and bought a house and
put my wife into it. we had d couple
Of babies, and things seemed going on
first rate. Then I went on an unlucky
voyage. was shipwrecked, came home
sick, and lay idle sir months. let my
insurance run out-cause Why7 I couldn't
pay iE-and that week my home was
burned down BY & tramp I'D driv of the
place. One Of the children was badly
burned-scarred for life-and the COW
was roasted to 4 einder. Then, you
know. WON III folk mint got mucn cour-
age. and Fife, that's my wife, kind of
came down on me for my hard luck and
30, though I'm a sick man jet, shipped
to-siay. Idunt feel encolrased-I feel
as If there WAS wt-se aaead Of me-
Perhaps there il. said Dick to him
felf. feeling q iiendiai delight in The
thought that he would have Efie's hus-
band il his power On the high seas. with
only 4 plank between him and death.
He he'd not sought him out, ho had
come to him. There was fate ii it.
Ashe bent oveT q rope he was splic-
ing. pretending to be very busy with it.
RaEnh talked on, and Dick felt sure that
Efiie and her husband were not happy
together. S. mns revenss he had al
Teadyl The thought caoleI him more
than any other coun have done.
Later ia the day lie found hin elf say
Inc thata nlgn might Wsll iaare one whe
had nronged him u tht justice Of Heaven
That sooner or later he would fnd him
selfsatisEe3.
Among other things Ralph had said
that
Trouble md worry and sh1H sctuak
altered his wife from i prssy girl Il
i mighty plain wonan
Wa16s 6lana "a Dicks msas-f