The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-10-01
Asho bent over tope he was splic.

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Effiie and her husband were not happy
together. SO much revenge he had al
ready The thought cooled him more
than any other could have done.
Later in the day he found himself ssy-
ing that's man might we'll leave one who
had wrouged him to the justice of Heaven.
That sooner or later he would find him
self satisfied.
Among other things Ralph had said
that:
"Trouble and worry and short victuals
had altered his wife from pretty girl to
mighty plain woman"
The words clung to Dicks mind--he
could not forget them. He wondered if
it were so. After this he saw very little
of Ralph. 1t was in his power, being
much the stronger of the two, to take
advantage of any watch that they might
keep together to throw him overheard,
but the miserable life did not seem worth
taking. The once prosperous young
fellow was sick, hopeless, and forlorn;
and one night, as Ralph painted over a
hard task, to which he was not equal,
Dick, yielding to some queer influence
that came upon him, asked the Captain
to let him take his place, change with
him.
"My work is easier done by man
short of breath, J." he said.
''Do as you please" the Captain re-
piled, gruffiy. "That's stupid lubber,
anyhow. Sick fellows should stay a
shore"
Dick said: "Thank ye." And per-
formed Ralph's task.
The poor fellow was grateful, and told
the story of Dicks kind deed to every
one.
"When that asthma comes on me Pm
no good" he said. "He saved my life
that night"
'T'm a fooll" Dick said to himself, but
he continued to be one. Instead of max
ing the poor, sick fellows lot harder, he
helped him in thousand ways; and the
example being set, it got to be the fash
ion to spare Ralph, to speak OF him as
"That poor chap!" and favor him in
every way.
"Here's fool for YOU" said Dick, as
he looked in his queer little round glass
of morning. "As big fool as sails. .
The voyage was not lucky one. The
Captains ventures were ot successful.
He solaced himself with drink, and lay
tipsy in his berth on the night when a
storm, such as few live to tell of, broke
over them.
For two awful days the wind and
water did what they choose with the
Betsy Belle. Then, in the worst of the
tempest, they took to the boats. As
Dick, having helped to drag the tipsy
Captain into one, was about to take his
own place, forlorn figure stretched out
its arms to him. In dumb show, for
words could not be heard, it indicated it
had hurt itself, and needed help to gain
the boat.
"Don't leave me-" its hollow eyes said (;
"give me chance"
The miserable thing was RalphsHollo-
way, covered with blood, faint with pain
and horror.
Revenge, why, here it was offered to
Dick. He could cast away those cling
ing hands, jump into the boat, and leave
the man who had stolen his sweetheart
to his wretched death. He could look
back as he left the ship, and see him in
his misery stretching out imploring hands
, toward him. Yes, he could. What he
did was to take the miserable being on
his back, and risk his life to tumble him
into the boat.
"She's too full already" yelled one
man-"too full by hanged sight"
"It's the sick one, mates!" roared
Dick. And when there was calm enough
he tore his own garments to bind Hollo-
ways wounds.
Storms do not last forever, but when
the gale subsidized and the scorching sun
shone down, and they tossed about,
knowing that the time must come when
biscuit-bag and water-keg and brandy
flask must be ompty-then came the
worst horror of all. They doled the bis
cult out by crumbs, the water by drops,
but even so it would not last forever.
"DIck, good friend" said Ralph one
day, ''all pray for is to live and see
Eflie, and ask her pardon for anything
I've done wrong, She liked me, though
she was touchy. She'll grieve if l leave
her a widow, poor grill"
For awhile Dick sat silent and said
nothing. 1t was the day on which they
divided the last of the food.
Two days after a man arose in the
boat with knife in his hand.
81 won't starve fer one" he said.
"One of us has got to so to save the
rest you're the one"
He pointed straight at Ralph; there
was frenzy in his eye.
The others hauled him down. As yet
they were not mad enough to join in a
cannibal feast. But starvation was do
ing its work.
Dick kept stronger and clearer in mind
than the rest. He watched the man who
had welded the knife. In the night he
saw him creeping toward Ralph. A
blow sent him sprawling; his comrades
were aroused.
"Why not2" they began to whisper.
"They will kill me yet" moaned
Ralph. "Ehie will go crazy if she hears
the story"
Revengel Why, it was offered to
Dick in overhowing measure, And he
put his strong, stout body between the
miserable Ralph and those others and
cried out;