The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-10-01
DICK R0DNEY'S REVENGE.

"Lord, let me have chance to be re-
venged at last
That was what Dick Rodney said as be
turned from the door of the sweetheart
he 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 red hot iron.
She was light, foolish thing, not
worthy of a true mans love.
But he had worshiped her, and she had
Tilted him and married Ralph Holloway.
It was not tale to tell, a sorrow to
seek sympathy for.
Dick went back to sea moodier man
than he had been, and now and then he
would say to some mate:
"There's 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.
1t 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 /:
'T wait" And one morning he looked
up and saw Ralph Holloway standing op-
posite him, and said to himself:
"The time is coming"
1t had been very hard for Captain
Palmer to find hands for that voyage.
The Betsy Belle had met with many dis
asters and was counted unlucky. And
the Captain was not liked.
The crew was rough one when it was
made up, but here was Ralph Holloway
coming to add himself to it. 1t was a
curious fact, and one of which Dick
Rodney was not aware, that Ralph had
never known anything of Etfie's engage
ment to him. He had come home from
a voyage, met pretty girl at party,
spent his money in giving her presents,
and offered himself.
He was handsomer man than Dick,
and being less prudent, seemed more
generous. Effie accepted him, and left
il to her mother to tell Dick the news on
his return, quite conscience free. Ralph
walked up to Dick, holding out his
hand.
"Tve seen you BEFORE" he said.
"You've forgotten me, guess. Pm
Ralph Holloway, of your own town"
"Oh, know you well enough" said
Dick, without taking his hand.
Odd ways are not uncommon amongst
sailors. Ralph said to himself that Dick
was crusty, and put his hand away in his
pocket.
81 shouldn't wonder if you didn't
know me, he said. "I'm run down and
mighty low in pocket, or wouldn't have
shipped with Captain Palmer. I've had
pretty bad luck"
"Have youi" said Dick. 'And yet
they say Old Nick never deserts his
friends"
al amt made friends with him as
knows of" said Ralph. "About the
tune married, got bit of money from
grandfather, and bought house and
put my wife intoit. We had couple
of babies, and things seemed going on
first rate. Then went on an unlucky
voyage, was shipwrecked, came home
sick, and lay idle six months. l let my
insurance run out-cause whyl I couldn't
pay it-and that week my home was
burned down by tramp I'd driv off the
place. One of the children was badly
burned-scarred for life-and the cow
was roasted to a cinder. Then, you
know, womsn folk amt got much cour-
age, and Effie, that's my wife, kind Of
came down on me for my hard luck; and
so, though I'm a sick man yet, shipped
to-day. don't feel eneouraged-I feel
as if there was worse ahead of me-"
"Perhaps there is, said Dick to him
self, feeling a fiendish delight in the
thought that he would have Effie's hus-
band in his power on the high seas, with
only plank between him aud death
lie had not sought him out, he had
come 10 him. There was fate in it.