Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1890-09-12
DICK RODNEY'S REVENGE.

"Lord, let me have chancc 10 be re-
venged at lastl"
That was what Dick Rodney said as he
turned from tho 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 true mans love.
But he had worshiped her, and she had
Tilted him aud married Ralph Holloway.
1t was not tale to tell, sorrow to
GEEK 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 neccs-
sary for him to seek it, but only to bide
his time.
Five years passed, and still he said !:
az wait" And one morning he looked
up and saw Ralph Holloway standing op-
,osite him, and said TO himself:
"The time is coming"
II 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 1t was
made up, but here was Ralph Holloway
coming to add himself to it. 1t was q
curious fact, and ono of which Dick
Rodney was not aware, that Ralph had
never known anything of Efiie's engage
ment to him. lie had come home from
voyage, met pretty girl at party,
spent his money in giving her presents,
and offered himself.
He was q handsomer man than Dick,
aud being less prudent, seemed more
generous. Ellie accepted him, and left
1t to her mother to tell Dick the news on
his return, quite conscience FREQ. RALPH
walked up to Dick, holding out hi
hand.
"Tve seen you BEFORE" he said
"You've forgotten me, l guess. Tn
Ralph Holloway, of your own town."
"Oh, / know you well enough" sale
Dick, without taking his hand.
Odd ways arc not uncommon amongs
sailors. Ralph said to himself that Dicl
was crusty, and put his hand away in hi
pocket.
81 shouldn't wonder il you didn'
know me, he said "l'm run down ant
mighty low in pocket, or wouldn't hav'
shipped with Captain Palmer. I've hat
pretty bad luck"
"Havo youi" said Dick. Sand YET
they say Old Nick never deserts hii
friends"
al amt made friends with him as
knows Of" said Ralph. "About til,
time married, / got bit OF money from
grandfather, and bought house and
put my wife it. We had a coupl,
of babies, and things seemed going OF
first rate. Then went on IN unlucky
voyage, was shipwreckcd, came hom,
sick, and lay idle six months. Ilot my
insurance run out--cause why7 couldn'
pay it-and that week my home wa
burned down by n tramp I'd driv off tn
place. One of tho children was badl,
burned--scarred for life-and the GOV
was roasted to cinder. Then, 20,
know, won IN folk amt got much cour
age, and Effie, that's my wife, kind 0
came down on me for my hard luck; an,
so, though I'm sick man yet, Iahippe'
to-day. l don't feel cncourGged--T fee
as II there was worse ahead Of me-"
''Pcrhaps there is, said Dick to him
self, feeling tieudish delight in tn
thought that he would have Effie's hus
band in his power on the high seas. wit
only plank between him and death
! He had not sought him ont, he ha'
come to him, There was fate In 1t.