Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-06-05
AN AMPLE PREPARATION

stood in the center of the small, plain,
carefully kept room A shapely forefinger
was shaken at the dropping figure that
stood, hat in hand, in the doorway. A
shaded lamp was on the small table at the
side of the room, few framed photo
graphs and prints on the walls, carpet
with red figures on the floor; shining
cooking stove at the chimney; above it the
small mantel shelf with a few ornaments
He saw it all, and yet it was as If he saw
nothing. His face was turned to the floor
Signs of uncomfortable emotion were on
him, and his frame shook and his hands
trembled In the agony of his soul
He saw the picture before him, and yet
his mind was full of another picture that
seemed as II it would possess him for ever
more. He saw small fishing schooner
beating in for Pollock Rip, on the Massa-
chusetts shore. The night was dark and
squally. The tide was sweeping out to sea,
and until it should turn the progress was
slow. The skipper was at the wheel. The
small standing staysail had been taken
in, and the husband of the woman, James
Hallett, had gone aloft In the dark to furl
it. The skipper threw the schooner in
stays while he was coming down the fore
rigging just as he reached the rail,
"Draw awayp' came from aft, and then a
rush of the great jib as it flew to leeward
on the traveller The block Of the sheet
struck him fairly and hurled him into the
gloom overheard. Then Abner Wilcox
knew that when he had let go the tail Of
the sheets he had made this woman a
widow
Movable articles were thrown overheard
boats were in the water almost instantly
three or four Of them, the handy dories Of
the fishing service, and search was made
everywhere, but in vain, James Hallett
was gone. When the boats returned from
their fruitless search, Abner Wilcox was
found insensible on deck. He came out Of
this swoon only to rave of what he had
done and to rehearse the scene in his de
lirium. The skipper ran his vessel for
Boston, and the delirious man was sent to
the hospital, and rough but feeling hearts
broke the sad news to the bereaved wife.
Abner Wilcox and James Hallett had
been boys together on the sandy shores of
Cape Cod They swan, lshed boated,
dug for clans, and followed all the occu
pations peculiar to their class and sur
roundings. and both fell in love with the
same girl Abner was a silent, reserved,
TdIutT uWhNbTu 1Ouuk Alt icNt'
Mary Crowel with all his heart, yet before
he could muster courage to tell his love
James, bright, gay and light hearted, had
sought and won the prize She knew how
It was with him She had seen his shy
ardent looks, the faint flush that had
tinged his cheeks in her presence, his awk.
ward embarrassment when she spoke &c
him, and her woman's soul delighted tc
torment him. and she did so.
When James Hallett married Mary
Crowell Wilcox had a terrible despairinp
time with his own soul. Out upon the
sandy beach, alone in a terrible storm, he
fought and conquered, and a new nature
came upon him and a man was born again
He loved Mary Hallett still, but with 9
purified love that was devotion. Her two
little girls he idolized. He was their abject
slave. He wrought and toiled for them
saved and kept for them, and he loved
them well Now, what had he done' His
hand had, although unwittingly, bereavet
these whom he loved so well, robbed then
of husband and father, made their hous'
desolate indeed unto them. After a vast
ing illness he regained his senses and somt
strength. He would gladly have died, bu
his life was not his own. IL must be de
voted to those whom he had so injured
and in his heart of hearts he so devoted it
When sufficiently recovered he went Il
the sandy cape again. He could not music
courage to approach the house until afte
night fell, and so it came to pass that b
stood in the door at eventide and locke
for a moment upon the young widow
And she-in the violence Of her pain an
bereavement, her passion broke forth Il
uncomfortable fury.
'You enemy, you murderer, you falls
friend, how dare you come into my pre-:
encei Did you think that after you ha
killed my husband might smile on you
Do you suppose, Abner Wilcox, that wi
ever believe that you did not let that il
sheet fly on purposei Did you think tina
| might ever love your You were never
to clean the shoes of the man you kille
that night, you false wretchp
This was more than he had anticipated
He writhed and trembled under the fierc
invective. He shuddered, and felt as II h
heart would break; but the very fire OF tn
vindictive passion OF the young woman, a
well as the utter injustice OF the attacl
Gained him somewhat, and he answered 9
last: "Mary, God knows my heart, and 1t
very sore, but your husband or any or
dear to you would never knowingly r
ceive harm from me. Your husband
death was an utter accidents although
came from me"
"Abner Wilcox" she answered, IF a
angel from heaven came to tell me thu
you we're innocent, would not belie'
him. You stand In that door, wretch thu
you are, where my husband ought to
Living or dead, will never forgive yo
for the wrong you have done me-" 81
paused moment, almost breathless wit
her wrath. Then, with impious passit
she continued, go down to the bottom
the sea where my darling Is lying al
bring him back to me again alive and we
then will forgive you and not before"
Holding his hand before bis face, as II
ward off a threatened blow, Abner w
cox turned away, softly closed the do
and went out In the gloom Of the mig
and came back no more And Mary HI
lett, her fury spent, sank sobbing on b
knees before her chair and prayed God
pardon her for her burst Of impious wrat
The sloop-of. war Pilgrim bad sailed frol
Boston for South America, and was rul
ming out the south channel with bris
northwest wind and q smooth sea. IL WI
the morning watch. The lookouts ha
been called In, the running lights exit
quished, a man sent to the masthead, ar
Lieutenant Parker, the officer OF the dec
brisk. alert and commanding, was issuir
his orders, trimming sail and preparing
Give the ship her morning bath and toilt
Suddenly from the masthead came u
hail: