Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-05-08


the Cross-Town line OF cars. which III
to Hunters Point.
Mary was brunette, whose glorior
dark eyes and brilliant olive complexio
were the admiration of all the swains j
the neighborhood. Among the list {
Mary's suitors was tall, broad -shou
dered farmer named Benjamin Viii
Jams, and q young sailor, who we
termed Brown Tom
That she favored one or the other G
these two was generally believed. al
though people could not determin
which,
Sometimes it was Williams, and a
: other times Brown Tom who escorte'
her to the village church.
Henry Melton, the uncle, favored hi
own countryman, Williams, Tom havin,
been born in Boston; but Mary, while
for her uncle's sake, enduring to visit
of Williams, loved Tom.
Williams. who hnd sufficient penetra
ton to perceive this, hated his riva
with all his heart.
Having occasion to visit relativ.
living near Astoria, Melton gave the Ike,
of his house to Farmer Williams, leav
idg him in charge of the premises.
To Tom lie said nothing of his in
tended departure, and as he had gone
off with his child in the night, the
young sailor knew nothing of it unit
the following evening, when he called
ut the house, to find Williams the sole
OCCUPANT.
"Come in. said the farmer, with as
| Ill
Tom did so, and the two men soon
We're seated face to face in the bach
room, where there was a cheerful fire.
"When will they come home?" in.
quired Tom, when the farmer had en-
lightened him regarding their absence.
In a fortnight hence" answered
Williams.
"Not till them" cried Tom aghast.
"Why, the Northern Light my craft,
you know-sails iu few days for the
East Indies, and ! will have to go off
without seeing them. [ had intended
before left"
Here he paused and colored. Will
aims, looking at him keenly, said
Go on. You were saying you had
intended -
Never mind. We will say no more
about that" answered Tom, laughing.
Guess I'll go to Astoria before sail,
as must see her ere l start on SO long
a voyage"
"Tom," said Williams, "it is no use;
you cannot deceive me- You want to
propose to Mary before you go. Well,
l can save you the trouble. Her uncle
has promised her to me-"
Her uncle" cried Tom, has nothing
to do with the matter. The women
like to chose in these things for them
selves, and have their own way"
Farmer Williams paled and Redeemed
by turns.
AS friend of Mr.. Melton" said he,
"it is not right that 1 should listen to
such language. I will not permit you
to rob him of that girl"
Avast, if you please" answered
Tom. If she chooses to have me, I'll
have her in spite of her uncle or any
other living man."
And I say itshall not be-" cried Will
Jams.
AS he spoke Williams picked up the
tire-poker and shook it in the face of
Tom, who pushed him to the other side
OF the room, and desperate struggle
ensued between the two mon.
Both were so strong and resolute
that for some time the result of the
conflict seemed doubtful.
Over and over on the floor they
rolled. pounding at each other with
right good will.
At last Toms iron frame proved too
much for Williams. He got the latter
under him, and soon compelled him to
cry out for quarter.
Instantly Tom let him up.
His face. black with suppressed rage,
was horrible sight to see. He pro-
cured a basin of water, and proceeded
to wash himself.
When he was through Tom extended
his hand.
LET us hold no grudge," said he.
Instead of taking the proffered hand.
Williams snatched Ratchet from q
nail. where it hung, and rushed upon
the unprepared young man.
He flung it straight at the latter's
head. but fortunately. the blunt side
only struck him, otherwise it must have
sunk into his brain.
AS it was he fell like log, senseless
to the floor.
Williams concluded he had killed
him, and examining the body discovered
that he had inflicted o frightful cash
upon the sailors head, from which the
blood was streaming profusely.
Williams washed the wounded head
and in various ways endeavored to re-
store the young man to consciousness.
He is dead" muttered the wretched
man, "and / shall be hanged for the
crime. What shall do! What can I
do?"
Gradually he grew calm, and reflect
ed that it was night when Tom entered
the house, and therefore that no person
had seen him.
"He had probably left word at the
boarding house where he lodged, that
he should go to Astoria that day, and
then to his ship, the Northern Light He
would not therefore be expected back.
In course of time inquiries would
probably be made, and people would
wonder what had become of him; but
as he had neither father, mother, nor
other relatives living, these inquiries, it
was not thought likely. would be pushed