Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-10-07

I
Rodney said As he turned from the aool
Of the sweetheart he had been thinking
of during all the long voyage Just ended
with the news that she was married tc
another burning ia his heart like a red
hot iron.
She was light, foolish thing, nci
worthy Of q true mans love. But he
had worshipped her, and she had jiltsd
him and married Ralph Holloway
Dick went back to sea moodier man
than he had been, and now and then he
would say 20 some mate:
There's fellow I'm bound 10 be even
with some dayi"
But he would never say why. He fell
himself bitterly and shamefully injured,
and he felt sure that God would cast his
enemy into his hands in the end. Il
seemed TO him that it was not necessary
for him to seek it, but only to bide his
time. Five yeaH passed, and still he
said II wait And one morning he
looked up and saw Ralph Holloway stand.
ing opposite him, and he 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 il was
made up, but here was Ralph Holloway
coming to add himself 70 it. 1t was a
curious fact, and one Of which Dick Rod.
ney was not aware, that Ralph had never
known anything of Effie's engagement to
him. He had come home from long
voyage, met apretty girl at a 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
1t to her mother to tell Dick the news on
his return, quite conscience free.
Ralph walked toward Dick, holding
out his hand.
"Pve seen you BEFORE" he said
you've forgotten me, l guess. I'm
Ralph Holloway. of your town"
oh, ! know you well enough" said
Dick, without taking his hand.
Odd ways are not uncommon among
sailors. Ralph said to himself that Dick
was crusty, and put his hand away in
his pocket.
II shouldn't wonder IL you didn't
know me, he said. "Pm run down and
mighty low in pocket, or wouldn't have
shipped with Captain Palmer. I've had
pretty bad luck.
Have your" said Dick. "And We,
they say Old Nick never deserts his
friends"
II amt made friends with him as
knows Of" said Ralph. About tb,
time married, l got bit of none,
from grandfather, and bought house
and put my wife into it. We had
couple of babies, and things seemed go.
ing on first rate, Then 1 went on an un.
lucky voyaga, and shipwrecked, came
home sick, and lay idle about six
months. let my insurance run out
cause why1 / couldn't pay it--and that
week my house was burned down by a
tramp I'd driv off the place. One of the
children was badly burned--scarred for
life-and the cow was roasted to a cin-
der. Then, you know, women folk amt
got much courage, 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
encouraged feel as If there was worse
luck ahead of me.
Perhaps there is, said Dick to him
self, feeling a fiendish delight in the
thought that he would have Effies hus-
band in his power on the high seas, with
only plank between him and death.
He had not sought him out, he had come
to him. There was fate in it.
AS he bent over a rope he was splicing,
pretending TO be very busy with it, Ralph
talked on, and Dick felt sure that Effie
and her husband were not happy together.
So much revenge he had alreadyi The
thought cooled him more than any other
could have done.
Later in the day he found himself saying
that man might well leave one who had
wronged him TO the justice Of Heaven.
That sooner or later he would find him
self satisfied.
Among other things Ralph had said:
@Trouble and worry and short victuals
had altered his wife from pretty girl to
a 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. It 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 fell
low was sick, hopeless, and forlorn; and
one night, as Ralph painted over 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.
Ny work is easier done by man short
of breath, he said.
@Do as you please" the captain re-
piled grulfiy. That's a stupid lubber, any.
how. Sick fellows should stay ashore. !"
Dick said, Thank ye." And per-
formed Ralph's task.
The poor fellow was grateful, and told
the story OF Dicks kind deed to everyone.
I'm fooll" Dick said to himself. but
he continued to be one. Instead of max
ing the poor, sick fellows lot harder. he
helped him ia thousand ways; and tie
example being set. it got to be the fash
ion to spare Ralph, to speak of him as
That poor cbapIr and favor him in every
way.
Here's fool for you, said Dick. as
he looked IN HIS us,oar little round glass