Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-06-15
CIofIbiAe.
HN'~S, S~"'%0

do group, known as Long Island,
though 1t ls much less In area than la
namesake In New York. Col. Graham
was knlghtly man, greatly devoted Il
his wife and only child, a son, at that
time aged between five and six years
and named after his father.
| The climate not agreeing with Lady
Denham, she went TO England, but al
the earnest request OF her husband she
left her little boy with him,
Capt. George Graham, younger and
only brother Of the colonel, lived In his
family, and acted as colonial secre-
tary," position which had but little
labor connected with 1t and consider
able emoluments.
AS the Governor was man in good
health and on the sunny side Of forty,
there was every reason to believe that
he would survive his father, then an old
man, and fall heir to his titles and the
large estates thereunto belonging.
But should the governor die, his little
son, Ralph, would, in the natural course
OF events. succeed to the rank of Lord
Paliton, Earl OF Ayr.
But should the governor and his son
die, then Capt. George Graham would in
hert the titles and estates.
Many thought 1t was good thing
that Capt. George Graham's chances
we're 80 small. for he was Il harsh, cruel,
domineerlng man, who seemed in re-
bellion against his Creator because he
was not born first.
Capt. George Graham was, however,
an accomplished hypocrlte, for he sue
ceeded in making the Governor believe
that he was the most devoted brother
that ever lived.
Bermuda does not bubble over with
excitement even in these days Of cleo
tricity and steams 1t Is a by-way of
the great ocean routes. At this time
the officers sent there on duty looked on
1t as a mild sort OF exile, and did every
thing they could to get ordered home.
Yachting was sport in which Col.
Graham delighted at home, but here he
found in 1t one source Of amusement on
which he could depend to break up the
ennui.
His brother George was also fond OF
yachting, and the sloop in which they
took their pleasure was commanded, or
rather sailed, by daring, handsome
young Engllshman Of sixteen or seven
teen named William Kidd
Young Kidd was great favorite with
Capt Graham.
He was bold ambitious youth, with
natural aptitude for his calling, and a
mind far above the average.
Having acquired no principle Of right,
and being wholly deficient therein by
nature, William Kidd had no scruples
that would lead him to resist the
schemes Of the Captain.
They held their consultations at the
cabin of an old negro woman, the Cap
tain slave, named Dinah.
There 1t was decided that the next
time the Governor went out with them
to sail that the boat should capsize, and
that the father and his little boy should
be drowned.
This programme was carried out. The
Governor could have saved himself had
not his unnatural brother leaped upon
him and held him under water.
The little boy, Ralph, chung to the
sailor, Kidd, but when the Captain mo-
toned for him to drown the child, the
latent spark Of humanity in the fellow 8
breast fired up.
With dangerous light in his fierce
blue eyes and savage oath on his
beardless lips, he said;
mo, sir! We've done enough for one
day. The youngsters arms are about
my neck, and may | sink to the bottom
with his father IL do not save his life
You can hide him away"
But 1t was your bargain, urged the
Captain.
Men that bargain to murder cannot
be held to account II they do not fill the
contract. This boy must live, and
must know that he lives, otherwise l
will turn Queens evidence and tell the
truth, replied Kidd.
The result Of this peculiar bargaining,
under such circumstances, was that the
child was carried ashore and given into
the charge Of the old negro woman,
Dinah.
Here little Ralph was secreted until
the story Of his death was firmly be-
lieved on the islands and in England.
Then the Captain-now the Right
Honorable George Graham and Will
lam Nidd smuRgled the child to Long
Island, In the Province Of New York,
where he was disposed Of, as has already
been stated.
The loss Of his son and grandson so
Frustrated old Lord Paliton that he did
not long survive them, and 80 the Cap
tain achieved the one great object of
his ambition.
Soon after this, old Dinah disap-
peared, and 1t was generally believed
that she was drowned; but, as she was
old and not particularly liked, her loss
soon ceased to be a matter Of specula-
ton.
But Lord Paliton was not destined to
enjoy his criminally procured future
undlsturbed.
The young sailor, Kidd, became a
man, and with his increase Of years
there came an increase OF ambition and
a decrease Of principle, II that were
possible.
His old companion in crime was now
great parsonage In the world, and,
having considerable power at court,
Nidd was just the man to rise by cling
ing to his skirts, or, II need be, by plsc-
ing his feet on his patrons shoulders.
Kidd chung to him, as the old man Of
the sea chung to Sinbad.
Again and again, Colonel Graham-to
give him the name he had assumed for
use at Sag Harbor, had tried to put Kidd
out OF the way, but he was always
foiled.
At length Kidd, as means of Sc
curity, concealed his friend-Guy Free
nauld, a young sailor Of fortune-where
he could hear himself and Colonel Ora
ham discussing the awful past. Then,