The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-06-13

| the swirling roar OF the waves over
the sunken rocks-saw before him the
toam-white breakers. as they dashed
wildly upward-saw. and heard with
blank and terrible despair at heart
Tor the Reef was entirely under water,
Great God!' he cried. aloud; II have
murdered them" And dropping the
oars he fell upon his face in the bottom
OF the boat, and drifted at the mercy Of
the tide.
1t bore him rapidly down the shore.
but he did not notice whittier he was
going-the terrible weight OF the thing
he had done crushed him utterly. A
sudden shock aroused him. The boat
had stranded on a sandy shore. He
crept from the debris and gazed around.
He recognized the place at once. 1t was
near Highpoint, a place of consider
able shipping interest. about twenty
miles from Portlea. The line of East
lndiamen terminated here, and even
then at the wharf a ship was
lying bound for the dis
tant islands of the East A strong
temptation came over Ralph to flee his
country-to leave behind him every
thing he feared to go away and let the
fearful events of the past night remain
to him a fearful doubt. His boat would
be found, and his friends would believe
him drowned, and no living being could
ever know how guilty he had been,
How guilty! Had he been guilty? He
thought 1t over calmly 1t had not been
premeditated. He had never for a mo-
ment INDUCED in the thought of taking
this kind OF revenge. until just as he
saw the pair push off in their boat. He
had been mad then! Nothing short of
insanity could have prompted him to
the fearful act. And after all, what
Rad he done? Nothing overt. He had |
simply removed a boat from the Row
knew when he did it that for the want |
Of that boat two fellow-creatures must |
go dows into the cruel depths of the sea,
for nothing could save them, Yes, he |
was guilty; fearfully so-this man who
had dared to take Gods vengeance out
of his all-wise hands, who had cast
off his only sister because she
tried TO save the life OF
Lynde Graham-he, even he, was, in
the eye of the law, a murderer!
There was one thing that he wanted to
do. but something stronger than even
his will held him back. He wanted TO
go before a magistrate and confess the
whole and then let them do with him
as they saw fit. But anything like this
would involve the dishonor and name
of his wife!-if part was told, it must
all be told, and he could not bear the
terrible scandal! It would be more
dreadful than even the recognition Of
his own guilt.
He turned toward the outward bound
vessel. His decision was nearly taken.
A feather would have turned the scales
either way. And it was turned sudden
ly.
Hello, Trenholme" called a rough
voice, which he recognized as that OF
John Cooper, an old man who lived a
little way from the Rock. ITS q nice
morning, amt it? Going back today?
If you be, I'll take you right up in the
Sally Ann"
Fate had decided. He was to go back.
1t would be useless to leave the coun-
try now, for honest John would tell all
the neighbors near and far, that he had
spoken to Squire Trenholme at High
port. So he replied, quietly enough:
Yes, am going back. Thank YOU
I'll be glad Of chance in the Sally Ann
for my boat has got stove, and If not,
it's long row to Portlea"
So an hour after he stood on the
deck of the fishing schooner, the Sally
Ann, and they were away for Portlea.