The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1898-11-11
and the girls. and Gus Williams looked

and the girls, and Gus Williams looked
up and laughed.
You might brag If you had the luck
I've had" he said. "There's only one
thing on my conscience after all, and
that's about pretty maid made love
to IN Nantucket years ago, and then
left without n word. Poor little thing!
I wonder what came to herT
Maybe I can tell you" said n quiet
voice, that Is If her name was Mary
Blake"
We all looked up and saw that Tom
Dalton had come into the forecastle.
That's her name" replied Gus, nod
ding his head with drunken gravity,
while he raised his right hand to his
mouth, showing the palm plainly.
There. In plain view, were the three
stars and the letter G..
81 reckon you've led a Wild life, Gus,
said the mate, seating himself on
locker. Seems to me / heard some
thing OF that yarn myself. Didn't you
promise to marry her and do your best
to make her set her heart on you and
then leave her a letter to say you were
never coming backT
'Why. yes. Perhaps I ought not to
have done 1t; but 1t was jolly fun to
make love to heri Marry her;
wouldn't do that; for had n wife In
Bedford. But l didn't tell her that
oh, no, nor
And then he broke into a careless
song, such n one as n sailor loves, and
the mate got up and went out, with
such look as I never saw on a mans
face before, and never want to see
again. He didn't say anything to me,
and / noticed he never looked at Gus
Williams again.
1 knew evil would come of 1t, and
didn't know how l could stop it, but
If Gus Williams had known the danger
he'd drawn on himself, 1 think he'd
have jumped overheard.
Things went on all right, until one
September day, when we were lying
off the Alaskan coast, the captain sent
three boats ashore for some timber he
wanted, and / went in Toms boat. Gus
Williams, who was harpOoner in the
second mates boat, went, too.
saw Tom come up and speak to
William after they landed, and they
went away together, and something
put It into my head to follow them.
There had been a light snow, and 1t
was easy tracking them; and after
had gone a mile heard their voices in
little gully, and crept up close.
You told a queer story the other
night when you were drunk, Williams"
the mate was saying, about a girl
named Mary Blake, In Nantucket Was
it true?''
"Why, yes, as far as this: made
her think 1 was a single man, and
made her love me, and then ran away
from her"
Didn't you know or didn't you hear,
that she had lover-a man that would
have died for her If she asked him?"
ut seems TO me, now come to think
of 1t, that I did hear something about
tar that had fancy for her. But
what did I care for that? wanted
my fun"
did you never hear what came Of
it, then?'
mo. I never bothered myself about
it much. I've wondered sometimes If
the tarry Jacket came home and mar
ried her."
I'm tell you the end" Kissed Tom.
when she got your cruel letter she
! dropped and faded, and when the man
who loved her truly came home from
a cruise she was very near the grave.
Then, one day, when the burden of her
life grew too much for her to bear.
she told him of your deceit, and de-
scribed you, and then died, with her
head upon his bosom. Then he took
a vow that If you and he ever met he'd
kill you"
I'm glad we never metz cried VIII
Jams.
I'm the man that loved her and took
that VOW" continued Tom, "and now
I mean to keep my word. Down upon
your knees and pray for you have not
five minutes to live"
Then l saw a spectacle such as hone
never to see again, as Tom slowly drew
a revolver and waited. The harpooner
fell on his knees, weeping and begging
for his life, but that stern face never
changed. The self-appointed judge and
executiOner did not know the name Of
mercy. The wretch crawled upon the
ground and buried his face in the snow
at Toms feet. and I couldn't stand it..
and stepped out In view.
Don't come nearer, Jack Ratlin. "
cried Tom. cor as there is God
above. I'll give you shot. This man is
doomed and he shall die"
"Tom." said before you fire. thinl,
n moment You say you loved Mary
( Blake2"
You'll never know how much, Jack
words cannot tell"
'Then listen to me. They say the
good and pure, looking down from their
| bright homes above, are witnesses of
the actions Of those they loved on
earth. If your dead love beholds you
| now, do you think It would make her
/ happy to see you stain your hands with
| the blood Of this base wretch? Can
| you hope to join her up yonderT
He stared at me a moment and then.
raising his hand to heaven, ne cried:
'Mary, l do what you would have
done. Seel 1 forgive your murderer.
| and leava his nnnishment To Cod @