Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-07-07
THE RETURN OF
THE MARY DENTON
sy EVELYN WENTWORTH.
lcopyS tight. 1879 by American Press Asso-
ciationi

Inc MATF A}tuktu was "a W ld+cA hAt'"
made voyages from New Bedford
about the middle of the nineteenth
century. The only testimony that
have to personally bear in the matter
Of her last return is that was one OF
those who saw her the morning she
was observed to be making into port
with all her sails set. I'm not going to
try to explain anything either psyche
logically or scientifically. That SHAH
leave the reader TO do after reading
the story.
The Mary Denton was named for the !
niece of the owner. There were a
number Of Dentons in New Bedford at |
that time. mostly sailor folks. Mary |
was about twenty. She vas In love
with young fellow named Kendell-
Edward KendeIl-a fine young fellow. |
but a landsman. Kendell was as much |
in love with Mary as she was with
him, but he was at the beginning OF
life and was not yet prepared TO sup
port a wife. Mary had love for the
sea. Inherited from generations OF sail
or ancestors Whether 1t was this that
induced her father TO ask Captain
Denton 10 take her on whaling 10Y
age or whether he wanted TO get her
away from Denton with view to
breaking of the match or TO pass
some of the time that must elapse be-
fore their marriage I don't know.
never heard that the Dentons had any
objection to Kendell provided he could
take care of Mary. At any rate, Mary
went with her uncle on q voyage that
was to last three years.
Edward Kendell seemed heartbroken
when be heard that he was to be sep
arated from his love for this long Pc
riod. Mary would have been delighted
to go had 1t not been for leaving lover
behind. As 1t was, she was equally
cast down. She cheered her lover with
the hope that by the time Of her re-
turn be would be doing well in bust
hess and they could be married.
Whoever conceived this plan OF sep
arating them seems to me to have act
ed with as much foresight as human
beings are given. The lover knew that
be was in no especial danger Of losing
his love while shut up on a vessel with
only her old uncle and a crew OF un-
refined men, and a cruise would like
ly build up her physique. which was
delicate. For q little while after she
had gone he seemed stupeled, then
suddenly went TO work with will
that was bound to produce results
"a he tor for
the whaling industry, was a lively
place. and Kendell was employed with
a mercantile house trading in the oil
Every year he was advanced both as to
position and salary. When the time
for the return Of the vessel had come
he had become one Of the first young
business men OF the place.
Captain Denton had told Kendell
that he would bring his girl back to
him on the third anniversary Of her
departure. and some said that II he
were ahead Of time on nearing port be
would slow down and II behind would
| hurry. But as be was dependent on
| encourage the downhearted young TEL
! low. Naturally We Wondered II the
ship would come in on the appointed
/ day Kendell seemed to think /,
! would, But noticed one thing about
| hin1-after a certain date he became
very respondent. BE said in expiana-
| ton that he had had dream or a sen
sation, or something Of the sort. thai
| the ship was In trouble,
shall never forget the third ami
! Sersary Of the sailing Of the Mary
/ ESatou. II had rained during thu
night betore, and the morning wa'
balmy. but with fog. l was sitting a
my desk on the second u>sr os VIII
dow facing the karbor when ne SUI
came out. heard cry froin tn,
street. There she IS. true enough
Looking. saw the fog rolling away
and a ship with all her canvas set
coming In under very light breeze
ran downstairs and into fbe street
TO fHd several people looking at the
coming ship. We all agreed she was
The Mary Denton While we looked
Ansther bark Of fog enveloped Her.
We waited 10 see 1t roll away. bas
there was no break in it till sunset
when II suddenly vanished
But where was the Mary Denton?
We all had expected TO see her riding
at anchor. There was not a sign Of
her. She could not have sailed away.
for there had been no wind. She could
not have sunk in the harbor.
l was standing beside Edward Ken
dell when the fog lifted The moment
l saw the ship was Eot there looked
at him. An ashen gray slowly spread
itself over his face. as II he had been
touched by specter With moan he
turned away and disappeared.
There were FIVE of US who saw the
snip, all. as ! have said, agreeing that |
she was the Mary Denton. Most Of |
US believed that she had for some req
son and In snrna