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About Harrison press-journal. (Harrison, Nebraska) 1899-1905 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 1902)
A SISTER'S VENGEANCE By CEORCC MANVILLC FINN CHAPTEH IV. Coutioui.l "Curse them!" cried Abel, a be resid ed the other side of the point, sud sw that which his sitter bad seen from the cliff behind the cottage. He looked round him for a fresh way of escape. There was the sea, if they liked to leap in and swim: but they could be easily overtaken. The rovks shove them were too overhanging to climb, and there was no other way, unless they re turned, and tried to rush through their pursuers; for beyond the point the tide beat upon the cliff. "No good, Bart; we're trapped," said Abel, stolidly. "I'll never forgive her never V "Yes, you will," said Bart, sitting down on a rock, aud carefully taking off his fur cap to wipe his heated brow. ' "You will gome day. Why, I could forgive her anything I could. She's a wonderful jell; but, I say, uiy hips are werry sore." He sat staring down at the boat be yond the point, the anchor having been taken on board, and the oars being out to keep her off the rocks, as she rose and fell with the coming tide. "No!" said Abel, bitterly. "I'll never forgive her never!" "Nay, lad, don't say that," said Bart, nibbing one side. "Iley, lass! There be is. Top o' the cliff. Look at her, mate." "No," said Abzel; "let her look at her cowardly work. "Now, then!" shouted the head consta ble, as he came panting up. "is it sur render, or fight?" For antrwer, Abel climbed slowly down to the sands, followed by Bart; and the next minute they were surrounded and stood with gyves upon their wrists. "Warm work," said the constable, cheerfully; "but we've got you safe now." In silence the party with their prison ers walked slowly back, and beneath the pot where Mary stood like a figure carv ed out of rock, far above their heads, till they had gone out of sight, without once looking op or making a sign. Then the poor girl sank down in The rocky niche where she had cliniied first, and burst into an agouized fit of weep ing.. "Father mother brother all gone! Lover false! Alone alone alone!" she sobbed. "What have I done to deserve It all? Nothing!" she cried, fiercely, as lie sprang to her feet and turned and ah ok her clinched fists landward. "Noth ing but love a cold, cruel wretch. Yes, love; and now oh, bow I hate him and all tie world!" She sank down again in the niche all of a heap, and sat there with the sun slow ly sinking lower, and the sea birds wheel ing round and round above ber head, and watching her with inquisitive eyes, as they each now and then uttered a mourn ful wail, which sounded sympathetic. And there she sat, hour after hour, till it was quite dark, when she began slow ly to descend, asking herself what she hould do to save her brother and his friend, both under a misconception, but suffering for ber sake. "And I stay here!" she said, passion ately. "Let them think what they will. I'U try and save them, for they must be In prison now." Mary was quite right; for as night fell Abel Dell and Bart, his companion, were partaking of a very frugal meal, and made uncomfortable by the fact that it was not good, and that they men free to come and go on sea and land were now safely caged behind a massive iron grill. "Well," said Bart, at last, "I'm only sorry for one thing now." "What's that Mary being so base?" Mary being so base?" "Nay, I'm sorry for that," replied Bart, "but what I meant was that I didn't give the captain one bard 'un on the head." CHAPTER V. The laws were tremendously stringent in those days when it was con-fidered much easier to bring an offender's bad career to an end than to keep him at the nation's expense; and when the stealing of a sheep was considered a crime to be punished with death an attack upon the sacred person of one of the king's officers by a couple of notorious law-breaker wax not likely to be looked upon lenient ly by a judge well known for stern sen tences. But a jury of Devon men was sitting upon the offense of Abel Dell and Bart Wrigley, and feeling disposed to deal pasily with a couple of young fellows whose previous bad character was all In connection with smuggling, a crime with the said jury of a very light dye, certain ly not black. Abel and Bart escaped the rope, and were sentenced to trans portation to one of hi majesty's colonies In the West Indies, there to do convict work in connection with plantations, or the making of roads, as their task mas ters might think fit. Time glided by, and Mary Dell found that her life at home had become insup portable. .She was not long in finding that, now that she was left alone and unprotected, the was not to be free from persecution. Her contemptuous rejection of Captain Arniatrong'a advance seemed to have the effect of increasing his persecution; and one erening at the end of a couple of months, Mary Dell sat on one of the rock ouuide the cottage door, gazing out to sea, and watching the ships sail westward, aa' she wondered whether those on board would ever see the broth er who seemed to be all that was left to her ia this world.' That particular night the thought which had been hatching in bar brain ever since Anal had been aant away flew forth fully fledged and ready, aavd (he rose from where aha had been aitting in the arening sunshine, and walked Into the .ftase. fhe went into her brother Abel's bed oom, where she stayed for some minutes, lid then, with a quick, reaolute step, he re-entered the cottage kitchen, thrust the few embers together that burned up as) tk hearth, took a pair of aclssora frttsa a bos, a again seated herself ba fyrt giaaa. - TW min was eettiaa, and tiled the ('tsXAWri UtefcM with light which flashed back from the blurred looking glass, and cast a furious glare in the girl's stern countenance, with its heavy dark brows, sun-browned, ruddy cheeks, and gleaming eyes. Snip! The sharp scissors bad passed tbnugb one lock of the massive black tresses which she bad sha'ieu over .Vr h juloVr and which then rippled to the cottage floor. JSuip! Another cut, and two locks bad fallen ilien rapidly snip, snip, snip a curi ous thick, sharp snip and the frieat ws'w of glorious hair kepi failing as the bare, sun-burned, ruddy arm played here aud there, aud the steel blades glittered and opened and closed, as if arm, baud and scissors formed the neck, head and anjrry bill of some fierce bird attacking that well-shaped head, and at every snap took off a thick tress of hair. Au hour later, just as the red moon rose slowly above the surface of the sea a sturdy looking young man, with a stout stick in one hand the very stick which had helped to belabor Captain Armstrong and a bundle tied up in a handkerchief beneath his arm, stepped out of the cot tage, changed the key from inside to out side, closed the old door, locked it, drag ged out the key, and with a sudden jerk sent it flying far out into deep water be yond the rocks. Then the figure turned once more to the cottage, gazed at it fix edly for a few moments, took a step or two away; but sprang back directly with an exceeding bitter cry, and kissed the rough, unpainted woodwork again and again with rapid action, and then dashed off to the foot of the cliff and climbed rapidly to the sheep track the faintly seen path that led toward Slapton Lea aud the old hall, where the captain still stayed with his young wife, and then joined the west road which led to Ply mouth. She strode on maufully for another quarter of a mile, when all at once there was a stoppage, for another figure was seen coming from the direction of Tor cross, and the moon shining full upou the face showed plainly who it was. There was no question of identity, for that evening Captain James Armstrong whose journey had been postponed had snubbed his young wife cruelly, quarrel ed with his cousin Humphrey, who had been there to dine, and then left the house, determined to go down to Mary Ueil a solitary cottage. "Who's this?" muttered the captain. "Uuniph! sailor on the tramp to Ply mouth. Well, he won't know me. J won't turn back." He strode on a dozen yards and then stopped short, as the figure before him had stopped a few moments before: and then a change came over the aspect of the captain. His knees shook, his face turn ed wet, and his throat grew dry. It was horrible; but there could be no mistake. "Abel Dell!" he cried, hoarsely, as be leaped at the idea that the brother had returned in spirit, to save bis sister from all barm. "Out of my path!" rang forth in an swer, the voice being loud, imperious and nerce; and then, in a tone of intense hatred and auppressed passion, the nc word "Dog!" As the last word rang out there was a whistling as of a stick passing througj toe air, a tremendous thud, and the cap tain reil Headlong upon the rocky ground. Then there was utter silence as the young sailor placed one foot upon the prostrate man's chest, stamped upon it savagely, and strode on right away over the wild country bordering the sea. The figure loomed up once in the moon light, as the captain rose slowly upon one elbow and gazed after it, to see that it seemed to be of supernatural proportions, and then he sank back again with a groan. "It's a spirit," he said, "come back to her;" and then the poltroon fainted dead away. CHAPTER VI. Someone was singing a west-country ditty. There was a pause in the sing ing, and the striking of several blows with a rough hoe, to the destruction of weeds in a coffee plantation; while, as the chops of the hoe struck the clods of earth, the fetters worn by the striker gave forth faint clinks. "Ub, I say, Abel, mate; don't, lad, don't." "Don't what?" said Abel Dell, resting upon bis hoe, and looking up at big Bart Wrigley, clothed like himself, armed with a hoe, and also decorated with fetters, aa he atood wiping the perspiration from his forehead. "Don't sing that there old song. It do make me feel so unked." "Unked, Bart? Well, what if it does? These are unked days." "Ay; but each time you aings that I seem to see the rocks along by the shore at home, with the ivy hanging down, and the sheep feeding, and the sea rolling in, and the blue sky, with gulls a-flying; and it makes me feel like a boy again, and, big as I am, as if I should cry." "Always were like a big boy, Bart. Hoe away, lad; the overseer's looking." Bart went on chopping weeds, diligently following his friend's example, as a sour looking, yellow-faced man came by in company with a soldier loosely shoulder ing bis musket. But they passed by with out speaking, and Abel continued: "There's sea here, and bio sky and sunshine." "Ay," said Bart; "there's naahln hot enough to fry a msck'rel. Plaea ia right enough If you was free; but it aren't home, Abel, It aren't borne." "Home! no," said the young man, sav agely. "But we have no home. Mhe polled thst." "Ah, you're a hard 'un, Abel," remark ed Bart, after a time. "Yea; and you're a soft 'un, Bart. She could always turn you round br little finger." "Ay, bless her; and sh didn't tell on o." "Ye, she did," said Abel, sourly; and he turned back upon his companion, and toiled away to hide tba working of bis face. The sua (bona down as hot) aa can CHAPTER VII. It was quite a week before the two young men were at work in the plin'ation of young trees again, and during all thst time they bad feverishly discunsed the voice they had heard. Every time they approached the border of the plantation where it ran up to tba virgin forest they bad bean on the qui vlve. expecting to hear their namea called again, but only to b disappointed; and, after du con boat," he said, "and managed to crawl up there. It's the wuly place where anyons could get up." "No eld mate would take all thai trouble for ns, lad. It's someone Mary's sent to bring ua a lerU-r and a bit of news." It was at night In the prison lines that Bart said this, and then he listened won deriagly ia the dark, for be heard some thing like a sub from close to his elbow. "Abel, matey!" he whispered. "Don't talk to me, old lad," came back hoarsely after a time. And then, after a long silence. "Yes, you're right. Poor lass poor lass!" "Say that again, Abel; say that again," whispered Bart, excitedly. . . "Paof laal I've been too hard on ifr. She didn't get ns took." "Thank God!" These were Bart's hoarsely whispered words, choked with emotion; and directly after, as be lsy there, Abel Dell felt a great, rough, trembling band pass across his face and search about bim till it reached his own, which it gripped and held with a strong, firm clasp, for thera waa beneath Bart's rough, busk-like ex terior a great deal of the true, loyal ma terial of which English gentlemen are made; and when toward morning those two prisoners fell asleep in their chains, band was still gripped in baud, while the dreams that brightened the remaining hours of their rest from penal labor were very similar, being of a rough home down beneath Devon's lovely cliffs, where the sea ran sparkling over the clean-washsd pebbles, aud the handsome face of Mary smiled upon each in turn. '(To be continued.) bine In the West Indies, and the coarse sideratlon, Abel placed a right lnterpre sturts the young uea wore showed tatioa upon the reason. patches of moisture where the perspira- "It was someone who got ashore from a ttoa came through; but they worked on, for the labor deadened the misery in their breast. "How long have we beea here, mate?" said Bart, after a paute. "Duaaa," replied Abel, fiercely. "How long will tbey Beep us in this here place?" said Bart, after another in terval, and he looked from the beautiful shore at the bottom of the slope on which they worked to the cluster of atone and wood-built buildings, which formed the prison and the station farm, with factory aud mill, ail worked by convict labor, while those in the neighborhood were managed by blacks. Abel did not answer, only scowled fiercely; and Bart sighed and repeated his question. "Till we die!" said Abel, savagely "same as we've seen other fellows di of fever, and bard work, and the lash. Uurse the csptain! Curse Bart clapped one hand over his com panion's lips, and be held the other be hind his head, dropping his hoe to lesve full liberty to act. "I never quarrela with you. Abel, lad,' be said, shortly; "but if you ssys words again that poor gell, I'm going to fight and that won't do. Is it essy?" Abel seemed disposed to struggle; but be gave in, nodded his head, aud Bart loosed bim and picked up bis hoe, just as the overseer, who bad come softly up behind, brought down the whip he car ried with stinging violence across the shoulders of first oue and then the other The young men sprang round savag ly; but there was a sentry close behiud musket-armed and with bayonet fixed, aud they knew that fifty soldiers were within csll, and that if they struck their taskmaster down and made for the juogl they would be hunted out with dogs, be shot down like wild beasts, or die of starvation, as other unfortunates bad died before them. There was nothing for it but to resume their labor and hoe to the clanking of their fetters, while, after a promise of what was to follow, in the shape of tying up to the triangles, and the cat, if they quarreled again, the overseer west us to see to the others of his flock. "It's worse than a dog's life!" said Abel, bitterly. "A dog does get petted a well as kicked. Bart, lad, I'm sorry 1 got you thst lash." "Nay, lad; never mind," said Mart "I'm sorry for you; but don't speak hard things of Mary." "I'll try not," said Abel, as be hoed away excitedly; "but I hope this coffee we grow may poison those who drink it" Bart waa close up to a dense patch of forest oue wild tangle of cane and creep er, which literally tied the tali trees to getber and made the forest impassable when the shrieking of a kind of jay which had been flitting about excitedly stopped, and was followed by the melodious whis tie of a while bird and the twittering of quite a flock of little fellows of a gor geous scvarlet crimson. Then the shriek ing of several parrots answering each other arose; while just above Bart's bead, where clusters of trumpet-blossom bung down from the edge of the forest, scores of brilliantly scaled bamming birds lit erally buzzed about on almost transpar ent wing, and, then suspended themselves in midair as they probed the nectaries of the flowers with their long bills. Bart glanced at his fellow-convict and was about to work back, when there came a sound from out the dark forest which made bim stare wildly, and then tbe sound arose again. Bart changed color and did not stop to hoe, but walked rap idly across to Abel. "What's the matter?" said the latter. "Dunno, lad," said the other, rubbing his brow with his arm; "but there's some thing wrong." "What is it?" "That's what I dunno; but just now something said quite plain, 'Bart, Bart" " 'Nonsense! You were dreaming." 'Nay. I was wide awake as I am now. and as I turned and stared it said it again." 'Poll parrot," said Abel, gruffly. "Go on with your work. Here s the overseer." The young men worked away, and their supervisor passed them, and, apparently satisfied, continued his journey rouud. "May have been a poll parrot," said Bart. "They do talk plain, Abel, laj; but this sounded like something else." "What else could it be?" "Sounded like a ghost." Abel burst into a hearty laugh so hearty that Bart's face waa slowly over spread by a broad smile. Why, Isd, that's better," he aaid, grim ly. "I ar'n't seen you do that for mouths. Work away." The hint was given because of the over seer glancing in tbeir direction; and they now worked on together slowly, going down tbe row toward the jungle, at which Bart kept on darting uneasy glances. Enough to make a man laugh to hear you talk of ghosts, Bart," said Abel, af ter a time. What could it be, then?" Parrot some lady tamed," said Abel, shortly, aa they worked on side by side, "escaped to tbe woods again. Some of these birds talk just like a Christian." Ay," said Bart, after a few moments' quiet thought; "I've beed 'em, lad; but there's no poll parrot out here as knows me. "Know you?" "Well, didn't I tell you a It called me Bart, Bart!' " "Sounded like it," "id Abel, lacon ically. "What does be want?" For just then tbe overseer shouted, and signed to tbe gaugmen to come to pirn. To begin another Job log-rolling, I think," growled Bart, shouldering bis hoe. At that moment, as Abel followed bis example, there came in a low, eager tone of voice from out of the jungle, twenty yards away; Bart! Abel! Abel r Don't look," whispered Abel, who reel ed aa if struck, and recovered himself to catch his companion by the arm. "All right! he said aloud; "we 11 b here to morrow. We must go." POSES AS TRAMP; WINS A BRIDE, Nagged, Unshaven Mired Man Turn Out to lie a Hicu Suitor. Miss Laura B. Keller, of Montrose, W. Va., a girl of exceptional beauty aud a village belle, advertised In a mat rimonial paper for a correspondent, thinking to have sport. Two of the re plies Interested ber and she began a correspond eJice with tbe writers. Pho tographs were exchanged aud a meet ing with the two suitors was arranged. 1'rior to the meeting a tramp appear ed at the Keller home aud procured employment, lie was ragged and un shaven, but gave evidence of having setai better days aud was genteel In his deportment. He fell in love with Miss Laura, aud In spite of bis being a tramp ahe returned bis love, although she told him she could never think of marrying him. Recently Henry Snodgrass, one of her unknown suitors, appeared and was re jected. On the next day Harry Will lams, the other man with whom she had corresponded, was to appear. But she waited all day and he failed to put In his appearance. That evening tbe tramp spoke to her of love and she told him she loved bim, but could never marry a poor man. Throwing off his disguise, Harry Will lams, young, wealthy and dressed In the height of fashion, stood before her. Mis Keller was qult overcome at the denouement, but all obstacles having been overcome she renewed ber love vow and they were married. Williams Is said to have wealth and social stand ing, says a special to the New York World, but took tbe disguise of a tramp to ascertain unsuspected what manner of girl Miss Keller was. Both were satisfied. Tommy's Hammer. The Beachem family was a happy- go-lucky one, and rosy-checked Bridget, "Just a week over from the ould counthry," seemed a most appro priate handmaid. I-'or the most part her mistakes amused and delighted them, but on oue occasion a mistake came near making serious trouble. She had been with tbe family two days, aud was lu the nursery with 3-year-old Tommy. "Bridget," cried Mrs. Beacbetn, as she rushed into the nursery, "Mr. Beachem bus Just telephoned me that he left his revolver on bis dressing table by mistake, and It Isn't there! Have you sen It? I know you wert there tidying up tbe room." 'What Is It lolke, mini?" asked Bridget "There was a little thins about so long, wld a crook lolke at wan end, and brolglit lo!Ue silver. Could that be it? Oi gave It to Tommy for to hammer bis little tacks Into the boon!, but be had no fancy for It, ana 01 think he floong It under the bed. Yls, mini, there It Is, away over in the far corner." Mrs. Beachem glanced under the bed. The revolver was there. "Let It atay until Mr. Beachem conies home," ahe said, faintly. "I'll take Tommy Into my room and lock up the nursery." KxactnesM. "I suppose a man must have an tn tense love for his art to succeed on the stage." "He must," answered Mr. Storming- ton Barnes. "He must be willing to walk the floor In order to attain hi Ideals." Not precisely. He may have to walk but not the floor." Washington Star. What He Raid. Never," said tbe person of good ad vice to the delicately nurtured Boston youth, "never say 'I can't.' " "Indeed, lr," responded the Intellec tual lad, "I trust that my diction I not so open to criticism. If you will but be attentive to my conversation you will ohxerve that I say Yawu't. " Baltimore American. tr m-rrv AVSrfetahie Preparation for As -suultling lie Food and Reula -tukg fee Stoaacte andBowels of itllLl Promotes Digestion-Chrerfur-ru?ss and Rest .Contains neither Oriura.Morphine nor Mineral. otHahcotic. Ayr OUO-SiHlJlimmR SmU- e-iM, sjm- irSsMfchea HBtsnpMff rMrVr Aperfecl Remedy forConstipa non . Sour Stomach. Diarrhoea Worms .Convulsions .Kcwri sh ness and Loss or Sleep. Fax Simile Signature or NEW YORK. T i Uui For Infanta and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature of ft'YH In Use For Over Thirty Years EXACT COPY OF WRAPPER. TMC CI tTU COMMNV. MCV TOftX CfTT. Canjsa bsiter invest fL75 fcrcar eddra tzzjf CT& fhan in ajyeart subsmn iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiwiiiyiii min WBSOHPjriON, 1 1 1 1 n 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 71 ! ' ! i " i I OFFER CA1T OUT tM ""P "nd IK"ul " at once with 91. 75 and you ' will receive FH EP All the tsu of The Youth's Companion for the remain- arvawai lnB weeks of lfi. FREETW baontirully Illimtrntv1 Oouhta Namben for Thanks giving, Christmas and Now Year's. FrvEE"1be Companion Calendar for 1 0011, lithographed In twelve colors and gold. And Tha Companion for tha lit week of I0O3 a library of the beat reading Tor every member or tbo family. TtH v THE YOUTHS COMPAMOS, DOSTOS, MASS, IS THE "BEST FOR. Cuts, Old Sores, and All Open Wounds Tranquility. Who does not love a tranquil heart, a sweet-tempered, balanced life? It docs not matter whether It fains or shines, or what tnlsfottune crime to 1 1' e possessing these blessings hit ti ey are always sweet, serene and caln,. ' Tbat exquisite poise of cbaractei putter." New York Sua. A small boy is never so industrious is when It is time to go to bed. ;atarrh In HI Line. Agent Do you need nuy thine In th way of dairy supplies? Fanner Oatcake-No, I hain't ncedln' eny Jet neow; but I heer Nelgubor HayrU deown tew tli' cross roads say- In' aa heow-be wu goln' ter git a new pump. You might stop to' sec him.- Cbleago New. TH CLEAMSINO AMU UEA LI NO CUBK COB CATARRH Ely's Cream Bain Cur and tilsawnt to an. CoaUibs ao in jurious drug. It li quietly snsorMfl. Uitm limift mi onf. It Oiwis tnd CImaHS in A il.i H-!l mi i'rntscu th Mamnran. Htoret th fn of Tut nd hmoll. Irn Site, su emit at Uriijir.st or bjr mail; Tril BIm, IOcdii by mail. fcLV UHOTllKlUi, M Warns SUmW Nw York. fir Pioofot Filial AAVrttno. When a Carthage father became it bidly Jajrged a few nights ago tha he could cot walk, bis muscular son threw him over bis shoulder and "toted" him home much as he would have carried a sack of flour ao ci blbltioo which tcods to disprove tbe theory that filial affection Is decreas ing. Kansas 01 ty Journal. No wonder a man kicks wbeo It comes to footing the butcher's WU. What a pity It Is that a law pre venting the birth of fools Is Jmprac- COLD1 HEAD tlcable. No frmihli- to t lirmkfmt quirk f T0. hni-e Mrs Auatln't famona Panrak Flour Your grocer wait to supply you. Any woman who admits tbat ber shoes are too tight Is Inclined to be masculine. You can do your dyHng In half an ,0'r, wltb PUTNAM FADELESS Kissing may be unhealthy, but nothing risked nothing galoed. Mr. Wnlo SootHIVt atHi p ,iB. . ial.-rawlii4fh., K, iwu.. It doens't matter If a woman n't pretty Untie doisn't know she is ugly. J'.I?1 IOTf 'T V"- m"k " "r fr t.-f ff afflicted will. rSThompson'sEjcWater N. H. U. WO. 746-47. YORK, WEI Oonslstaney is a Jewel that Is ofUo swapped for success. C th Fsmmu k1 Cro. Ball Kv. Urn