The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 31: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE TRACK OF MIDNIGHT. 223 “It’s a long story if you want everything,’’ he answered; ‘‘ but I’ll tell it you as it was first told to me. I learned a good deal about the details of time and place later, but I reckon the main facts will be enough to keep you amused till it’s time to roll in the blankets. ‘‘ The man came to the colony as a state official, and the appointment he held was one of the best to be had. By the same ship another official also voyaged, accompanied by his daughter, a handsome girl of seventeen. On the way out, Plover, as we will call him—though that was not his real name —became enamored with his colleague’s daughter; but she does not seem to have returned his affection, and always treated him with more or less coldness. At the time they landed, some twenty five years ago now, there were only about half a dozen men in the place with whom the girl could associate, and of course Plover was one of those. Another was a young officer, who had also recently arrived, in charge of a small contingent of troops. This young gentleman soon became a rival with Plover for the young lady’s hand and heart, and what was more, he succeeded where the other had failed. This was said to have preyed a good deal on Plover’s mind, and he became seriously addicted to rum, then about the only intoxicant that could be constantly ob- tained in the place. From drink he went to other evils, and soon had about as ill a name in the settlement as any one who was not a member of the chain gang or an inmate of the refractory prisoners’ quarters. Long before he reached that stage in his career, the lady naturally turned her back upon him, and he was generally shunned by the remainder of the decent people in the place—a proceeding which did not tend to make his mind easier or smooth his difficulties away. At last his conduct became so outrageous that it is said the governor informed him that he was free to return to England whenever he pleased. By that time affairs had progressed so well between the two lovers that their marriage was to be shortly celebrated. By some means or other—possibly because no one would associate with him—this piece of news did not reach Plover until after he had received the governor’s intimation. It appeared at the trial that he first heard it through his convict servant while in a state of wild intoxication, and in return for the news, he flung something at the head of his informant and killed him on the spot. Had he stopped there he might have got away all right, for a convict, more or less, was very little worry to the authorities at the time. But in his maddened state nothing would serve him but that he must rush off in search of his rival. He found him at the house of his future bride, and dashing into the room, which was full of the respectable portion of the community, he made a furious attack upon the young officer. He had to be arrested then, and when his trial came on the murder of the convict was not included in the charge until the newly arrived judge heard of it, and, being enthusiastic, as most new arrivals are, insisted upon taking it into account, stating that while he was there, justice should be administered to all with an even and impartial hand. Plover was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, and when he came out of jail he found that his rival had been married to the young girl for some months. ‘To become a prisoner after having been a big official in a convict settlement does not tend to make a man very obedient to prison rule, and COMMiclaoolks |