The National tribune., 1888-11-15
fHE NATIONAL TRBNE wAsHNGToN THURSDAY Is

able to return. Thatsw mean six hours at
least for the Major and the widow to arrange
matters which ought to be sufficient"
81 see," said !, laughing. But, really, I
can't consent to deprive poor Mrs Wilcox of
her tea"
II have thought of that, too" said Hender-
SON. but hurry up, or we sban't get across"
We were indeed only just in time to cross
| the narrow channel in.water up to our knees.
Henderson led the way to q cairn of stones,
which he soon demolished, exposing a goodly
basket, whence he drew several eanisters aud
ball of string. He then proceeded to extract
| handful of tea, KETTLE spirit lamp, tin
of biscuits, and some potted shrimps. These
he laid on stone, and put the ball of string IN
his pocket. Now we will go back to the chan
nell said he, and make ourselves comfortable
till the Major comes to look for u.s."
1t was good half hour before we saw the
Major approaching on the opposite bank.
Doubtless Mrs Wilcox had known how to de-
tain him. By this time the channel had be-
come boiling caldron of water that no swim
mer could cross. The tides iii the vicinity of
Attorney run with marvellous velocity, as no
doubt everyone knows.
The Major stood on the bank, aud realized
the situation at once.
you fellows have done it this time" said
he; "you will have to stay there all night.
And how are we on this side to get anything
to eat, should like to know"
:" l have ball of string here, Major" replied
Henderson. @ can just tie stone to it and
fling it across to you, and you can draw over
the basket have made a little raft to 1oat
it with"
"All right" said the Major "But I say,
you fellows, do get across yourselves as soon as
you can. don't know how Mrs Wilcox will
like being left alone with me. 1t seems scarcely
proper"
oh, if you keep her amused she will be quite
happy" said /, laughing. I'VE will not be
able to cross for the next five hours, am afraid.
Look out for the stone!"
When the Major had disappeared with the
basket Henderson and I INDUCED ourselves in
fit of laughter, and then went back to the
place where we had left our own provisions.
Selfish old beast!" said Henderson; " he
never even asked US if we had kept anything
for ourselves. We might have starved for all
he cared"
"a man in love must be excused" said I,
lighting the spirit-lamp and preparing to make
tea. " hope, by the way, that there is ket-
tie in the hut"
"Oh yes, l know that there is always one
kept there. Let US spread out our tobacco to
dry, or we shall not be able to get a smoke
after tea"
Our meal over and our tobacco dry, we light
ed our pipes and strolled down to point on
the shore from where we could see the scene of
our shipWreck. The poor Memo was being
rapidly broken by the ground SWELL which
pounded her against the sharp rocks and sent
her timbers floating away at every shock.
Both of rs felt rather melancholy as we gazed
at the destruction
If this plan of ours does not succeed we
may as well leave the service, Henderson"
said |. The Major will never forget the pre-
dicament into which weehave led him, though
he doesn't suspect how much hand We had in
it."
" / tell you it must succeed said Henderson.
why, even if the Major were most averse to
the match (which he is not) he would marry
the woman to avoid the scandal that will be
talked in Guernsey over this adventure. I
would give 10 pounds this minute to be able to
enter the hut inVisibly and hear what is going
on"
That, however, neither of us could do but
we heard something afterward of what trans
PRED, Mrs. Wilcox made the best use of her
time and at last broughtthe poor Major to such
a point that he knew flight was his only hope,
and consequently proposed that she should re-
tire to rest and he should sleep outside the hut
and watch over it. But the widow stormed
this last parallel by insisting that she could
not sleep in so strange place. and that he must
sit up with her and keep her company. An
hour later the Major surrendered at discretion
and laid his hand and heart at her feet l
verify believe that when it was done he felt 4
great relief to his mind. Henderson and |
crossed over the channel about midnight, when
the tide was out and slept pretty mtortably
on couch made Of bracken in lee of a rock.
The morning dawned with a clear horizon, the
Fog having blown away, and we had not much
difficulty in attracting the attention of some of
the men at early drill in Fort TOurgis Both
Of US understood flag wagging," as the Morse
system of signaling is called in the army and
we soon made known, by the help of pocket
handkerchief our need of boat As our res
Ila9 ,f+ ~,
great Attorney Breakwator l noticed that the
Major held one of the widows hands under her
cloak and knew that our plan had succeeded
have little more to relate. The Major
got months leave of absence and married
Mrs Wilcox. I believe he never regretted it
and that she made him a thoroughly good wife,
but l had no personal opportunities fer Judging,
as he never returned to the battery, but ex-
changed to depot at Sunderland. l fancy he
| did not care t. face US again, and doubtless it
was best for ali parties. The last / heard of
him was from a Sergeant in his new battery,
whom ] met accidentally in London, whittier he
| had come on escort duty. When | asked what
sort of a man his Major was he winked at me
and replied, "Well sir, it's all according /!
While his wife is with him he is as nice gem
| tleman as you could wish to serve under, but
when she is away on q visit he worries us
awful" Which was naive and valuable tes-
! timOny to the power of female influence, and
finally removed all lurking doubts from my
mind as to our justification in marrying the
Major,
His successor in Aldernoy was a married man,
and we found him all that could be desired. l
! told him the whole story one day under
solemn vow of secrecy which l fear heidi not
| keep, as some years later | heard very ex-
! aggerated version of it told in mess-room
after dinner On the whole Henderson and
| are resolved not to encounter either the Major
or his wife again if we can helpit. We are
magnanimOus and de not care to be thanked
| in person for our good deeds
Do Not Think For Moment
] that catarrh will in time wear out. The thenrv