Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-08-22


has been chatting you, Cog"
NO, SIR" replied the big marine,
earnestly, who loved the handsome
young MILDLY as if he had been his son.
81 know you are his chum, sir, and
that if told you you'd talk him out of
those ideas. But please, sir, don't
mention that had anything to say
about it."
Certainly not, Cog and, as the
marine saluted and walked forward
remembered that Arthur was supersti-
tious and had asked me many things
about ghosts and fairies and other un-
canny things indigenous to the Isle of
Saints. But he had never mentioned
st. E1mo's light. that peculiar ball of
electric light which is occasionally seen
in the low ATTITUDES clinging to the
trucks and the ends of the yards.
I'll pump him about it to-day" I
thought, and fell asleep
That afternoon when I was writing
up my individual log Bescoby came
into the gunroom. 1 saw the same
curious and worried expression on his
face / had observed the night before.
Bessie, what the deuce is the matter
with you? Are you fretting because
you have not seen st. Elmo's light?''
WHO has been telling you that yarn,
Paddy?" he asked quickly. with flush
of annoyance. 81 know. That big
donkey, Cog, has been loading you up
with lot of bosh.''
Look here. old man." I said, ''you
confde in me. Now, L have talked to
you about banshees and ghosts, tell me
about this light business"
He SAT down haSida ma and T1I1f&inor
his arm on my shoulder said in
shamefaced sort of way:
MY dear Paddy, I'll tell you all. !
am silly dufer, you know, and one
weeks shooting at Eaglesham Manor
settled me- I met there a country
woman of yours. I will not describe
Nora to you. But here is her picture"
''Humph!" thought; badly bit, in
Decd" as he took 1ocket which he
wore from silk cord around his neck,
opened it and laid it before me. It
was the face of an exceedingly beauti-
full girl-a roguish, laughing face, with
clusters of brown curly hair and deep
blue eyes. 1t was we'll painted. The
artist was evidently deeply interested
in his subject.
THAT is Nora he said, and the gen.
nounced the name of the loved one told
the whole story.
~ congratulate you upon your good
taste, Bess. Am I to be best man?'
Don't chaff me, Paddy" he said,
Mora is as poor as I am, but she loves
me. She will wait for me. am sure
she will Now some one has been tell
ing her all about st. Elmo's light, and
I hof r 7
would go a1oft and examine it closely
and make scientific observations and
all that sort of thing.
And the last words that Nora spoke
to me 1--WE were on the shores of Eagle
sham lake and she had kissed me. and
called me her own sailor and told me
that she knew she never could love
anyone half as we'll as sailor were:
'Arte, don't forget st. Elmo's light.
And Arte, when you see that light
Nora will be near you in spirit. And
when you see it you say: mora, Nora,
Nora" three times, and wherever I
am my soul will be close by you at that
moment. Arte'
ooh, Paddy, she is as beautiful as an
angel and 1 am sick with longing to
see her again. and the poor lovesick
y.
by Jove, you've got it bad, Bessy."
I said. 81 thought 1 was fond of the
girl that saved my life in Limerick,
but my affection is as a tallow dip
alongside St Elmo's light itself com
pared to yours"
Don't chaf any more, will you, Pad
dy?" and the hapless lover looked
pleadingly at me.
II will not, Bessy. I don't wonder
that Nora fell in love with you; you
are too good looking for man. And
promise you that if on my watch ON
deck 1 see St. Elmo's light I'll send
Cog Thompson to pull you out by the
heels.
After this conversation I noticed a
change for the better in Bescoby. He
had lost his moodincss and gave such
hot shots to his tormentors, who used
to chaff him for their digestion, that
he silenced their batteries in short
order. I think he felt relieved that he
had told me his story, and 1 listened to
engagement to the Irish beauty.
1 hoped that she had not been firt-
ing with my chum, but even as he told
the story of their love I was villain
enough to conclude in my own mind
that Nora was looking out for rich
husband, and was getting her hand in
by practicing on Bescoby. There was
such a strawberry and cream flavor
about the business, a Paul and Vir-
49, L 7 IA