Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-10-24

Nora. And he was attentive to her,
I remember, but she did not seem to
care about him. And now she is on
this yachting cruise with him. And
he is engaged to some one on board.
Oh, Paddy, I know there is some
thing wrongl"
'No,Mense, Delay all that stuff, "
I said cheerily If Nora is on
board, which is not probable, there
are other Irish girls in the world,
and it does rot follow that the
Scotchman is engaged to her.
He shook his head, and as he
walked away felt just as surely as
if / had heard the story that his
Nora was the lords fiancee, and
that she had used him to bring her
laggard to the proposing point.
Bescoby lost no time in confirming
his suspicious. met him on the
bund ashore few hours afterward,
and he told me that he had seen one
Of the yachtsmen and got the whole
story from him.
The false Nora was soon to become
Lady Gilmour, and she had thrown
her midshipman lover completely
overheard.
II met her, Paddy" the poor fell
low said, and she smiled at me and
shook hands, but it was as if was
a pleasant acquaintance and nothing
more. Lord Gilmour was quite
friendly and spoke of the shooting
and invited me on board. l had only
one chance to speak to her, and I
whispered. Nora, have you forgot
/ temp and she laughed and said, with
an air of "a woman of the world.
You silly boy, want you to forget
all that nonsense. But it's all over
now. viii never see her again.
I Never, neverr
Bosh, . said l, slapping him on
the back. You'll get over all this.
Why, that girl who saved my life in
Limerick and who swore l was the
only man she ever loved was mar
ried week afterward to wealthy
tanner and had the impudence t.
send me one of her wedding cards.
But all this we'll meant consola-
ton had no effect upon my friend,
and l was glad when we got under
way and pointed for the strait of
Sunda. Bescoby went about his duty
in a dull, mechanical sort of way,
and even the fellows who used to
prosecute him most had respect for
his dependency, although they
knew not the cause. He never men,
toned the name of his false sweet
heart again, and avoided all refer
ence to the subject.
/ was in the second hour of Il de-
lioious sleep few nights afterward
when somebody grasped me violent
ly by the arm and shook me.
Rouse up, sir! Rouse up cried
Cog Thompson hurriedly 4 think
there is something wrong with Mr..
Bescoby. He is aloft on the mizzen
royal, and / sent one of the boys
after him, and the boy came back
and said that he was talking to him
self and muttering something about
St Elmo's light, and m afraid. sir,
that he is out of his mind. p"
While was hurriedly pulling on
my trousers the marine told me that
that singular phenomenon had been
seen first on the main truck, and
that another ball of fire had rested
for moment on the end of the miz-
zen royal yardarm. The minute
Mr.. Bescoby saw this he had rushed
aloft and laid out on the yard Filled
with apprehension, came on deck
and started quickly up the weather
rigging There was a heavy swell
on, and the ship was rolling consid-
erably. | stopped at the mizzen top
mast crosstrees and sung out softly
Hello, Bescoby! Lie down here
for moment I've got something
to tell you.
He did not reply, but kept talking
70 himself, so l began the ascent of
the topgallant rigging As the ship
rolled heavily to leeward l saw his
figure outlined against the dusky
sky, and heard him say in pecul-
iarly duh, but distinct monotone:
Il have found the light at last.
Nora. 1 have kept my part of the
promise. Is your spirit near me
now"
/ Again the big ship rolled to lee
ward, and the end of the royal yard
was lifted up to the clear patch of
sky But there was no one there.
Poor Bescoby had either sprung or
fallen overheard.
shouted to the quartermaster to
| put the wheel hard down, and as
the ship came shaking in the wind |
jumped to the topgallant backstay
and slid rapidly to the deck. The