Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-08-22

n
St Elmo'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
LII pump him sbout il to-day" /
thought, and fell asleep.
That afternoon hen Iawas writing
up my individual log Bescoby came
into the gunroom. l saw the same
curious and worried expression on his
face l 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?"
I rWho has been telling you thatyarn,
Paddy" he asked quickly, with a flush
of annoyance. II know. That big
donkey, Cog, has been loading you up
with lot of bosh."
+ Look here, old man." / said, "you
confide in me. Now, have talked to
you about banshees and ghosts, tell me
about this light business" ~
He. sat down beside me, and putting
his arm on my shoulder said in a
shamefaced sort of way:
my dear Paddy, I'll tell you all.
am silly duffer, you know, and one
weeks shooting at Eaglesham Manor
settled me. / met there a country
woman of yours. will not describe
Nora to you. But here is her picture"
''Humphv' thought; "badly bit, in
deed" as he took locket which he
wore from silk cord around his neck,
opened it and laid it before me. 1t
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 well painted. The
artist was evidently deeply interested
in his subject.
''That is Nora" he said, and the gen.
tie lowering of the voice as he pro-
nounced the name of the loved one told
the whole story.
II .congratulate you upon your good
taste, Bess. Am to be best man?'
Don't chaff me, Paddy" he said,
Mora is as poor as am, but she loves
me. She will wait for me. l am sure
she will. Now some one has been tell
ing her all about st. Elmo's light, and
promised her that when / saw it
would go aloft 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 /
am my soul will be close by you at that
moment, Arte.'
ooh, Paddy, she is as beautiful as an
angel and am sick with longing to
see her again." and the poor lovesick
lad buried his face in his hands.
by Jove, you've got it bad, Bessy,"
l said. II thought was fond of the
girl that saved my life in Limerick,
but my affection is as tallow dip
alongside St. Elmo's light itself COM
pared to yours"
Don't chaff any more, will you, Pad
dy?' and the hapless lover looked
pleadingly at me.
81 will not, Bessy. 1 don't wonder
that Nora fell in love with you; you
are too good looking for man. And
1 promise you that if on my watch on
deck l see ST. Elmo's light I'll send
Cog Thompson to pull you out by the
heels"
After this conversation / noticed a
change for the better in Bescoby. He
had lost his moodiness and gave such
hot shots to his tormentors, who used
to chaf him for their digestion, that
he silenced their batteries in short
order. think he felt relieved that he
had told me his story, and 1 listened to
the entire tale of his meeting with and
engagement to the Irish beauty.
| / hoped that she had not been hirt-
ing with my chum, but even as he told
the story of their love / 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, Paul and Vir-
GINA atmosphere, that felt my coun-
trywoman was simply amusing herself
with the susceptible young sailor, and
nothing more.
Two days afterward we brought up
in Hakodate. There were few mer-
chantmen in the harbor and an Eng
lish yacht. At mess that evening one
of our fellows who had been ashore
gave us all the gossip of the place.
That yacht is the Spray" he said,
land belongs to rich Scotch lord,
who has large party on board. The
consul told me all about them His
aunt and married sister are chaperon-
ing the girls. One is awfully pretty,
an Irish girl She is engaged to his
lordship, and they are to be married
at the British embassy at Hong Kong.
l say, we must give them dance. Just
think how jolly. Here we are, away
from home, and the lots of English
girls we know. Hey for the maids of
merry, merry England. Wouldn't it
be grand if we got to Hong Kong In
time for the wedding?'
whats the owners name?" I asked.
"Lord Gilmour. Ajolly young chap,
| ShnAfino -.