Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-05-16
A SEA ROMANCE.

to keep the canvas full. had thought
Of everything ! could remember to
fight of the droHsiness that was steal
ing over me. recalled the last song
had heard ashore and the girl who
sang H. thought OF the letters !
had to write before we made liako.
date. for we were cruising in the
Japan sea nn this night of June, 1856.
There was no excuse to trim sail to
keep oneself awake.
The breeze. though light, was steady,
and at the foot OF the main course, to
which had extended my walk and
now stood under for the delightful
draft il cast, was as motiOnless as il
the sail rope had been of metal |
wandered down To the gunrOom for Il
goblet Of rum and lime juice to give
relish to my next PIPE.
"IIcllo, old man, Why have YOU
turned out? Three bells have not
struck vet
The face that looked up TO mine
from the mess table was that OF n
heauty-so refined, not masculine
comeline.s, but positive beauty-that
no dcbutante at London drawing
room. no matter how lovely, could
dcmur 10 an exchange There was
nothing enrminaie about the figure
The shoulders were square and mus.
cular. and the neck showed unmistak
able signs Of strength. Arthur Bes
coby though We called him Miss Bes
coby in the mess. was no girl boy, but
u Young man from the pleasant county
Of Kent. who was Il good cricket and
football player, pulled II strong oar
and gave ample promise OF heing a
valuable addition to her maesty's
navy.
Il cant sleep. Paddy Paddy was
my pet namc.] | don't know what it
is that worries me 81. but feel
wrctched'
YOU'RE il love, Bessy. This visit
YOU made 10 Scotland has settled YOU
Bcscob,'s face flushed. No, |
don't think I'm very hard hit, Paddy, =
he rcioined, "only something To keep
my mind busy between mails. BY the
way, what did you make her out To be
yesterday p
gave him the ships position at
noon and chailcd him At having for
gotten it,
suppose you take turn on the
deck with me, Bees said, and you
can get Jolly good hosing ut eight,
bells, which will do you more good
than .cribblug in this mess room.
Come along, and I'll tell you about
the girl that saved my life at LINER
ick."
Before | concluded that remarkable
tale Bescoby's blues had disappeared,
and when the next watch was muster
ed he was all right again. lie was a
flvuriie OF mine, and although he
spoke 10 me freely on many things,
there was still an air oi reserve about
him that made all perfect confidence
impossible. lie was sensitive 10 u
degree and suffered under the haiiing
which lot of larky midshpmen ii;;d
indispensable to I'LL their leisure
hours.
I'D ike to speak 10 you, sir, Tor a
minute" aid huge fellow, the tallest
man in the ship, II marine whom we
called Cog Thompson aud who looked
after Bescoby's clothes and washing as
well as mine
We'll, what is ii, Cog: Quick,
reel it of. I'm sleepy
AYE, aye, ,ir. lis about Mr.. Bcs
cohy. Did he ever talk to you about
It Elmos light:
why, ,es. He was curious to set
it. Well. what Of il r
Hes more than curious, sir. lie.
suporsiilious about it, lie thinks il
will have an effect upon his life" ."
Nonsense" said |. Mr. Bc.coby
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.
II know YOU are his chum, sir, and
that II | told yon 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 supersli'
,inus and had asked me many things
about ghosts, fairies, banshecs aud
other uucanny things indigenous Ia
the isle of Saints. But he had never
mentioned st. Elmo's light, that pecu-
liar ball of electric light which is
occasionally seen in the low latitudes
clinging to the trucks aud the ends oi
the yards.
I'm pump him about it to-day" !
thought aud fell asleep.
That afternoon when | was writing
up my individual log Bescohy came
imin the gunroom. saw the same
curious and worried expression on his
ficc that hal observed the night