The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-05-09
Select Storp.
A SEA ROMANCE.

From san Francisco Call
1t had gone two bells in the middle
watch, and 1 could hardly keep my eyes
open. The morning was exceedingly
warm, but there was light breeze from
the westward-just enough to keep the
canvas full. | had thought of everything
| could remember to fight off the drowsi-
ness that was stealing over me. l recalled
the last song | had heard ashore and the
girl who sang it. thought of the let
tiers | had to write before we made Hako
date, for we we're cruising in the Japan
sea on this night of June, 1886. 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 it cast,
was as motionless as if the sail rope had
been of metal. l wandered down to the
gunroom for goblet of rum and lime
juice to give relish to my next pipe.
s'Hello, old man Why have you
turned out InFee peiIs nave ho1 sIiuoh
yet, y
The face that looked up to mine from
the mess table was that of a beauty-so
refined, not masculine comeliness, but
positive beauty-that no debutante at
London drawing room, no matter how
lovely, could demur to an exchange.
There was nothing effeminatc about the
figure. The shoulders were square and
muscular, and the neck showed unmistak
able signs of strength Arthur Bescoby,
though we called him Miss Bescoby in the
mess, was no girl boy, but young man
from the pleasant county of Kent, who
was good cricket and football player,
pulled strong oar and gave ample prom
Use of being valuable addition to her
majesty's navy.
~ can't sleep, Paddy [ Paddy was my
pet name. don't know what it is that
worries me so, but feel wretched
you're in love, Bessy. This visit
you made to Scotland has settled you.
Bescoby's face flushed. ''No, I don
think L m very hard hit, Paddy" he re-
Joined, ''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 chaffed him at having fogotten it.
Suppose you take a turn on the deck
with me, Bess," 1 said, "and you can
get jolly good hosing at eight bells, which
will do you more good than scribbling in
this mess-room. Come along, and I'll
tell you about the girl that saved my life
at Limerick. y
Before concluded that remarkable tale
Bescoby' blues had disappeared, and when
the next watch was mustered he was all
right again. He was favorite of mine,
and, although he spoke to me freely on
many things there was still an air of re-
serve about him that made all perfect con-
fdence impossible He was sensitive to
a degree and suffered under the chatting
which lot of larky midshipmen find in
dispensable to fill their leisure hours.
fI'd like to speak to you, sir, for
minute, said huge fellow, the tallest
man in the ship, marine whom we called
Cog Thompson and who looked after Bes-
coby's clothes and washing as well as mine.
'Well, what is it, Cog? Quick, reel
if off. I'm sleepy.
'sAye, aye, sir. It's about Mr.. Bes-
coby. Did he ever talk to you about St.
Elmo light p
"Why, yes. He was curious to see
it, Well, what of it?'
'He's more than curious, sir. He's
superstitious about it. He thinks it will
have an effect upon his life.
Nonsense, said l. s'Mr Beseoby
has been chatting you, Cog
No, sir, - replied the big marine earn
estly, who loved the handsome young
MILDLY as if had been his son. ~ know
you are his chum, sir, and that if told you
yon talk him out of those ideas. But,
please, sir, don't mention that had any
thing to say about it.
.'Certainly not, Cog. And as the
marine saluted and walked forward | re-
membered that Arthur was superstitious
and had asked me many things about
ghosts, fairies, banshees and other uncan-
ny things indigenous to the isle of Saints.
But he had never mentioned st. Elmo 5
light, that peculiar ball of electric light
which is occasionally seen in the low lati-
tudes clinging to the trucks and the ends
of the yards.
S1'll pump him about it today, ]
thought, and fell asleep.
That afternoon when was writing up