The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-05-09


gunroom. l saw the same curious and
worried expression on his face that had
observed the night before.
'Bessy, what the deuce is the matter
with You? Are you fretting because you
have not yet seen St Elmo's light p
''Who has been telling you that yarn,
Paddy?'' he answered quickly. with a flush
of annoyance 'I know That big don
key, Cog, has been loading you up with
lot of bosh
.'Look here, old man. | said, ''you
confde in me- Now have talked to you
about banshees and ghosts. Tell me about
this light business. y
He sat down beside me, and putting
his arm on my shoulder said in shame
full sort of way :
"My dear Paddy, I'll tell you all. I
am a silly dufer, you know, and one
week shooting at Eaglesham Manor set
tied me. met there country woman
of yours. will not describe Nora to you.
But here is her picture
''Humph p l thought Badly hit
indeed, as he took a loeket which he
wore from silk cord around his neck,
opened it and laid it before me. 1t was
the face of an exceeding beautiful girl-a
roguish, laughing face, with clusters of
brown curly hair and deep blue eyes. 1t
was well painted The artist was evident
ly deeply interested in his subject.
''That is Nora, he said, and the gen
tie lowering of the voice as he pronounced
the name of the loved one told the whole
story.
''I congratulate you upon your good
taste, Bess. Am | to be best man?'
''Don't chaf me, Paddy he said.
''Nora 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 fall about St. Elmo light, and L
promised her that when | saw it would
90 aloft and examine it closely and make
scientific observations and all that sort of
thing.
'sAnd the last words that Nora spoke
to me 1--WE were on the shores of Eagles
ham lake, and she had kissed me and
called me her own sailor and told me that
she knew she never could love any one
half as well as sailor) were 4; '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 ''Nora, Nora, Nora" three
times, and wherever am my soul will be
close by you at that moment, Arte
'sOh, 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 We got it bad, Bessy,
l said II thought was fond of the
girl that saved my life at Limerick, but
my affection is but as tallow dip along
side ST. Elmo's light compared to yours y
''Don't chaff me any more, will you,
Paddy?' and the hapless lover looked
pleadingly at me.
''I will not, Bessy. 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
I see St. Elmo light I'll send Cog Thomp-
son to pull you out by the heels.
After this conversation l noticed a
change for the better in Bescoby. He
had lost his moodiness and gave such hot
shots to his tormentors, who used to chaff
him for their digestion, that he silenced
their batteries in short order. | think he
felt relieved that he had told me his story,
and | listened to the entire tale of his
meeting with and engagement to the Irish
beauty
| hoped that she had not been flirting
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 a rich husband and was
getting her hand in by practicing on
Bescoby. There was such strawberry
and cream flavor about the business, a
Paul and Virginia atmosphere, that l felt
my countrywoman was simply amusing her
self with the susceptible young sailor and
nothing more.
Two days afterward we brought up in
Hakodate There were few merchant
men in the harbor and an English yacht.
At mess that evening one of our fellows
who had been ashore gave as all the gossip
of the place.
''That yacht is the Spray he said,
s'and belongs to rich Scotch lord, who
has large party on board. The consul
told me all about them. His aunt and
married sister are chaperoning 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 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' tit be grand if
we get to Hongkong in time for the we'd
ding p
awhat's the owners name?'' I
asked.
"Lord Gilmour. A jolly young chap
too. Has grand shooting and great
place somewhere near Glasgow y
81 want to see you for minute,
Paddy"
looked around, and Bescoby was at my
elbow. He was strangely pale, and his
eyes wore wild and most unnatural ex-
preston.
paddy he said as he stood at one of
the starboard ports, ''there Is something
awfully wrong. l know this Lord Gil
mour. 1t was at his house | staid. 1t
was there met Nora. And he was at
tentive to her, 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, | know there is something
wrong r
Nonsense, Delay all that stuff, . | said
cheerily. eff Nora is on board, which is
not probable, there are other Irish girls in
the world, and it does not 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 lord S