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

woman of the world, You silly boy, |
want you to forget all that nonsense.
But it's all over now. l will never see
her again. Never, never
''Bosh, - said 1, slapping him on the
back. "You'l get over all this Why,
that girl who saved my life in Limerick
and who swore was the only man she
ever loved was married a week afterward
to wealthy tanner and had the impudence
to send me one of her wedding cards.
But all this well meant consolation had
no effect upon my friend, and | was glad
when we got under way and pointed for
the strait of Sunda. Bescoby went about
his duty in dull, mechanical sort of way,
and even the fellows who used to persecute
him most had respect for his dependency,
although they knew not the cause. He
never mentioned the name of his false
sweetheart again, and avoided all refer
ence to the subject
| was in the second hour of delicious
sleep few nights afterward when some
body grasped me violently by the arm and
shook me.
Grouse up, sir Rouse up cried
Cog Thompson hurriedly. II 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
himself and muttering something about St.
Elmo light, and Tn afraid, sir, that he
is out of his mind
While l 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 mizzen royal yardarm. The minute
Mr.. Bescoby saw this he had rushed alOft
and laid out on the yard. Filled with ap-
prehension, I came on deck and started
quickly up the weather rigging There
was heavy swell on, and the ship was
rolling considerably. l stopped at the
mizzen topmast crosstrees and sung out
softly:
"Hello, Bescoby? Lie down here for
a moment. I've got something to tell
you
He did not reply, but kept talking to
himself, so l began the ascent of the top
gallant rigging. As the ship rolled heavily
to leeward | saw his figure outlined against
the dusky sky, and 1 heard him say in a
peculiarly dull, but distinct monotone
81 have found the light at last, Nora.
1 have kept my part of the promise. Is
your spirit near me now p
Again the big ship rolled to leeward and
the end of the royal yard was lifted up to
the clear patch of sky. But there was nc
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 l jumped to the top
gallant backstay and slid rapidly to the
deck. The boat was at once lowered away,
and then another, but though we searched
for more than an hour and burned lights
over vast area of water we found no trace
of the hapless midshipman. There was
gloom in the gunroom mess for many weeks
afterward, for Bess was a general fayorite.
Inever told the story of this unfortunate
attachment, and l never saw the woman
whose marriage l read of in Hongkong
paper, who had made my poor friend the
sport of summer vacation and ruined s
young and promising life for her own graft.
fcation and for the winning of wealth and
title