Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-17

Surtis slNuSu4yi ~" 49, ave-" 'Se>
tongue"
"I'm not aboard Of inan.o'-war now"
"Thank your stars for that, my lad, II
twas my ship
"l'm not such fool. "
"Fooi' You arc fool enough or any
thing, and twice TINT What call had you
to spcakr
"'rwas Gods truth.
"You are Gods own fool, and ID
clumsy yarn spinner atop Of that"
"Soine thinks different " Eiid bucket,
and that tn 80 ludioruus n tuno Of wound
ed vanity that Curtis felt 10 como like
dousing to his heat, aud, cooling down, he
began TO recognize TINT no one deserved his
Gngcr 50 much ms himself
"wcl" said he, after short silence,
"lcast said soonest mondod, my lad
Where arc we to slecpS'
"Slccp where you like" growled Duck
ct. II go back to tho lugger.
"No, you don't, said Curtis.
"Why notP'
Because you arc not going to desert me
tho first time make fool Of mysulf"
"Thore used to 10 shecpcots behind the
hut" grumblcd bucket unbending re-
bclliously, after his wont "Wcslaughtcr-
cd marc hero once with n broken leg.
ono Of the sheepcots they found half full
Of hay So that was their resting place
for tho night, and thoro they supped on
tho bread Curtis had been careful to bring,
and on the rcd bordeaux wine, till his an
ger, even with himself, began toineit, and
tho cnrGt restored his sense OF humor,
He loungcd luxurlonsly in tho warm hay,
giving "Thc Content and Portsmouth
Hard" to bucket for toasts. Last came
"Swocthrarts and Wives" and that they
drank, cash with his bottle fairly upside
down ut his lips, that 1t might be honored
with tho very last drop.
Tho light hearted lieutenant laughed rs
he tossed his empty bottle awny-laughcd
at tho ludicrous end Of his little romance
His distressed dnmsel was ternngunt
schoolgirl, and hr tho rIsculng hero. was
bully, lgnominiously saddlod with the
necessity Of lighting her schoolboy brother
in tho morning A pretty position for
Kings officer, whose last fight had been
single handed against two privatccrs, to
say nothing Of q 10 gun lrlgato that had
TO get into raktDg position under his guar
tor before tic three Of them brought down
his flag
He laughed again and would hayo had
DuckOt share the joke, but the seaman
was lying back with closed eyes, trying,
In thickencd voice, to dronr an old sen
chant, but his memory Of the tune was
clOuded, So Curtis, for lack Of n mate to
yarn with, rolled In tho hny contcntedly
and fell into glorious sleep
And inside tho cabin Lucille, with wet
eyes, was watching beside tho pallet on
which lay her brother, breathing painfully
There wns no drinking OF wine, nor laugh
ter, nor any sound but tho sick boy gasp
ing and the means OF Pierre.
Wien Curtis and bucket had left them
alone, sho had rushed to Aymon and
thrown her arms about him. calling him
her knight and kissing him. lilo had re-
manned, staring vacantly, where he was,
with his sword In his hand
"What have yOn donor" no said Mt last
hoarsely as he put her away from him.
"Aymon" sho cried, with u sinking
heart.
what have yon made mo ioP' he said
again
"You don't repent its" she snid
~ cannot fight him." no replied. "you
know cannot, What have you donor"
But why not, Aymon-why notr'
"You know dOrc not"
He lung his weapon down upon the to
bic rs ho spoke and sat miserably upon
tho cot
81 shall DO Killed. and you Will have
Killed ne'
"Oh, It's but TO cross swords, " she said,
trying to laugh at his tragic air. "A duol
is nothing"
nut no wouIh not DO contortcd, nor had
sln h'noh heart TO cheer MN Tor THINKING
wlat nor misery would be II he fell. So he
h1hk deeper in'o ro"Hrdico as thoy talked,
using suoh bitterness 10 her ana showing
30 slnail sp'r't as 1t were heartless work
!" tc'i
Nor did 10 end till hc had worked him
snlf so low that NJ OF coughing seized
him, and with curse lie dropped on tho
rough mattress.
She covered him with the Shepherds
cloak ms hc lay exhausted and drew OF his
boots that no might bu onsiCr So sho sat
watching him and weeping for his sake
and her own.
Sometimes she dozed as tho hours went
by, but 1t was only to start up with n
moan from old Pierre In hor cars. or to
bear Aymun cry out In his broken sleep
some words OF terror The very working
OF her thoughts ulnde rest impossible, as
they flew to md fro in confusion, from her
father TO tho stalwart sailor that was com.
ing bnck nt dnybrcak, from him to tho