Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-04-29

houSo alOuc WIFI my lIlOl. ht S'S-
ond mate was stepping the planks
outside, old Jobson was ut the wheel
away behind us, and the watch on
deck were lounging about forward.
Some days previous TO this had
had the temerity to confess my love
for her and asked her to be my wife.
She had made me ineXprcssibly hap.
py by promising, subject to my OBJ
tanning her fathers consent. This,
after some demur, he had granted,
and that night the future appeared
very bright for me.
We had been sitting silent for
some time, too happy for words,
! gazing on the setting sun as il dis
appeared into Il glowing mass of
golden trimmed clouds ON the hori-
zon, when, to my infinite amaze
ment, she suddenly burst into tears.
Darling, what is the matter3' l
exclaimed in an agony of apprchen-
sion.
"Oh. Alfred, have just heard
such dreadful story from my ia
Their shall never he happy again.
We can never be married now"
Never be married. calculated,
aghast "Whyi"
Because my father * IA Crimi-
nal. oh, feel SO miserable think
shall throw myself overheard.
Alice, for heavens sake don't
talk like that, or you'll drive me
mad. What has he donet'
Something dreadful. Oh, don't
speak to mo any more" And she
sobbed violently.
At that moment | was SO mad
felt half inclined to 60 down and
tear the old sCarecrow out of his
berth by the scruff of the neck and
demand what the deuce he had done
to cause my darling such poignant
grief But didn't. Instead | drew
her to my side and kissed her tears
away.
Tell me all about it," said
soothingly.
"Well, my father, as you are
aware, was an agent in one of the
banks in Airing ton, Victoria, and it
seems he cmbezzled large sums of
money belonging to the bank to
speculate with. OF course he meant
to replace il before the audit, when
the deficit would have been discov-
cred. But he lost it all, and that is
why he fled the country"
lis that all7" said l, with a sigh
OF relief. It's bad enough certain
ly, but l fail to see that in itself it
forms sufficient barrier to our
union"
But that is not the worst My
father is convinced that the police
may have traced him to Melbourne
and to this ship. He declares he will
be arrested on landing"
Nothing more likely, thought.
But l remarked casually, Has he
any plan to suggest"
Yes, oh, yes, if you will only as
sist him. But it seems too horrible
to contemplate. He says it is his on.
ly chance of escape
What is it thenl"
That he should die and be buried
at sea, she responded, with per-
ceptible shiver.
Il don't understand.
He proposes to feign death.
Then, after he has been sewed up fol
burial, we must find the means to
liberate him and substitute some
thing else"
The daring audacity of the pro-
posal fairly took my breath away
If discovered, the consequences to
me in aiding and abetting a felon to
escape would be disastrous ! re-
solved to have nothing to do with
such n criminal proceeding, but a
look of entreaty from those fearful
eyes made me falter in my resolu-
ton.
For my sakel" she murmured
pleadingly, placing her fair, white
hand on my arm.
Her touch thrilled me. Ihesitated
no longer, but gave an unwilling
consent. All, what folly will not q
man commit when in love!
Next day it was reported that
Brandon was seriously indisposed.
took out the medicine chest as in
duty bound and ordered the cabin
steward to attend him. Three days
later Mr.. Brandon was reported
dead.
When was informed of this,
| entered his cabin He was lyino ~
the under berth, pale and motion
less as death. felt the body. 1t wa,
cold and rigid. If this were no
death, he simulated it to perfection
/ sent for the sailmaker, who sew
ed the body up in my presence
When his task was completed, dis
missed him, and, securing the cabil
door inside, with a sharp knife rip
ped open the stitches My hant
shook painfully. What if he wer,
really deadl
confess to experiencing n singu
lar feeling of relief when the MAJ
opened his eyes, and the resuscitate(
Brandon sat up. administered som,
brandy, which helped to revive him
He quickly and noiselessly dressed
himself. Then he produced from M
American trunk II dummy figur,
which he had previously prepared
and weighted and incloscd it i'll tn,
shroud. This he scwcd up with hi
own hands. Not word was spoke
by either of us. When all was com