, 1898-09-26
THE PHOTOGRAPH.

A hundred miles from Alden her mai
esty's troopship Idena steamed along
bound for home.
All day the fierce sun had streamet
down with blazing beams, which those
on board endured, cursed or grumblet
at, according to their various disposi
lions.
The sensation Of the day had beer
provided by a lascar stoker, who, rush.
ing from the inferno of the engine
room, leaped headlong overheard, mad
for M delicious plunge into GOODNESS
after enduring the torments of heat.
Man overheard, rang out. Engines
were reversed. Ladies started from Ian.
guild redundancy. A smooth faced sub.
altern offered 100 to l against "the mig.
ger being picked up" but no one trou.
bled to listen to him, for the water
hereabouts is swarming with sharks.
However. just as horror became sub.
dued into resignation a black speck was
seen still swimming vigorously. A boat
was lowered, and the poor wretch was
dragged back, collapsing utterly when
certain of safety.
All this, however, had happened six
hours ago. The incident had been dis.
oussed. commented Oh and capped by
similar cases.. and long before the din.
ner bell rang the customary state Of
boredom had again set in.
After dinner, when the sun had
finally disappeared and the stars shone
out Of the wonderful luminosity Of a
southern night. some one (probably the
majors wife) proposed a dance, and
presently the notes of a waltz rose and
fell. alluring with its %languorous Tilt Of
melancholy sweetness even those who
vowed they ''didn't dance" to seek out
partners-
Among the many who circled around
were tie officer in command, Captain
Assheton. and his partner. Miss Phyllis
Welsh.
The ladies of the Dovecot denied that
Miss Welsh had any claims to the at.
traotive adjectives by which the men
on board ship described her charming
manners AID face. They emphatically
agreed among themselves that the only
epithet she deserved was that of being
IAN outrageous fiirt."
Whatever her character might really
be, tonight more men than Captain
Assheton thought Miss Phyllis Welsh
looked ''unoommonly fetching" Her
eyelids, heavy with dark lashes, dropped
a. though to hide the exulting bright.
mess of the eyes they shaded, while ex-
element restored the bloom which a
year spent in Indian gayeties had some.
what paled.
As she glided round she breathed
quicker than the heat Of the evening O
the motion Of the dance accounted for.
She wondered at her W sensations.
To experience the delight, fear, ldpture
and doubt which it had amused her to
make others feel half terrified. half
charmed her.
Once raising her eyes she met full a
from Captain Assheton, and a
thrill Of certainty swept away the last
doubt whether or not her love was re.
Lets come and sit 1t out" said
Assheton; then he added. Il
want to speak to you-to tell you,
He stopped abruptly on per.
an orderly coming up to speak
10 him.
"Well, what is it," he asked per-
smptorilx.
please. sir. the doctor says Private
Robinson IL seriously ill.,"
Captain Aesbeton turned apologetic-
lily to his partner. II must leave you
lor . few minutes. Will you wait for
heref l shall be back in five min.
Eyes" assented Miss Welsh, leaning
back languiily in a deck chair. "Ill
wait for you here if you're not too
Captain Assheton and the orderly
'trode away.
Custom had not yet steeled Assheton's
heart against feeling a pang Of sorrow
when called to visit the poor fellows
whose dying words it vas his duty
when officer In command to note and
report.
When Tommy Atkins dies, there 10
10 useless fuss made over the event.
No loving hand clasps his to strength
n him during the last struggle. No
ears fall to tell him that ever he, poor
has some one who will miss
,im. No. The doctor merely reports
lin seriously ILL.," The officer on duty
ZONES to stand by his bedside and note
Town whatever message Tommy may
,hoose to send { o mother or sweetheart
for him at home. Then, a few
hours later. If on land. Tommy is buried
. comm the price Of which govern
nent stops out Of his pay, or il he die
n board ship. with some shot tied to
III ankles, overheard he fs dropped, to
ink out Of sight and join that weird
,ompany OF shrouded corpses which
tand upright. drifting and swaying In
;he currents Of the sea. half way be-
wesn The bottom and the surface Of the
Icean.
On reaching the sitting deck where
he siok, the wounded and the dying
~ The orderly stopped beside the berth
Z Private Robinson.
Usually the oficer In command knows
Of the man WHOSE dying words
y hAs 70 report. but - Il CHANGED
Anhstoa had heard something Il Phi.
~ Aobtnsou's career. He knsw that
Rpe1nsn wss"a gentleman ranker."
~ q thoas good looking. reckless, un'
10y fellows against whom fortune
~>-- - h~-aA >~fka N