New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-31
THE PHOTOGRAPH.
A PROVIDENCE AND A JUDGMENT.


dispositions
The sensation OF the day had been provided by
Lascar stoker who rushing from the inferno
81 the engine-room. leaped headlong overheard
mad for one delicious plunge into GOODNESS after
enduring the tOrments Of heat
Man. overheard" rang out. Engines were re-
VerSed. Ladies started from languid redundancy
A smooth-faced subaltern offered n hundred to
one against the Niger being picked up" but
no one troubled to listen to him. for the water
hereabouts Is swarming with sharks. However
just as horror became subdued into resigna tion
black speck was seen still swimming vigOr-
ously boat was lowered and the poor wretch
was dragged back. collapsing utterly when GER
tain of safety.
All this. however. had happened six hours ago
The incident had been discussed. commented on
and capped by similar cases. and long before the
dinner bell rang the customary state OF boredom
had again set in.
After dinner. when the sun had finally disap-
peared. and the stars shone out OF the wonder
full luminosity of a southern night. some one
probably the majors wife) proposed a dance
and presently the notes OF waltz rose and fell
alluring with its dangerous Tilt Of melancholy
sweetness even those who vowed they didn't
dance to seek out partners.
Among the many who circled around were the
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 attractive adjec-
tives by which the men on board ship described
her charming manners and face They emphat-
cally agreed among themselves that the only
epithet she deserved was that Of being IAN out
raGeous flirt."
Whatever her character might really be. to-
night more men than Captain Assheton thought
Miss Phyllis Welsh looked "uncOmmonly fetch
ing" Her eyeiids. heavy with dark lashes,
dropped though to hide the exulting bright
ness Of the eyes they shaded. while excitement
restored the bloom which year spent in Indian
gayetieS had somewhat paled.
AS she glided round she breathed quicker than
the heat of the evening the motion of the
dance accounted for. She wondered at her own
he alf nIt
rapture and doubt which it had amused her to
make others feel half terrified half charmed
her
once raising her eyes she met full a glance
from Captain Assheton and a thrill OF certainty
swept away the last doubt whether or not her
love was returned.
tain Assheton; then he added, Il want
to speak to you-to tell you. Phyllis He
stopped abruptly on perceiving an orderly COM
ing up to speak to him.
We'll what Is it, he asked perernptorily.
please. sir. the doctor says Private Robinson
is seriously ILL.,"
Captain Assheton turned alphabetically to his
partner. Il must leave you for few minutes.
will you wait for me here? l shall be back in
five minutes"
Yes" assented Miss Welsh leaning back Ian
guldy in a deck chair. "Ill wait for you here
if you're not too long"
CAPTAIN Assheton and the orderly strobe away.
Custom had not yet steeled Asshetons heart
against feeling pang Of sorrow when called To
visit the poor fellows whose dying words 1t was
his duty when officer in command to note and
report.
When Tommy Atkins dies there is use
less fuss made over the event. No loving hand
clasps his 10 strengthen him during the last
struggle No tears fall TO tell him that even he.
poor fellow. has some one who VIII miss nm.
No The doctor merely reports him seriously
ILL.," The officer on duty comes to stand by his
bedside ard note down whatever message Tom
my" may choose 10 send to mother or sweetheart
waiting for him az home Then few hours
later. if on land Tommy" is buried in 4 coffin
the price of which Government stops out OF MS
pay or II he die on board ship with some shot
tied to his ankles. overheard he is dropped. to
sink out Of sight and join that weird company
of shrouded corpses which stand upright. drift
ing and swaying in the currents Of the sea. half
way between the bottom and the surface OF the
ocean
On reaching the sitting deck where the sick.
the wounded and the dying lay the orderly
stopped beside the berth Of Private Robinson.
Usually the officer In command knows nothing
of the man whose dying words he has to report
but. as it CHANGED. Assheton had heard some
thing OF Private Robins0n's career. lie knew
that Robinson was "a gentleman ranker.' one
of those ood-lookng. reckless. unlucky fellows
! against whom fortune seems to have spite.
As Assheton came 10 the side of his berth the
dying man stared up with curious expression
Of defiant despair. Above him, beside him, all
around the deck lay other sufferers listening
and watching to hear what the poor Dessar
had to say.
II was hardly the place for conhdences and
Assheton felt fully the embarrassment Of the
position. Robinson, however, had reached the
time when the world recedes into the back
ground OF ones consciousness, and what has TO
be done must be done at once. or left forever
unaccomplished.
He feebly stroye to take something from under
his Pi,I0w' reach that for vou?" asked Assheton
"I've waited too long" said Robinson. 81 in
tended to send this back myself. but somehow
put it of from day to day couldn't pear De- ito 10
ceeded In lifting up envelope. then he con-