The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-08-05

| halfway between the bottom and the | surface of the ocean. On reaching the stifling 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 chanced, Assheton had heard something of Pri- Vate Robinsons career He knew that Robinson was "a gentleman ranker,' one of those good-looking, reckless, un- lucky fellows against whom fortune seems to have a spite.
 As Assheton came to the side of his berth the dying man stared up with a curious expression of defiant despair Above him, beside him, all around the
 deck lay other sufferers, listening and watching to hear what the poor beg gar" had to say.
 It was hardly the place for confi- dences, and Assheton felt fully the em- barrassment of the position. Robinson, however, had reached the time when the world recedes into the background of ones consciousness, and what has to be done must be done at once, or left forever unaccomplished.
 He feebly strove to take something from under his pillow.
 Can I reach that for you?" asked Assheton gently.
 I've waited too long," said Robinson. 'I intended to send this back myself, but somehow I put it off from day to 61U I op1I11YD'f hootS tn Ynart with if '' He stopped a minute as he succeeded in lifting up an envelope, then he contin- ued: "I want to send this back to her, and tell her that though she sent me to the devil-I loved her to the end" He added, as Assheton took the envelope containing the photo from him. "The address is written at the back of it."
 ''Is there nothing else can do for you?" said Assheton huskily.
 Nothing. Thank you, sir" replied Robinson, and Assheton felt he was dismissed.
 He turned away in silence and left the hospital deck.
 As he again passed through the dan- cers the waltz was hastening to it's con- clusion, and the laughing, talking com pany were dispersing in search of ices and comfortable seats.
 Phyllis Welsh was still sitting where Assheton had left her.
 You weren't long," she said, smil- ing. What did Tommy want to tell you? Do tell me all about it.'
 Something in her words grated against Assheton's feelings. He sat down and replied slowly: ''He asked mo To rot n hot to ,r;yJ +oJJ her that, though she played him false, he loved her to the end.'
 'Oh!' cried Phyllis. "How interest ing it sounds! Have you got the photo there? Do show it to me-
 You must not ask me to do that" said Assheton gravely.
 But Phyllis was not accustomed to have her wishes unqualified She leaned forward and looked up with her wonderful dark eyes glowing. twill | you refuse the first request I've ever made you?" she urged.
 'fOf course, if you insist | Assheton.
 T do insist! I must see what the girl is like. Some common, vulgar creature, l suppose, that the poor fel- low idealized into piece of perfection.
 Probably" assented Assheton dryly, taking the envelope from his pocket and producing the photograph.
 With eager curiosity Phyllis bent over.
 For the space of a second she stared, rigid with astonishment and dismay; then exclaiming, Give it to me! Oh! give it to mel" she tried to snatch the from Assheton.
 It was too late. Assheton, with blank disgust, had already recognized the beautiful likeness.
 ''Give it to me!' she stammered
 Certainly" replied Assheton. Tt was what I promised to do''
 He dropped the photo into her hands and strode away.-Temple Bar.