Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-09-06
THE PHOTOGRAPH.

A hundred miles from Alden her maj
esty's troopship Idena steamed along,
bound for home.
ALI day the fierce sun had streamed
down with blazing beams, which those
on board endured, cursed or grumbled
at, according to their various disposi-
tions.
The sensation of the day had been
provided by 1ascar stoker, who, rush
ing from the inferno of the engine
room, leaped headlong overheard, mad
for one delicious plunge into coolness
after enduring the torments of heat.
"Man overheard, rang out. Engines
were reversed. Ladies started from Ian
guild redundancy. a smooth faced SUBJ
a1tern offered 100 to 1 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 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
cussed, commented on 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 dance, and
presently the notes of waltz rose and
fell, alluring with its languorous lilt of
melancholy sweetness even those who
vowed they "didn't dance" to seek out
partners.
Among the many who circIed 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 at
traotive adjectives by which the men
on board ship described her charming
manners and face. They emphatically
agreed among themselves that the only
epithet she deserved was that of being
can outrageous f1irt. :"
Whatever her character might really
be, tonight more men than Captain
Assheton thought Miss Phyllis Welsh
looked "uncommonly fetching" Her
eyelids, heavy with dark lashes, dropped
as though to hide the exulting bright
ness of the eyes they shaded, while ex-
year spent in Indian gayeties had some.
what paled.
AS she glided round she breathed
quicker than the heat of the evening or
the motion of the dance accounted for.
She wondered at her own sensations.
To experience the delight, fear, 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 re-
turned.
Let's come and sit it out" said
Captain Assheton; then he added, at
want to speak to you-to tell you,
Phyllis He stopped abruptly on per-
oeiving an orderly coming up to speak
to him.
.'Wel, what is it?'' he asked per-
emptorily.
"Please. sir, the doctor says Private
Robinson is seriously i'll.
Captain Assheton turned apologetic-
ally to his partner. "I must leave you
for few minutes. Will you wait for
me here? shall be back in five min
utes.''
eyes, :" assented Miss Welsh, leaning
back languidly in a deck chair. "I'n
wait for you here if you're not too
long"
Captain Assheton and the orderly
strobe away.
Custom had not yet steeled Assheton's
heart against feeling pang of sorrow
whose dying words it was his duty
when officer in command to note and
report.
When Tommy Atkins dies, there is
no useless fuss made over the event.
No loving hand clasps his to strength
en- him during the last struggle. No
tears fall to tell him that even he, poor
fellow, has some one who will miss
him. No. The doctor merely reports
him seriously ILL., The officer on duty
comes to stand by his bedside and note
down whatever message Tommy may
choose to send to mother or sweetheart
waiting for him at home. Then, few
hours later, if on land, Tommy is buried
in a coffin the price of which govern
ment stops out of his pay, or if 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, drifting and swaying in
the currents of the sea, half way be-
tween 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 ohanced