The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-16

ough to keep the canvas full. l had
thought of everything I could remem-
Der to fight off the drowsiness that
was stealing over me. | recalled the
last song | had heard ashore and the
girl who sang it, | thought of the let
ters ] had tn write before we made
Hakodate, for we were cruising in the
Japan sea on this night of June, 1886.
There was no excuse to trim sail to
keep oneself awake.
The breeze, though light. was steady.
and at the foot of the main course to
which | had extended my walk, and
now stood under for the delightful
drauEht it cast was as motionless as
If the sail-rope had been of metal.
suddenly felt that ] was thirsty, and
wandered down to the gunroom for
goblet of rum and limcjuice to give rel
ish to my next pipe.
Hello, old man! why have you
turned out? Three bells have not
struck yet
The face that looked up to mine from
the mess table was that of a beauty
so refined, not masculine comeliness,
but positively beauty. that no debut
ante at London drawing room, no
matter how lovely. could demur TO
an exchange. There was nothing ef-
Terminate about the figure The shoul-
ders were square and muscular. and
the neck showed unmistakablc signs
of strength. Arthur Bescoby. though
we called him Miss Bescoby in the
mess. was no girl boy. but a young
man from the pleasant county of Kent,
who was a good cricket and foot bail
player. pulled strong oar and gave
ample promise Of being a valuable ad-
dition to her majestYs navy.
II can't sleep. Paddy paddy was
my pet name). | don't know what ii
is that worries me so, but | feel
wretched."
You're in love, Bessie. That visit
you made To- Scotland has settled y,,u."
bescoby's pale face flushed. NO. /
d"n't think I'm very hard hit Paddy"
h" r"joined, only something to keep
my mind busy between mails. BY the
way, what did you make her out to be
yesterday"
gave him the ships position at
noon and chafed him at having forgo.-
ten it.
suppose you take turn with me on
III" deck with mo. Bcss." 7 said. "anl
YOU can get a jolly good hosing at
'N''N '''N' " NUN III 90 more GODU
than Scribblng in this mess-room.
Come along ana I'll tell you about the
Slrl that saved by life at Iimericll"
Before J concluded that remarkable
tai" ieScOhy's blues had disappearel.
and when the next watch was mus
tered he was all right again He was
a Iavorite of mine, and. although he
sp"k" to mo freely ON many things.
| N still nil Of
him that made all prefect confidence
Impossible. He was sensitive to n de-
gree" ana suffering under the chatting
which lot Of larky midshipmen fin
indisn"nstHlc t" iii in their leisure
hours.
Ia like To speak to YOU, sir for a
minute said II huge fellow. the taIlest
man IN the ship, a marine whom We
called Go" Thompson. and who looked
after BescobY's clothes and washing as
We'll as mine.
What is it, Cog? Quick. reel if off.
I'm sleepy"
"AN, ay, sir. It's about Mr. Ec,-
coby. Did he ever talk to you about
ST. Elmo's light"
Why, yes; he was curious to see it.
Well, what of it,"
He's more than curious sir. He's
Supersutious about it. He thinks il
VIII have an effect upon his life"
Nonsense, said |. Mr. BesCOby
mas been chatting you. Cog"
NO, sir, replied the big marine,
earnestly, who loved the handsome
young MILDLY as if he had been his son
Il know you are his rhum, sir, and
that If | told you you'd talk him out
or these ideas. But please. sir don't
mention that / had anything to say
about it."
Certainly not, Cog" and as the ma
rlne saluted and walked forward | re-
membered that Arthur was supersti-
uous, and had asked me many things
about ghosts and fairies and banshees
ana other uncanny things INDIGENOUS
10 the Isle of Saints. But he had never
mentioned st. Elmo's light, that pecu-
liar han of electric light. which is occa-
slonally seen in the low latitude cling
ing TO the trucks and the ends of the
yards.
III pump him about it today" I
thought, and fell asleep
That afternoon when | was writing
up my individual log. BescOby came in
10 the gun room. | saw the same Curl
Gus ana worried expression on his face
N'''N ile'u DpStiNtu lne nlPnl before,
Bessie, what the deuce is the matter
with you? Are you fretting because
YOU have not yet seen st. EImo's
light"
"Who has been telling you that warn.
Paddy?" he answered quickly. with a
flush of annoyance. 81 know. That big
donkey, Cog, has been loading you up
with lot of bosh"
Look here, old man" I said. "you
confide in me. Now. / have talked to
YOU about banshees and ghosts, tell me
about this light business"
lie sat down beside me and nutting
his arm on my shoulder. said. i'm a
shameful sort of way:
My dear Paddy, I'll tell you all.
nm a silly duffer, YOU know, and one
weeks shooting at Eaglesham Manor
settled me. | met there a country
woman, OF yours. | will not dess,ibe
Nora to you. But here is her picture. ."
'Humph!' ! thought; badly hit. in
deed as he took locket which bo
wore from silk cord around his necl;
opened 1t and laid il before me. 1t was
the face of an exceedingly bcautiful
girl-a roguish, laughing face. with
clusters of brown curly hair and deem
blue eyes. 1t was Wen painted The
artist was evidently deeply interested
I'm his subject.
THAT Is Nora" he said, and tho
gentle lowering of the voice as he pro-
nounced the name Of the lovely one told
the whole story.
Il congratulate you up on your good
taste. liess. Am To be the best mano
Don't chan me, Paddy" he said.
Mora Is as poor as l am. but she loves
me. She will wait for me. I am sure