The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-08-05
THE PHOTOGRAPH.
! Providence and a Judgment.

IA Providence and Judgment.
 A hundred miles from Alden Her Ma 1estys troopship Idena steamed along, bound for home.
 All day the fierce sun had streamed down with blazing beams which those on board endured, cursed or grumbed at, according to their various disposi- tions.
 The sensation of the day had been provided by g. Lascar 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 overboard!" rang out. Engines were reversed. Ladies started from 1anguid recumbency. A smooth-faced subaltern offered a hundred to one against "the nigger 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 resignation, black speck was seen still swimming vigorously. A boat was lowered and the poor wretch was dragged back, col- 1apsing 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 final 1y disappeared, and the stars shone out of the wonderful luminosity of a south ern night, some one (probably the ma~ jor's Wife) proposed dance, and pres- ently the notes of a waltz rose and fell, alluring with it's languorous lit of mel ancholy 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 PhyI- dis Welsh.
 The ladies of the Dovecot denied that Miss Welsh had any claims to the at fractive 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 san outrageous f1irt.''
 Whatever her character might be, to- night more men than Captain Assheton thought Miss Phyllis Welsh looked .suncommonly fetching" Her eyelids, heavy with dark lashes, dropped as though to hide the exulting brightness of the eyes they shaded, while excite ment restored the bloom which a year spent in Indian gayeties had somewhat pa1ed.
 As she glided round she breathed ioIyQ ha nf ha niv,o op 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 Eoubt whether or not her love was re- l turned.
 Lets come and sit it out" said Cap tafn Assheton; then he added, T want | to speak to you--to tell you, Phyllis | He stopped abruptly on perceiving an orderly coming up to speak to him.
 ssWelI, what is ?" he asked peremp- torily.
 tPlease, sir the doctor says Private Robinson is seriously ill.,
 Captain Assheton turned apologeti- rally to his partner. ''I must leave you for a few minutes. Will you wait for me here? I shall be back in five min utes."
 .sYes," assented Miss Welsh, leaning hack Ianguidly in a deck chair. ''Ill wait for for you here if you're not too long"
 Ar,1Iao fIo 1ay~1xy | strode away.
 Custom had not yet stee1ed Asshe tons heart against feeling pang of sorrow when called to visit the poor fellows 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 strengthen him during the last struggle. No tears fall to tell him that even he, poor fel- low. has some one who will miss him. Noi The doctor merely reports him ..seriousIy iIl" The officer on duty comes to stand by his bedside and note flown whatever message Tommy may choose to send to mother or sweetheart waiting for him at home. Then a few hours later, II on ldilu' 1ouiily IS hurried in a coffin the price of which The government 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,