The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-07

or sweetheart waiting for him at home.
Then few hours later, if on land Tom
my" is buried 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 iotn
tht weird company of shrouded corpses
which stand upright, drifting and swav-
ing in the currents of the sea. halfway
between the bottom and the surface of
the ocean.
On reaching the sitting deck where the
sick, the wounded and the dying lay, Che
orderly stopped beside the berth OF Priv
ate Robinson.
Usually the officer in command knows
nothing of the man whose dying words he
has 90 report, but, as it CHANGED. Asshe-
ton had heard something of Private Rob
inson's career. He knew that Robinson
was "a gentleman ranker," one of those
good-loking, reckless unlucky fellows
against whom fortune seems to have a
spite.
As Asheton 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 beggar" had to say.
1t was hardly the place for condolences.
and Assheton felt fully the embarrass-
ment of the position. Robinson, however.
cedes into the background of ones con-
sciousness, and what has to be done must
be done at once, or left forever unaccom-
phshed.
He feebly strove to take something from
under his pillow.
can I reach that for you?' asked
Assheton gently.
i've waited to long" said Robinson
Il intended to send this back myself. but
somehow put 1t off from day to day.
couldn't bear to part with 1T" He stopped
minute as he succeeded In lifting up an
envelope, then he continued: ST want to
send this back to her, and tell her thai
though she sent me to the DEVIL 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,"
rs there nothing else I can do for your"
said Assheton huskily.
Nothing. Thank you, sir" replied Rob
inson, and Assheton felt he was dis
missed.
He turned away in silnece and left the
hospital deck
As he again passed through the dancers
the waltz was Fastening to its conclusion.
and the laughing, talking company were
dispensing in search of ices and comforta-
BILE seats.
Phyllis Welsh was still sitting where
AsshetOn had left her.
You weren't long" she said, smiling,
What did Tommy want to tell you? Do
tell ME all about it,"
Something IN her words grated against
Asshetons feelings. He sat down and re-
Piled slowly: HE asked me to return a
photo to girl, and tell her that, though
she played him false, he loved her to the
end
"Oh!' cried Phyllis. How interesting
1t sounds! Have you got the photo there9
Do show Il 10 me-"
you must not ask me to do that" said
Assheton gravely.
But Phyllis was not accustomed to have
her wishes ungratifcd She leaned for
ward and looked up with her wonderful
dark eyes glowing. ''WHl you refuse the
nrst request I've ever made your" she
urged.
"Of course, If you fnsist''-hesitated
Assheton.
Il do insist! must see what the girl Is
like! Some common, vulgar creature, I
suppose, that the poor fellow idealized into
a piece of perfection"
Probably" assented Assheton dryly,
taking the envelope from his pocket ana
producing the photograph
With eager curiosity Phyllis bent over.
For the space of a second she stared, rig
i'd with establishment and dsmay; then ex-
claiming. Give it to me! Oh! give 1T to
me!' she tried to snatch the photograph
from Assheton.
1t was too late. Assheton, with blank dis
gust, had already recognized the beautiful
likeness.
Give 1t to met" she stammered.
Certainly" replied Assheton. 1T was
what 1 promised to do"
He dropped the photo into her hands and
STROBE away.