Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-14

colonel interrupted. My utdT DOy, L
know, | know. There is no need for
formal declarations between you and
me. | have seen more of you during
these last ten days than | could in an
ordinary six months. | believe you are
good man, Desmond, and have seen
you bear yourself as an English gen
tleman should when the shadow of
death lay very heavily above you. But
you must forgive an old father when
] say that you have known my child
only very short time, and the nature
of your foregatherings has been ro-
mantle indeed. Are you certain that
il is love in very surety that fills your
heart for her and not passing admi-
ration for pretty girl think per-
haps | may call her pretty" said the
colonel in a iudlcious parenthesis-
with whom you have been thrown in
circumstances of intimacy and SYM
pnthy beyond the common"
Desmond smiled a queer little smile
81 think you may take my assurance
that l love her truly, sir. Last night l
knew that | loved her enough to die
for her-and you. Believe rae, l was
as happy in the thought as | now am
in hoping to live for her"
There was a suspicious moisture in
the old soldiers eyes. He turned ST.
lently TO his companion and held ont
his hand, and the young man pressed
it with look that was more eloquent
than many words Then, as became
men who live out their emotions and
do not frtter them in idle talk, they
returned to ordinary everyday topics.
But Desmonds heart glowed within
him. and upon his face was a glory.
They Joined the other two, and AS
the dark of the pine woods began to
tighten before them Himar and Des-
mond slipped unostentatiously behind.
Shortly the hustle of departure would
be in full swing. Romance babe them
linger a few minutes in the shadow of
the forest where their love had had
Its awakening and which they could
never hope to see again.
A few hundred yards ahead the
others stepped out into the growing
dawn light and strobe across the waste
of powders between the woods and
the shore. Adore the rocks of the bay
showed the masts of the yacht, the
little r. Y. s. burgee still fluttering
at the main. A sigh of relief went up
from 80 British threats as they recog-
nized the familiar emblem. They
mounted the great stones beamingly
and looked down upon their floating
home. Beside the taffrail sat an old
man, motionless and unresponsve to
their gladstone shout. His hand lean
cd upon the bulwarks At his feet
lay broken pipe. His whole attitude
betokened one tired to the limits of
exhaustion.
They ran up to the boat that swung
idly from the stern, mounted to the
deck and went toward him. Overcome
with the WEAKNESS of long vigil, old
Stefan slept the sleep of the just,
faithful to his post They reused him,
clapping him heartily upon the Shout
der, and he stared at them drowsuy.
Then his eyes dwrlt upon the colonols
face. and he bowed his head before
him in proud humility.
Il have promised, and have done"
said he and led the way to the saloon.
Ranged round the floor six sleeping
Russians lay and snorcd their lustiest,
still deep in the influence of the lau-
danum with which the old man had
dosed their vodki.
The pigs" quoth he. Hear them
grunt! All, the cunning little pigeons.
Ttry thought they had a prize. |
made prctense of hiding struggled
spirits for the Lapps, one of noble
birth, taking care to be in sight of
their watch lIo, no, How they
laughed when they caught the poor
old man. And within ten minutes
they slept like the dead. VIII the ex-
cellency throw them overheard? They
are but soldiers, scum of Cossacks."
The eXCellency declined these drastic
measures with thanks. However
righteously they might appeal to a
Finn, Englshmen could not bring
themselves to murder sleeping foes.
This was explained with difficulty to
Stefan and Lars while the unconscious
prisoners were being lugged ashore.
They freely expressed their dlsappoint-
ment and the opinion that vermn
should be destroyed wherever met.
The hard won spoil was taken
aboard, and a boat set out for the sea
opening, carrying Il tow rope. The
yachts bow was set westward, and
she glided slowly between the rocks
and waited in deep water for the
others on the sand. where the fate of
the prisoners was still to be decided.
Desmond and Hilmar were wandering
toward the strand as they unwillingly
left the forest of mingled sorrow and
delight.
II feel it my duty to shoot the dog
said the colonel, looking to where Paul
PreobeSlas stood between two sailors.
Hes the relentless foe of Poland
aye, and Finland too"
I'VE could hardly have him murder
ed in cold blood urged Barr, how
ever much he deserves it,"
Murdered" shouted the colonel
"If ever there was a righteous eXecu-
ton due, it is his. Do you know how
many innocent lives call aloud for his
bloodY
"That may be-" answered Barr ear
nestly, "but we are not appointed his
judges. Let be this time. The venge-
ance of God must overtake"-
A xIril6 oil ba nd