Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-05-11
hnLUBBERING won't do any good:


may before his superior officer. Come
with me; I'm going to his stateroom
now" the speaker added, not unklndly,
as he noted the lads evident distress.
I'm not numbering, and don't care
If he does stop my leave!" Indignantly
responded the youngster, drawing him
self up to his full height.
What is it, Stuart?" inquired the
captain, as the twain entered his cabin.
81 merely wish to say that we are
ready to get under way whenever you
please, sir; but Robson has report to
make" said the lieutenant
Not seasick yet, 1 hopef" ejacu-
lated Capt. Wilson, ironically. swell,
I'm listening"
"Please, sir, it's the First Lord; he's
bolted! He ran off while we were
shipping the soft tack-I mean the
breadl" incoherently stammered Rob
son.
1.-THE First Lord bolted with the soft
tack!" exclaimed Wilson, in astonish-
ment. "What does he mean, Stuart?
Who's the First Load?' Is the boy q
raving maniac?"
Lieut.. Stuart had perforce to explain
that the cadet being in charge OF q
boat sent ashore to ship provisions, had
lost one of his men-an able-bodied sea-
man answering to the name of West,
but who was, by reason Of his superior
bearing, nicknamed by his companions
"the First Lord of the Admiralty"
Charley Robson meekly endured the
reproach of his commander, who was
a stern martinez, and made no allow
ance for youthful ineXperience, But
at any rate" unused the young fellow,
when he was at length dismissed, "he
said nothing about stopping my fur
louph." And then his volatile spirits
threw off the recent discontinue as
only youth knows how to, while his
thoughts wandered far away to that
pleasant country home in Surrey, with
all its attendant attractions, from
which he had been separated for one
long year. And if among the dream
faces conjured up there was one which
eclipsed all others, the fact should not
cause undue surprise.
The usual steps taken to secure the
arrest of the deserter were OF no avail
His description was circulated by the
police throughout the country, and al
the majesty of the law invoked to cap
ture the runaway, but the man cisap-
peared as completely as if the earth
had opened and swallowed him up. He
was Of strangely reserved nature
mixed but little with his companions
and had evidently once occupied 1a1
superior station in life.
There was one person, however, who
did not forget the runaway. Robson
often in imagination ran the scoundreI
to earth.
Little did Charley Robson imagine
as at the commencement of his long
deferred leave he lounged in a first
class smoker on his way to Guildford
how soon, or under what strange cir
cumstances, he would /. act the villain
of his melodrama.
"And you have come home. Alice
will be able to resume her interrupted
country walks" said the mother of thu
youthful sailor next morning. But, Of
of course" added she, addressing the
girl, Char ey has not heard Of YOU
latest adm .er. l don't know whether
the girls l.erves are out of ORDER con
tinued Mrs. Robson, "but she declare!
that strange man has been following
her about during the last few weeks
although no one else has ever caugh
a glimpse of him."
IT sha'n't be afraid of any loafer1
while Charley is with me-" responded
the maiden. "In proof of which, h
shall convoy me for walk now" Ant
Alice Westerne buoyanty danced OF
10 array herself for the proposed
jaunt.
The eyes of mother and son followe'
the girl with a wistful look as she quit
ted the room.
81 suppose nothing has been hear
OF him." queried the latter.
"No! Your father thinks there neve
will be. Doubtless Sir Richard diet
aSivau, ucnevmg 70 Tue eno JnaV n
was murderer"
sand Allie is still ignorant Of her ia
theirs sad history?" queried the lad.
ayes. We have decided not to So
anything to her until she is of age, ur
less some contingency should arise
such as your obtaining a subheuter
ancy, and being of the same mind q
you are now"
Robson colored at the hint delicatel
conveyed by his mother, and SO we
understood by himself. To see thei
only son mated to their ward was tn
dearest wish of Admiral and Mrs. Rot
son, yet they had the good sense t
restrain the impetuosity of the you'll
full couple until both arrived at year
of maturity.
IT