The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-04-19
A MIDDY'S CAPTURE.

/ eAt cttuoo1 iaCci ihiuchipaiidu VINO
stood in such comical dismay before
his superior officer. "Come with me:
I'm going TO his stateroom now" the
speaker added. not unkiudly, as he
noted the lads evident distress.
I'm not blubbering, and | don
care if he does stop my leaver indig-
nantly responded the youngster, draw
ing himself up to his full height.
''NNhat is it, Stuart ?" inquired the
captain as the twain entered his cabin.
Il merely wished 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. / hope?" calculated
Captain Wilson ironically. "Well, I'm
listening"
please, sir, it's the First Lord
He's bolted. He ran off while we were
shipping the soft tack Il mean the
bread" ineoherently stammered Rob-
son.
''The First Lord bolted with the
soft tackr' exclaimed Wilson in aston
ishment. "What does he mean, Stu
art? Who's the First Lord?' Is the
boy a raving maniae?'
Lieutenant Stuart had perfOrce to ex-
plain that the cadet, being in charge Of
boat sent ashore to ship provisions,
had lost one of his men, an ablebodied
seaman answering to the name of West,
bat who was, by reason of his superior
bearing, nicknamed by his messmates
''the First Lord of the Admiralty"
Charley Robson meekly endured the
reprOaehes of his commander, who was
a stern martinez and made no allow
ance for youthful inexperienee. "But
at any rate" unused the young fellow
when he was at length dismissed, she
said nothing about stopping my fur
loughn And then his volatile spirits
threw off the recent discontinue as
only youth knows how to do, 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 eoDjur-
ed 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 all
the majesty of the law was invoked to
capture the runaway, but the man dis
appeared as completely as if the earth
had opened and swallowed him up
He was Of a strangely reserved nature,
mixed but little with his companions,
and had evidently once occupied far
superior station in life.
There was one person, however, who
did not forget the runaway. Robson
often in imagination ran the scoundrel
to earth.
Little did Charley Robson imagine,
as at the commencement of his long
deferred leave he lounged in first-elass
smoker on his way to Guilford, how
soon or under what strange eircum-
stances he would meet the villain of bis
melodrama.
isAnd now that you have come home
Alice will be able TO resume her inter
rupted country walks, said the mother
of the youthful sailor next morning;
"but of course" added she, addressing
the girl, Charley has not heard Of
your latest admirer. / don't know
whether the girls nerves are out of or
der" continued Mrs. Robson, "but she
declares that strange man has been
following her about during the last few
weeks, although no one else has ever
caught glimpse Of him."
al shan't be afraid of any losfers
while Charley is with me-" responded
the maiden. In proof of which he shall
convoy me for a walk now" And Al
ice westerne buoyantly danced off to
array herself for the proposed jaunt.
The eyes of mother and son followed
the girl with wistful look as she quit
ted the room.
"I suppose nothing has been heard of
him?" queried the latter.
mo. Your father thinks there never
will be. Doubtless Sir Richard died
abroad, believing TO the end that he
was murderer
'And Alice is still ignorant of her
fathers sad history?p queried the lad.
''Yes. we have decided not to say
anything t. her until she is of age, un-
less scme contingency should arise,
such as your obtaining your sublieu-
tenancy, and being of the same mind
as you are now.n
Robson colOred at the hint delicately
conveyed by his mother and so well un-
derstool by himself. To see their only
son mated TO their ward was the dear
est wish of Admiral and Mrs. Robson,
yet they had tie good sense to restrain
the impetuosity Of the youthful couple
until both arrived at years of maturity.
With che course of true love running
thus smoothly, and the crisp, frozen
ground under their feet, the twain start
ed upon their ramble.
With buoyant steps they breasted the
'Hog Back. " from which favorite want
age ground splendid view of the sur
rounding country could be obtained.
"Yes. there's the dear old Towers"
said Alice, ''where / should be living
now If the pater had not died"
"You've found another home,p whis-
pered Charley, ''and other parents"
81 know that, dear, responded the
girl. "Bat you can not imagine what
it feels like to have ones birthplace
given over 10 ruin and decay. and to