Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-28
"A TALE oF'5H.


self. My cousin. who has always been
my enemy, discovered that the brave
villagers We're subscribing to my sup
port In secret and forwarding the pro-
ceeds abroad. Representations in the
proper quarter sent him down to Skelli-
gen to superintend operations to pre-
vent this. He has done SO most ef-
fectlvely by taxing the hapless peas
ants beyond any chance of raising
more than the bare necessaries of ex-
istence. At the same time. by watch
ing and spying on my messenger. he
doubtless disco ,ered my presence in
Bremen and put the Gunboat on my
track. Now we shall find him install
ed again in Skelligen on our arrival"
'But why should he expect us to
descend upon him?"
81 think" said the colonel dryly,
"that my cousin is not the man to let
himself be surprised for want of a lit
tie suspicion. He has seen me In these
waters He may not now think 1t like
ly, but still he will prepare for the
possibility Of visit. We must be
cautious" ~r
"what force can he have? Surely,
lf the villagers are favorable, we defy
capture even IL we're discovered"
The colonel laughed aloud. "If it
weren't for the guard with which he
has been furnished, he would have
been assassinated long ere this.
Though most Of the regHents have
been drawn south, there is still Il
squadron Of dragons at Osbrog. No,
my denr sir, we must not rely on n
want of force to oppose u.s."
"What are we to do then?" sighed
Desmond. 'Its burning shame to
let the stun waste"
Preobeslas shrugged his shoulders.
II am fatalist. believe destiny
meets us at the appointed hour, no
sooner should say go and leave the
result to chance, but l can't urge this
point of view upon you. risk moth
ing but my worthless life and should
have the satisfaction of perishing, IL
perish i must. on the lands of my IA
thers. To you 1t is my. plain duty to
point out the Obstacles"
Desmond's face frightened. "Oh,
you want to go, then. That settles the
question. So do l. It's only matter
Of detail how to do 1t. We can settle
that when we've got to Stockholm,
sent the wounded to hospital and land
ed Miss Preobeslas."
The colonel looked at his daughter
fondly. "Yes, was forgetting. You
must remain, Hilmar. mine, though
puzzle my old wits to think where"
His daughter gazed back ut him in
blank amazement. Father, what can
you be thinking Of? ] remain when
you go to our dear Skelllgen without
me! You must be dreaming"
But, my own. how can take you
into danger and perchance to deathw
The pale face flushed proudly, and
the blue eyes glanced with clear
shining into her fathers face. II am
your daughter. claim my right to he
at your side" Then, with burst OF
sudden entreaty, she continued, "And
how could ! be left alone, father, dar.
lingY'
The colonel looked at her wistfully
and choked a little sigh. $50 be it,
then, dear. We go together IT," he
added, with charming SMILE Mr.
Desmond can tolerate feminine socie-
ty on bachelors yacht"
Mr.. Desmond was so overpowered by
his astounding luck In having the pros
pect Of this delightful maiden for n
fellow adventurer that at first words
failed him IN which to express his sat
isfaction. He stammered his pleasure
lamely enough, but with an earnest
ness that brought blush to Miss Hill
mars cheeks. Her father looked for
moment from his daughter to the
young man. With a whimsical express
sion and the barest shrug of the shoul-
der he turned away and beckoned
Pladja back to him. Desmond and
Miss Preobeslas strolled forward.
"D'you think you'll be able to put up
with our rough ways2" said Desmond.
''l'm afraid you hardly know what
you're letting yourself in for/ Have
you all you want In your cabin? We've
never had ladies' before In this bache-
lor retreat"
'I've everything could possibly
wish for,' said the girl. And oh,
can't thank you enough for taking us!
To see Skelligen again! The joy of 1t
is more than can say"
"Is 1t your home, then? How is It
that your father, a Pole, has lived so
much in Finland?"
"It's the home OF my mother. She
was the daughter OF Count Waritzin,
and my grandmother was Scotch
lady. have many relatives in Scot
land and passed years there when
was small. Didn't you think 1t strange
l should speak English us | dor
perhaps | did In some ways, yet it
seems quite right too. You look SO
delightfully."- English, you know. One
quite expects It,"
"The language of compliment can so
no further" said the girl, bowling and
making charming little courtesy. ''ro
be told by an Engllshman that re-
semble the maidens Of his heroic race
entirely overpowers me- Attempt no
further batteries, Mr.. Desmond. | am
beyond them now"
you are Indeed" said the young
man, looking wistfully into her smil-
Ing eyes, and with that word and the
lady's blush the conversation ended,
but something else had only just be-
gun.