Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-05-31
) The MIDDY's CAPTIVE

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"Blubberlng won't do any good; you
had better report the matter to Cap.
tain Wilson Mt once" said the navigat.
Ing lieutenant of her majesty's ship
triumph. as he gazed quizzingly down
at the chubby-faced midshipman who
stood In such comical dlsmay before
his superior officer. "Come with me;
I'm going to his stateroom now," the
speaker added, not unkindly, us he
noted the lads evident distress.
I'm not numbering, and don't care
II he does stop my leave!" Indignantly
responded the youngster, drawing him.
SELF up to his full height.
What is 1t. StuartY inquired the
captain, as the twain entered his cabin.
Il 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, 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 ship
ping the soft tack-I mean the bread!'
incoherently stammered Robson.
"The First Lord bolted with the
soft tack" exclaimed Wilson in aston
ishment. what does he mean, Stuart
Who's the First Lord? Is the boy a
raving maniaci"
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
1.-The First Lord of the Admiralty"
Charley Robson meekly endured the
reproaches of his commander, who
was stern martinez. and made no al
lowance for youthful inexperience.
But at any rate" unused the young
fellow when he was Mt length dismiss.
ed. "he said nothing about stopping
my furlough." And then his volatile
spirits threw off the recent discomf1t-
ure as only youth knows how to, while
his thoughts wandered far away
to that pleasant country home in Sur
rey, with all its attendant attractions.
from which he had been separated for
one long year. And IL 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
oil the majesty of the law invoked to
capture the runaway, but the man
disappeared as completely as If the
earth had opened and swallowed him
up. He was of a strangely reserved
nature, mixed but little with his COM
panions, and had evidently once occu-
pied a far superior situation 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.
class smoker on his way to Guilford
how soon, or under what strange cir.
cumstances he would meet the villain
of his melodrama.
"And you have come home, Alice
will be able to resume her interrupted
country walks" said the mother of the
youthful sailor next morning. But
ofscourse." added she, addressing the
girl, Charlie has not heard of your
latest admirer. don't know whether
the girls nerves are out of order" con.
tinued Mrs. Robson, "but she declares
that strange man has been following
her about during the last few weeks,
although no one else has caught a
glimpse of him."
Il shan't be afraid of any loafers
while Charlie is with me-" responded
the maiden. "In proof of which, he
shall convoy me for q walk now"
And Alice Westcrne buoyantly danced
of to array herself for the proposed
jaunt.
The eyes of the mother and son fol-
lowed the girl with wistful look as
she quilted the room.
Il suppose nothing has been heard of
him?" Querled the latter.
mo! Your father thinks there never
will be. Doubtless Sir Richard died
abroad, believing to the end that no
was murderer!"
And Allie is still ignorant of her
fathers sad history?" queried the lad.
Yes. We have decided not to say
anything to her until she Is of age, un-
less some contingency should arise,
such as your obtaining a sublieuten.
ancy, and being of the same mind as
you are now"
Robson colored at the hint delicately
conveyed by his mother, and SO we'll
understood by himself. To see their
only son mated to their ward was the
dearest wish Of Admiral and Mrs.
Robson, yet they had the good sense
to restrain the impetuosity of tho
youthful couple until both arrived at
years of maturity.
II.
With the course of true love running
thus smoothly, and the crisp, frozen
ground under their feet, the twain
started upon their ramble.
With buoyant steps they breasted
the Hogs Back" from which favor
lite vantage ground splendid view
of the surrounding country could be
obtained.
eyes, there's the dear old Towers"
said Alice, "where should be living
now If the pater had not died."
"You've found another home" whis.
pered Charley, land other parents"
II know that, dear" responded the
girl. "But you cannot imagine what
1t feels like to have ones birth place
given over to ruin and decay, and to
know one hasn't single living rela.
tive. Only to think cannot even visit
my fathers grave, because he died in
some far AWAY outlandish placer
Then, with returning vivacity, she adj