Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-12-04
THE
CRUISER
oooooooooooooo
CHAPTER vI.-(Continued.)
T. BURLTNGAME ROSS

CHAPTER VI.-(Continued.)
Two days passed away from the time
Of the announcement TO her of Tudel's
return, and on the afternoon of the third
that man called again. As Irene had ex-
pected, he came to her apartment alone.
he smiled when he came in, and having
reached the place where the maiden sal,
he extended his hand; she took IT, ana
without a shudder. She gazed calmly up
on him. There was in her soul con-
scious superiority to the man before her'
and yet, as much as she had cause 10
dread him, her only feeling now IN his
presence was one of deep, unmltIgated
disgust.
Irene" said the visitor, in tone
which he meant should have been very
sweet, but which sounded like the graf
ing hinges when too carefully moved,
you came very nigh losing me.
"Ah, is it possible| uttered the maid
en-, in tone too calm for terrort and YET
too sarcastic for joy.
YES; 1 came nigh being lost man.
fell into the hands of a proving YANKEE
Ia Texan cruiser" resumed Tudel.
'.Ahp' said Irene, in very guarded
tone
Yes; and but for my own wit and bold
daring, l should now have been IN a
Texan prison
"Ah," said Irene again, more guarded
even than before. ''Who was it captured
you?"
"A fellow named Howard. He COM
manded heavy vessel called the Lone
Star"
The maiden said nothing to this; she
only let her hand drop upon a sheet OF
music before her, and as soon as her
nerves were steady, she picked 1t up ana
ran her eyes over the notes.
But | made my escape pursued the
dark lover. taking no note of his COM
panions peculiar emotions. Il was put
in double irons, stout and strong-but
cast them off. There was stout man
watching over me-but overcame him
killed him on the spot, and then
..Killed him." uttered Irene, in quick,
terrified whisper.
SAY; of course | did"
KILLED Captain Howard?" gasped the
maiden, letting both her hands drop, ana
Selling the edge of the table.
mo, not exactly him; though | wish 1t
might have been him. 1t was the senu-
mel he posted over me. But why does 1t
move you so? What had it been to you
if | had killed the whole Yankee crew.
Nothing, nothing" whispered Irene,
with mighty struggle; only | thought
of your hands being red with the blood OF
one who had spared your own life:
"Bah! He would have given lie up
to his judges as pirate, if he could. He
would have brought me to the gallows. If
it had been in his power. That is spar
ing my life with a vengeancew
Irene soon composed herself, and then
she said, with the old GOODNESS upon her:
''You were very fortunate in thus es-
Gaping, for of course the Texans would
have hung you if they had found you IN
their power long enough"
GAY, lady. L was most fortunate; and
yet. in all the risk / ran, the thought of
meeting YOU once more was all that nerv-
ed me on. All, am not fortunate in thus
being spared to bask in the sunlight of
your smiles once more,
s'Did you ever see me smile. senior"
the maiden asked. in a quaint tone.
'.Well-really-I don't know as | ever
did. But you will smile; you must smile
when you are my wife"
feThapS ought ~.
you ought to. and you must, sweet
lady. Why, 'twould be like night all the
time to have a sun that would give no
light / think you do smile sometimes"
when l am happy. senior"
''Fhen it shall be the work of my every
thought to make you happy, Irene"
"You can do so very easily, senior"
"Ah-pray tell me how"
"Jilok Tudel, leave me, and never think
again of making me your wife, and ! will
not only be very happy, but | will bless
you from the very depths Of my soul"
"Why couldn't you add, just by way of
filling up the pleasant measure, that the
cutting off my head would heighten your
joy?-because Of course | should do it.
o, yes-of course"
The man spoke this in tone half of
anger. and half of irony: but he did not
allow his passion to manifest itself.
do not misunderstood me, senior,
Irene returned, very calmly. Il do not
wish you harm. | only wish peace for
myself"
80 if should take fancy for your
head and ask you to let me chop it off,
might swear that / wished you no harm,
but only JOY to myself But it won't
work, lady, 1 thought that part of the
business was settled. When l reckon
M my observation at noon, after have
taken the sun, don't stop to find if two
and two make four, because that was set
tied way back in the first lesson of math-
ematics. And so with this sum: that
you are to be my wife is one of the solid
facts of the past, that must last through
all coming time. SO now we have only to
reckon up from that. l hope you under
stand"
"Yes, senor-very well.
"Im glad of that, because You'll know
now how TO work. But | viii just say
just for your present satisfaction and for
your information for the future, and fsc
your guidance too, that nothing ON the
face of the earth can induce me 10 give