The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-04-22
WHAT HAPPENED
OFF SCARTHEY LIGHT.


French and dictator of Europe. 1t Is not Il French stors, this
book called The Light Of srtftaey but a sale of adventure
int England, with a Ittic French setting here and there.
The story covers = I~rio. of about twenty years, closing
with ISIS. 1t tells "f on Sir Miriam I.a"dale, an English mo-
lIcman of the days when in liverso"l the rriyateets were
daily fitting out or bringing in the pr-z's.' : the days OF
wlr aud the fort ines Of war: days of pt-ss-eamgs to kiInnp
unwilling rulers of the waves: days of 'tIe now rather
incompItheusisle pursuit Of gold smmesiins-t romantic
subject"
Adrian Inui,le had had a romantic history. ana now h"
had retired t." the island oi Srt5th.y and rel.eat.i to his
Younger brother Rupert the care Of MS estate. II" .his isi'r'i
,;,mr. 10y accident, Molly lie saNtuayr. 4 daughter of the
woman he had loved when Il" WIS Il N"uth of =. \ gentle
kindly man was Sir Adrian, and he did not imagine that this
beautiful girl who hooked $" much Liz" her mother could pos
Silly lhv" him. II WIS So. " + at least she thought so. aud
they were married.
Moily's sister. MADELEINE. nd a Younger lover. handsome
Captain Jack Smith. 4 -nueEl.r bold. and Yet an honorable
man. who took :. humble uSn, because nf Il quarrel with his
family. I!e was really Hubert Cochrane of the Shaws. Made
,.ir. dh1 ma, b,,,.t tho srd,t of her sister. and - ther. was
trouble. Molly would have yrnturel anything for her lover.
hut Madeleine. deceived 10y that arch rascal, Rupert Landale.
refused to believe in her lover, ana sent II message by her
sister when she vas expected to join him.
1t was a dark night off Scarthey Island. though the light
shone brightly. Molly. III adventurous mood. and mistaken
by Jack Smiths men. was taken TO his vessel. the Fercgrine,
bound for France with a cargo of gold guineas. Put upon
his track by Rupert. revenue officers We're iii waiting for
gallant Captain Smith. Molly was fairly lifted aboard the
Fcregrine. but before her foot touched the deck she felt
upon her lips. laid like 4 burning seal. Il passionate kiss; and
her soul leaptd mp to it. as if called into sudden life from
sIumt.r, Xix. the princess of fairy lore. She heard Made
icine's mysterious lover whisper in her ear: AT last. On,
what l have suffered. thinking you would not comet"
And ali the time the coward Madeleine was safe at Pull
wick. and it was the wife of his best friend who was aboard
captain Jacks ship.
For a moment these two were in ali creation alone to each
other, while in a circle the ieregrine's crew stood apart in
respectful silence. a broad grin of sympathy upon the mouth
OF every mothers son.
Released at last. Lady Iandale took a trembling step on
the deck. Into what strang. world had she come this night"'
Just thea .he revenue cutter hailed them. The call. after
an interval, was repeated. But the outlook was impenetra-
BILE. and it was weird indeed to feel tina, they were seen yet
could not see.
Molly. standing close by his side. knew in every fiber of
her own hoiy that this man. to whom she seemed in some
inexpncable fashion already linked. was strongly moved.
Nevertheless she could hardly guess the extremity oil the
passion that shook him. 1t was the frenzy of the rider who
feels his horse about to fail him within a span of the win
ming post; of the leader whose men waver at the actual
point OF victory. But the weakness of dismaS was only mo-
mcntary. Calm and ciea!r'ss of mind returned with the
sense of emergency. He raised his nisht-giass' with a steady
hand this time. and scanned the depth of blackncsS i'll front
of him.
The warning gun he said. hurriedly. TO say that they
mean to see who We are and that If we do not stop the next
will be shottcd. Time presses. Madeleine. GO in-fear moth
ing, We shall soon be on their other side, out of sight in
darkness again
- shall stop with you. Let no thought Of NE hinder you.
/ am not afraid. / want to see
AT these words the lover was struck with a surprise that
melted into a proud and new joy. He had loved Madeleine
for her woman.s grace and her womanis heart: now, he told
himself, he must worship her for her brave soul. But this
was no time for useless words. 1t was not more unsafe Tor
her on deck than in the cabin. and at the thought of her be-
side him during the coming struggle the strength of a god
ro.. within him. Come he answered briefly. and moved
with her TO the helm. which n sailor silently surrendered TO
him. whilst she stcadied herself by holding TO the binnacie-
the only place on board at that time where from sheer ne
cessity) any light had been allowed to remain. 1t was faint
enough. but the reflection from the compass board. a ne
bent to examine it. was sufficient to make gust visible. with
a dim. fantastic glow. the strong beauty of his faco and put
a flash into each wide-dilated eye.
And thus did Molly, for the first time, see Captain Jack.
She sank down at the foot of the pinnacle, her hants
cltspcd round her knees. as If huggng the new rapture as
closely To her q she could. And. looking up at the aier; fig
ue before her. which she now began 10 discern more clearly
under the Tightening sky: at the face which. she OWNED.
although she Coul1 mil Gp the Watphful CLEAN of the eyes
as now and again they sought her down in the shadow at
his feet, she felt herself kinile in answer 10 the glow of his
young hero of romance and she, to fight their way through
some unknown peril!
".Madelcine. my sweet bride, my brave love. they are
about to fire again. and this time you will hear the shot
burning: but be not afraid: 1t will strike ahead of us
Another flash sprang out of the night. much nearer this
time. and louder. for it belched forth a shot which piowei
its way in the water across the schoouerts bow.
Z" I am not afraid said Molly again; and she laughed a
little fierce. nervous laugh.
-" They are between us and the open sea. Thus far the
luck is OF their side. Had You come but half an hour sooner.
Madeleine, "" should he running as free as any Kings ship.
Now they think. no doubt. they Will drive me onto the sand:
but he tossed back his head with a superb gesture, there
is no power from heaven or hell that can keep me out OF my
course tonight
by this time the preventive cutter was family disceInibie
two cables length on the larhoard how. There cam another
haii-a loud, husky below from over the water, Schooner.
ahoy. Ieavc to. or we'll sink YOU"
=" Nadclcime' said captain Jack. come closer to me. lie
down. behind me, quick. The next shot will be in my rig
ging. Iieav. to?-wfth my treasures. my bride on board AMI
a t.nkrot breeze" . +. i. And he looked down at Molly,
laughing in his contempt. Then he shouted some order
which brought the Icrcgriuc some points more off the wind,
and she bounded forward with renewed zest. Sink u.s.
Why don't YOU fire now, you lubbers" He glanced back over
his shoulder 10 SO. the beacon al Scarthey straight over the
Stern. You have got us in line with the light. and that's
your last chance. In another minute l shall be past You! An,
l can see You now. my fine fellows, Courage. Madeleine
"ro Molly. of course. his words conveyed no meaning. ex-
cept that the critical moment had come, that the ship which
carried her flying upon the water like Il living thing. eager,
Yet orediert in all its motions 10 The guiding will of the
man beside her. was rushing TO the fray. The thought fired
her soul. and she sprauc up Ia look over the side.
What She exclaimed. for the little cutter on close quar-
tiers looked insignificant indeed by the side of the noble vessel
that 9 scorufully bare down on her. Is that all
" They have a gun, and We hav" none answered Captain
Jack. Down. Madeleine: down behind. in the name of God
Why should crouch If Won stand up"
The mans heart swcllcd within him.
After all this pride and JOY, when they were successful at
last. it was a hitter disappointment TO Captain Jack TO
learn that it was not Madeleine who was with hin hut her
unknown sister, the wife of his hest friend. Molly must he
returned to h.r husband. Captain Jack lost his life in saving
his friends happiness, and the Light of Scarthey shone on
his grave.
I'M HIS RI &C