The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-11-25

lifting q warning finger.
Gift me up" cried the dying man
more strongly than before. The adj
miral nodded. The young Irishman
lifted him n little.
"Higher!" he cried. ONeill litted
bin TO a sitting position.
mot guilty, my lord" said the young
man resolutely in Il loud, clear voice,
throwing his arms out before him and
still smiling. The blood gushed from
his lips, and when they laid him DacK
his plea was heard in that higher
court before which the rich ana the
poor must all finally appear, before
which the admiral and the sailor
equally must plead.
"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath
taken away; blessed be the name OF
the Lord" said the chaplain of the
Scraps r%everently. The men STOOD
around him I'm Il silence broken only
by the woman's sobs.
"He has died like n hero, sir" SAID
Jones at last, removing his hat, ana
1 venture to say that no II of his
gallant race in all the years Of their
history has ever made n better end.
"Ah," said the admiral, rising and
%mournfully regarding the little group.
Elizabeth praying by the side of his
son and O'Neill still supporting his
head, 81 made my plans. 1 tempted
this honorable gentleman to do n
shameful thing. He refused, and 1T
has all come back upon me. I've
wrought my own undoing, gentlemen.
The hand Of God has worked his will,
not mine. 1 am punished; l am over
ruled. He has written this old man
childless. 1 go down to my grave alone
forever alone!"
mot So" answered O'Neill, rising.
"You have Elizabeth. Let me, too
"Peace, sir!" said the old man, way
ing him back. "The young cling to-
gether-think of each other-there is
nothing left for the old. Our ways lie
apart. 1 bear you in no ~unkindness; l
wish you well. Elizabeth, I had hoped
to call you daughter. Twas my own
pride defeated the wish. May you be
happy with this honest gentleman! He
deserves you even as did this, my son."
"Mfy father-my father cried the
girl, catching his hand.
The old a shook his head; his lips
trembled. Gray faced and broken, all
his years upon him, lie turned away
unstcadily, rs if to go to his barge.
"Stop, sir" cried Pearson. "You for
get we are not III possession of the
ship. We are prisoners" he whispered.
"Ah, yes" said the admiral; 81 had
forgotten 1t. Well, 1t matters little to
me. Captain JONES'" he continued,
turning to the little Scotsman and
proffcring his sword, with n painful
gesture, Tam our prisoner, it seems"
"Sir," said the little captain, and
twenty generations of gentle blood
could not have lone 1t better, "allow
me to match the act of an American
sailor against the word of an English
officer. You arc free, my lord. Your
bont awaits you. IL 1 can do aught'-
"Bc 1t So" said the admiral simply.
"Lct me have my boy, and we will go
away together, and l shall remember
YOU differently in the future. If in
England YOU ever need n friend, re-
member this moment and call upon me.
Farewell"
And two hung over the ~taffrail and
watched the white sails of the little
boat bearing away to the vcrdant
shore, where the old castle still shone
in the sunlight-two, sad, yet eXultant.
Their troubles were over now. They
had lost everything else, but had
gained each other In the losing.
1--WE ought to be very good to each
other" said the sweet voice Of The wo-
man. ITO make up to God all that he
has preserved us from"
AYE" said O'Ncill, "and to give due
value to the sacrifice of him who loved
you, even as l do myself"
THE END.