The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-10-16

When Brandon booked her over. nil
I hope went out Of him. 1t seemed tbnt
every change OF dress only added to
her bewitching beauty by showing II
i'm new phase.
1T VIII never do. There Is no dis.
guising you. What is 1t that despite
everything shows so unmistakably
Feminine? What shall we do? I have
1t. You shall remain here under the
pretensc of illness until we are well Mt
sea, and then will tell the captain all.
1t Is too bad, and yet would not haye
you one whit less woman for all the
world. "A man loves woman who In
SO thoroughly womanly that nothing
Gun hide It."
Mary was pleased Mt his hattery. but
disappointed Mt the failure IN herself.
She had thought that surely these gar.
mcnts would make n man of her in
which the keenest eye could not detect
n flaw.
Ihey were discussing the matter
when a knock came at the door, with
the cry, "All hands OH deck for inspec.
tion.' Inspection! Jesu! Mary would
not safely endure 1t minute. Bran
don left her at ohce and went to tho
captain.
My lord is Ill and begs to be excused
from deck inspection" he said.
Bradhurst, surly old half pirate of
the salticst pattern, answered: "Ill?
Then he had better go ashore as soon
as possible. l will refund his money.
We cannot make Il hospital out Of tile
ship. If his lordship is too Ill to stand
inspection, see that he goes ashore mt
| once"
This last was addressed to one of the
ships officers, who answered with the
usual "Aye, aye, sir" and started for
Mary's cabin.
That was worse than ever, and Bran
don quickly suid he would have his
lordship up at once. He then returned
to Mary. and after buckling OH her
sword and belt they went OH deck and
climbed up the poop ladder to take
their places with those entitled to
stand aft.
Brandon has often told me since thnt
it was as much rs he could do to keen
Dack the tears when he saw Mary's
wonderful effort to appear manly. It
was both comical and pathetic. She
was princess to whom all tho world
bowed down. yet that did not helm her
here. After all she was only girl
timid and fearful. following mt Bran
donss heels, frightened lest she should
get out OF arms reach OF linn among
those rough men and longing with all
her heart to take his hand for moral rs
we'll as physical support. 1t must have
been both laughable and pathetic In the
extreme. That miserable sword per-
sisted In tripping her, and the Jack
boots, so much too large, evinced an
alarming tendency to slip off with cv-
cry step. How insane we all were not
to have foreseen this from the very
beginning. 1t must have been n unique
figure she presented climbing up the
steps Mt Brandons heels, jack boots
and all. So unique was It that the
sailors working In the ships waist
stopped their tasks to stare In wonder
naent and the gentlemen OH the poop
made no effort to hide their amuse.
ment. Old Bradhurst stepped up to
her.
Il hope your lortlship Is feeling bet
ter" and then. surveying her from
head to foot with broad grin on his
features, 81 declare, you look the pic
| ture OF health, tf I ever saw II. How
old are your"
Mary quickly responded. Fourteen
years."
"FOurteen," returned Bradhurst
| well, don't think you will shed
much blood. You look more like
dcuced handsome girl than any man
| ever saw" At this the men all
laughed and were very impertinent In
the free and easy manner OF such gen.
| nf
adventures with every finer sense
dulled and debased by years Of vice.
These fellows, half Of them tipsy,
now gathered about Mary to inspect
her personally, each on his own ac-
count Their looks and conduct were
very discOncerting. but they did moth
ing insulting until one fellow gave her
slap on the back, accompanying 1t
by an indecent remark. Brandon tried
to pay no attention to them, but this
| was too much, so he lifted his arm and
Knocked the fellow of the poop into
the waist. The man was back In n
moment, and swords were soon drawn
and clicking away Mt a great rate. The
| contest was brief, however, as the fel-
low was no sort of match for Brandon,
who, with his old trick, quickly twist
ed his adversary's sword out of his
grasp and with flash of his own
blade flung 1t into the sea. The other
men were now talking together at
little distance IN whispers. and in n
moment one drunken brute shouted:
1T is no man. 1t is q woman. Let us
see more of herr, ~ L.
Before brandon could interfere tho
fellow had unbucklcd Mary's doublet
at the throat and with Jerk had
torn it off, carrying away the sleeve
and exposing AIary's shoulder, almost
throwing her to the deck.