The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-09-25

Coventry, because he more than Sus'
pected that Elizabeth loved O'Neill;
Elizabeth, because she felt that honor
compelled her to marry Coventry, to
whom she was deeply attached, but
toward whom her feelings, h now
found, were vastly different from those
which had flooded her being with new
life at the sight Of the young Irish
man. Her period Of waiting and
dreaming had uncOnsciously devel-
oped q passion for him which had
broken all barriers at the mere sound
| Of his voice, the sight Of his face. As
for O'Neill, he found her fairer than
he had ever thought ven in his most
e~xtravagant dreams, and it was in
an agony of despair that he contem-
| plated her as the bride Of another.
There was this saving grace in his
| position, however-he would probably
| be condemned to death forthwith, and
he was in no mood to balk the execu-
toner; if ever death be welcome it
would be so to him.
The only one who was completely
at his ease, and who, in fact, extract
| ed a certain satisfaction from the situa-
ton, was the admiral. Naturally be
did not enter very deeply into the
matrimonial schemes of the young,
and with the Indifference of a man
well along in years he doubted that it
would be a matter of any great diff
Guilty either to make Elizabeth forget,
if necessary, the Irishman, in whom
eve his obtuSe vision had detected
that she was greatly interested, or, in
case it suited his purpose better, to
make his son forget Elizabeth in the
presence of some other charmer whom
he might select. His purpose was, as
ever, the paramount consideration with
the admiral.
He had conceived a brilliant idea,
which he fondiy hoped would result,
were it to be realized, in the capture Of
the notorious Paul Jones, who was the
object of consuming desire on the part
Of every military and naval man in the
three kingdoms. So enchanted was the
old man with his own idea, and sc deSir-
u was he Of bagging the game, that
iC Noulo " hCSlldtCo " odSll LIZ
the affections of his son, the happiness
Of his ward, or to brush aside almost
anything, save his honor, which might
stand in his way.
The young Irishman had clearly for
feited his life by his action; nay, more,
now that he recalled his name he re-
membered that he had been found
guilty Of high treason, and, like his IA
Their, was under sentence of death for
that as well. He had a double hold
upon him therefore. The powers Of
the admiral, who was one Of the lead
ing men of the realm, were unusually
large, and as a state Of martial law
had been proclaimed IN the coast he
was supreme as to life and death in
matters where any military exigency
could be urged.
He chuckled to himself at the thought
that he held in his hand two of the
master cards-love of life and love Of
woman, The third, love of honor,
which O'Neill was possessed of, was a
high one, to be sure, but he trusted by
clever play to win the game, since the
odds were with him. Elizabeth had
become a state paper-a pledge in
pawn-to him; O'Neill another piece,
or player. He had not yet formulated
any plan for carrying out his great
idea, but one was already terminating
in his mind, so that in the end, under
the stimulus of the splendid opportu-
nifty ne saw Denore MIN Tor rOunulng
out an already brilliant career in the
service of his country by effecting the
capture of the famous Paul Jones, his
hours were as sleepless as were those
Of the others.
The poor Irish lieutenant had caused
a great deal of trouble to every one
with whom he had come in contact.
Even Paul Jones himself, who loved
and cherished the young man with all
bis generous heart, was filed with deep
anxiety as to his probable fate when
he heard the report of old Price the
next day, especially as the hours fled
away and his lieutenant did not rejoin
the ship. In spite of the absence Of
the rest of his squadron, the COM
mOdore at once FASTENED to the rendez-
vous with the Richard alone, and there
| determined to take q small hand in the
! game himself while waiting for the
Pallas, the Alliance and the others to
assemble. Cautious inquiries which he
caused to be made on shore had in
formed him that, as he expected,
O'Neill had been apprehended. A less
kindly man than Paul Jones would
have left him to his fate; but that
was not his way.
Early the next morning, being
Wednesday, Sept. %, O'Neill had
arisen and gone down on the terrace
| of the castle overlooking the ocean and
I, the ships in the harbor, where he met
Lady Elizabeth. She was gazing list
lessly owe the causeway at a horse
man ~galloping along the road.
"Do l interrupt "reminiscences Of q
tete-a-tete, madam said he, saluting
her with a profound bow.
"Reminiscences such as mine are
better interrupted" she replied.
"You were''-
Saying goodby to my-my-cousin."
"Has your ladyship no dearer title
than that by which to designate him p
"Not yet" she answered YEARLY.
"Ah, l perceive" he continued jeal-
ously. "The natural regret at the alb
sence of your betrothed. for
"No, no, not that! How can you
trifie so with M at this moment? He