Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-31

almost impossible to conceal her lden- tity. He had not seen her in her new male attire. for when she threw off her riding habit on meeting him the night before he had Intentionally busted him. self about the horses and saw her only after the great cloak covered her as gown. He felt that however we'll her garments might conceal her form, no man on earth ever had such beauty in his face as her transcendent eyes, rose I1nIed cheeks and coral lips, with their cluster of dimples, and his heart sank at the prospect. She might hold out for awhile with straight face, but when the smiles should come-it were just as well to hang a placard about her neck, This is woman" The telltale dimples would be worse than Jane for outspoken, untimely truthfulness and trouble provoking candor.
 Upon entering Brandon found Mary wrestling with the problem of her com plicated male attire, the most beauti- full picture of puzzled distress imagi- nable. The port was open and showed her rosy as the morn when she looked up at him. The jack boots were in. COIASIS duA uCI 1lltlC 1StL ScCluCu tO put up protest all their own against going into them that ought to have softened every peg. She looked up at Brandon with half hearted smile and then threw her arms about his neck and sobbed like the child she was.
 "Do you regret coming, Lady Maryg' asked Brandon, who, now that she was alone with him, felt that he must take no advantage of the fact to be famil- jar.
 'No, no! Not for one moment. I am glad-only too glad. But why do you call me 'Ladyp You used to call me Mary"
 T don't know; perhaps because you are alone"
 "Ah! that is good of you; but you need not be quite so respectful
 The matter was settled by mute but satisfactory arbitration, and Brandon continued: "You must make yourself ready to go on deck. It will be hard, but it must be done"
 He helped her with the heavy jack boots and handed her the rain stained slouch hat which she put on and stood a complete man ready for the deck that is, as complete as could be evolved from her utter fenininity.
 When Brandon looked her over, all hope went out of him. 1t seemed that every change of dress only added to her bewitching, beauty by showing it In new phase.
 Ut will never do. There is no dis guising you. What is it that despite everything shows so unmistakably feminine? What shall we do? I have 1t. You shall remain here under the pretense of illness until we are well at sea, and then will tell the captain all It is too bad, and yet would not have you one whit less a woman for all the world. A man loves a woman who is so thoroughly womanly that nothing can hide it.''
 Mary was pleased at his fattery, but disappointed at the failure in herself. She had thought that surely these gar ments would make man of her in which the keenest eye could not detect a flaw.
 They were discussing the matter when knock came at the door, with the cry, "All hands on deck for inspec- Hon." Inspection! Jesu! Mary would not safely endure it a minute. Bran don left her at once and went to the captain.
 My lord is i'll and begs to be excused from deck inspection he said.
 Bradhurst, surly old half pirate of the saltiest pattern, answered: ssIl? Then he had better go ashore as soon as possible. I will refund his money. We cannot make a hospital out of the ship. If his ,lordship is too ill to stand inspection, see that he goes ashore at Dnce.'
 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 said he would have his lordship Up at once. He then returned to Mary, and after buckling on her sword and belt they went on deck and climbed up the poop ladder to take their places with those entitled to stand aft.
 Brandon has often told me since that It was as much as he could do to keep back the tears when he saw Mary's wonderful effort to appear manly. It was both comical and pathetic. She was princess to whom all the world bowed down, yet that did not help her here. After all she was only a girl, simid and fearful, following at Bran aon's heels, frightened lest she should get out of arms reach of him among hose rough men and longing with all her heart to take his hand for moral as we'll as physical support. It must have seen both Imaginable and pathetic in the extreme. That miserable sword per isted in tripping her, and the jack boots, so much too large, evinced an alarming tendency to slip off with, ev- ery step. How insane we all were not to have foreseen this from the very beginning. It must have been a unique figure she presented climbing up the steps at Brandon's heels, jack boots and all. So unique was it that the sailors working in the ships waist stopped their tasks to stare in wonder ment and the gentlemen on the poop